Struggles. Point of Divergence.

I realize that I'm behind on my second discussion on career and all, but I feel that this is much more relevant to my thoughts and feelings right now. I will return to my discussion on my career soon. (Note the use of the word "soon", that could mean anything in today's term...hehe)

Anycase, I wish to discuss Struggles in life. To clarify, in looking at one's life, we don't always see one consistent image, if it was so, that person is probably really boring...I don't know, humans make mistake -- and I don't have to say much more about that. History itself is a living proof of the statement. But this is where many have drawn their observation on when the life of one is evaluated, but more importantly in one's own self-examination, do we see ripples? Do we see struggles in life, against those vices that we're born with? Do we struggle against those things that we undo us of our humanity? It is an a testament of our will more so than our accomplishments while on this earth.

Many people think of those who are religious, and particularly of Christians, are so holy and pure. True is, not so much, maybe for one that is very much sheltered, that is someone who lives in their own world segregated from the rest of the world. I cannot say if being sheltered is a good thing or not, but even the sheltered ones will have flaws and problems that they struggle with -- so are the so-called Christians. A friend of mine once divided up the people attending Mass at church into segments of people: the pious hypocrites, the Christians wanna-be, the friend-seekers, and this and that. Well, that is perhaps so, who doesn't struggle? We Christians proclaims the Gospel of Truth and Love, and that Gospel is the exact thing we believe will set us free from these earthly struggles we experience. We're not immune from it. And that is the main point -- we are Christians because we have heard of the Gospel, the Good News, of the Lord -- of Life after death, of family in Heaven, of Love unbound -- one that transcends time and space, even death! That good news is our risen Lord -- Jesus Christ. And in following Him, we give of ourselves away to God's purpose. But we're human, not some perfect machine, and more importantly, we are given free will.

It is through our utmost will that we put forth our life in communion with God's will. And there are the times when we fall -- we become the hypocrites. Funny thing is, some of us are better at hiding our vices than others. So here comes the often sentiments that if someone is a priest they are pure and holy and can never make mistakes -- well, I beg to differ.

Life without struggle -- however pure and however nice -- doesn't provide testimony of one's life. And demanding any religious person to not have any faults or desires of their own -- is just as foolish as those religious ones that condemns those without religions. But further, to take advantage of one suffering of one's own gain, and to demand them to endure the suffering due to their believe thereof, against ones free will, is an outcry to community, to society as a whole.

If anything these four years in college has taught me to embrace my own faults and stand back up to fight another day, to submit myself fully and completely to God's love. A friend of mine loved this line from Mother Teresa -- to be a pencil in God's hands. If anything, what I've learned is that this pencil will break and dull from time to time, and it definitely need some sharpenin'. A pencil that never break -- well, is not a pencil, and one that is broken and not sharpened just need a hand to make it new. And no one can promise a pleasant and easy sharpening process, in fact, it will probably hurt like world's gonna end...but that's where life begins -- if you catch my drift.

I'm not saying though that you go out and make mistakes and what not, but rather, every time it happens, sharpen that pencil and bring yourself back to the line -- get ready to start over again.

What is the meaning of life you ask me? Well, today my answer is -- to struggle and not be strangled.

TMH