More Angels

Setting Off

Although I am not really going on a short hop journey tomorrow which I thought would, but it’s going to be my biggest break so far this year–a wonderful gift from wonderful people–a restful treat I’ve been looking forward to in a long while. This might be my last post for the month because I won’t be taking my laptop with me.

The long trip starts before the sun is up and I’ll leave at the crack of dawn. Two angels have blessed me with this opportunity just to break away from unwanted bits and bobs including stresses and strains of my environment from the kids next door–morning, noon and night. It’s a sure go and I have packed my stuff two weeks ago.

If you are reading this write up my friends, thanks a million for picking up the tab!   

Needless to say, I have been traveling in and out of this country prior to this in fact, but for job-related reasons–not this trip though–it will be purely rest and recreation.   

My itinerary is all set including the estimated budget, but I have another concern left–a wish for a possibility to journey with real angels. I pray for a sensitive heart and a mind reader not just to make up for lost time–whether or not I have a lot of leeway this time.      

Tonight will be my last to bear the agony–the annoying sound of kids who stomp and stamp from dawn to dusk. I wonder if these hyper active kids do ever sleep. I hope when I return home, they are gone for good to a bigger place somewhere. My ears ache a lot from the unbearable noise. They shouldn’t be staying in this apartment. 

I am not setting off to unfamiliar places (except for one spot), but budget wise and preference they are the perfect cities to visit and revisit this moment of restlessness. For sure I will be enjoying this one–alone–out of the daily cares.    

Wow! I am so excited to leave soon and not counting days anymore–the countdown is over–all I have to do is forget about things that worry me. Hakuna Matata!

No, it’s not the high life–I don’t actually need it–it’s but a beautiful gift instead. This is another precious time to restructure my life and seek my Creator in a deepest way there is–and at the same time a real vacation to spend.

This will be another long and winding road to take, but I am certain it is going to be fun.  Wish me joy, peace, and happiness, please. See you soon or next month. 

Compassion

“What is compassion? I want you to write an essay about compassion. This is a psycho test. I’m waiting.” He would tell his listeners for hours. The next day and following, he would convey the same message as he tried to engage in a conversation that seems doesn’t exist. And now I’m giving you hints in just a split second.

He does it in a busy restaurant–a dialogue between him and his imaginary students. He could do it the whole day through unless his suffering from periodic bouts of insanity halts. But when he speaks his mind no one can stop him–not even intolerant human beings or his captive audience.

Three weeks later, I saw him again at the same place in a predictable conduct–an annoying demeanor for small-minded strangers while a lesson to learn for those who are profound. Aside from being a quiet observer, it took me compassion to perceive him. “There is more to something than meets the eye.” I told myself.

I knew it and I was right.

By the look of things, he was an ESL teacher with consuming passion and big compassion for his learners, and yet didn’t really know how to fit in to that particular culture perhaps. It happened to others I know and to me personally as well. But if it took him his sanity for such a disappointment or failure or something else, then it’s out my judgment. All I can say is that even to his odd behavior his compassion has never left him.

When the monks’ assistants approached him few times for some help, he gave them alms–only a tolerant or kind person would give–he did. He speaks Thai and so I will assume that he must have acquired from this specific culture a good moral to define compassion–now he classifies himself with them.  

One time, there was a fire just close to that restaurant, I heard him whispered a prayer. “Please burn the building, but keep the people from burning or dying.” He prayed again and again and then back to his routine. He must have been benign and sympathetic in many ways in the past (and still is). We should not really judge a person from the outside appearance alone–it should be inside out–for even a person with madness is capable of showing care–sometimes a lot better than the normal ones.  

He treated the waiters with respect and kindness. It was unbelievable. And I was surprised big time. If you compare him to other customers, it seems they are the ones who have mental problems for mistreating waiters.

This guy has also compassion for vendors by showing them support buying their stuff and food. It’s like he knows their hearts and how much they earn. Simple thing as this but it takes goodhearted people to notice.

Why such a compassionate, white man would lose his sanity? I don’t know. And as far as my limited knowledge is concern, I will never be able to answer this query. 

If I am to put somebody in the picture about a situation–the choice of showing compassion–I will show him/her this person as a good example–for even at his unwanted circumstance he is still able to do it. It is a shame though that a lot of people who have healthy minds are the ones selfish, arrogant, indifferent, and mean. It’s a choice after all. I rather journey with this kind of person (who knows he is an angel in disguise) than to be with sane individuals and yet very apathetic–full of evil desires. 

Special Delivery

I have not even started a draft yet writing a detailed article about an angel whom I’ve mentioned in my previous post entitled “A Friend Indeed”–the story I promised should tell soon, and then came more jaw-dropping gestures from the same person. 

Therefore, this is it.

One late afternoon, he and his wife visited my housemate for health reason. He saw me sitting outside the house. Maybe he discerned sadness from me and so he asked my condition. “I’m OK, but still jobless though!” I told him. “Ah, I see. I’ll call my friend when I get home.” He replied and left. I was touched.

True to his word, he was there when I needed a job. He referred me to a big boss (his friend) and made sure he left them good impressions out of me. And when the big boss needed some important information of mine, this angel dropped some errands and came by my place just to ask me personally. It’s so seldom in my entire life to have encountered people of good hearts like him.  

A week later I called him to inform about the serious dilemma concerning the job his friend has offered me. It was a crucial decision to make because I found it uneasy how circumstances were dictated by that wicked woman. Again he came to my place and gave me counsel about my situation. He taught me braveness and honesty telling my feelings. I didn’t take a rain check, but said my big NO. Thanks to him!

Just a few days ago, they came to my place again to visit my sick housemate–it wasn’t the only reason actually–but another special delivery–an unexpected monetary blessing. He handed me a white envelop and so my two housemates. As we said thanks, they only said a phrase… “God has blessed us extra, and so we want to share our blessings.” What did I do to deserve this? Feeling blessed!

I raised and prayed for funds about a particular need–a few dollars I needed to visit the kids in the villages, but nobody gave–not even my church or friends back home. Everything was an empty promise. And God answered my prayer through this angel. He even shared more than the amount I needed.

What a special delivery in times of special need! 

At first or at the second thought, my idea was giving this post a title like “Double Action’” or “Triple Action”, but then one gesture turned in one after the other–done in the most special way. Thanks be to God for sending us angels like this couple whose hearts are golden.    

Many people usually say that good things happen when you least expect them. I agree.  But I have something to add…“They happened because some people were willing enough to do them”–like these angels. 

Elegant Grace

Not really sure if there’s an existing compound word like this one–elegant grace, but I’m going to use it anyway. When I thought that grammar rules are in protest against my creative idea, my dictionary does see eye to eye with me. Surprise, surprise! Or if I am still confusing you, let’s just pretend that it exists or else I’ll have it patent for you to be convinced.  

This is the story of four people who experience grace every single day, and who in many ways have fully grasped its meaning more than I do perhaps. Through their lives grace is revealed this time in forms I haven’t thought my whole life–now a compelling story tell.      

I’ve known them by names in the past, but it was God’s grace has brought us together–neither generation nor cultural diversity have spaced between us–now we’re family.

For those who have been following me in this blog, you guys know my heartaches and lamentations the past five months–when I felt so downcast and isolated. And then God sent four angels to attend my longing for a friend. During this time my Creator has explained more of His love by the life-examples of these folks I didn’t even know before. My apology if I can’t elaborate what they have done to me one by one, it would take me for ages.

His gracious grace is beyond comprehension. As I prefer to call it an “elegant grace” because they had to fly from across the miles to hear my pain and sorrows, to pray for me and encourage me–in a manner I didn’t expect–to be reminded how truly special child I am of my Abba, Father. 

Also I was very transparent about my fortitude–no matter what–I needed friends to listen at least. Like a brave combatant in my own war or like an energetic competitor in my own fierce competition–I break down too–and for countless times I did. God knows I needed friends to journey with me in this seemingly debacle and catastrophe–but not defeated. I am so grateful for these new friends who were there with me in my utmost discouragement and restlessness.

Were it not for grace, then I’ll just feign my strength not needing anyone. And were it not for grace, I don’t think deserve to be in the presence of these angels who are so busy with their own agendas. In such a short time grace is explained in different side unknown–again to experience and comprehend it afresh.

Without a doubt, I know deep in my heart that God’s grace is priceless first and foremost, but I’d like to take it in an attractive way–an elegant grace–it is more relevant to me at this moment.

Isn’t His grace indeed elegant? Yes, it is!

Let me end this article with a note: “Thank you brothers for this wonderful privilege getting to know you and see how elegant grace is at times. You just don’t know how much it means a lot to me. Honestly, you were not those angels I predicted to come into my life, but God in his own time designed this path. This experience makes me forever grateful, forever changed, and forever conscious of the grace of God. A million thanks. Blessings!”

Angelic or Devilish?

A very good friend of mine referred me to his co-board member for a job that sure fits my intention, experience, and academic orientation. His friend is also the president/ founder of that institution (N.G.O.) where I was supposed to work for. But it was another person, a Korean woman, who came all the way from another city to meet me up for an interview. I got the job.

Since then I got phone calls and text messages everyday including endless meetings. And for the first time in three months my life had never been that crazily busy–with this mysterious lady.

My first three meetings with her were fine. She looked like decent to me–so kind–an angel I thought would be working and traveling with in business purposes. But then the rest of the meetings were different stories. And what I sensed about her was poles apart. She started to show her colors. I didn’t know how much she knew, but I was reading her personality including her extremely surprising and yet wicked intentions.

If I had to exaggerate my story, horns began growing from the top of her head. Like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, that’s how she pretended like a philanthropist and the way she hid her evil sides. She has a rather devil-may-care attitude to her evil desires, but she can’t fool me.  

Thought I had the answer to my prayers, but it was another tight spot to be–a catch-22 situation–a dilemma–to lose this opportunity or to lose my mind. Of course, I’ve chosen sanity (laugh out loud).

Who would like to work for her or work with this devilish female creature anyway? Not me–as sure as eggs is eggs.

I used to be excited for every opportunity there was, but I’ve mellowed over time. And on that occasion, wisdom outstripped emotions. After many disappointments I’ve learned my hardest aside from not to expect anything. I was right. Glad I did or else I’d be upset big time again.

Patient is virtue and I don’t mind waiting forever necessarily for another chance. I rather stay in this scenario than to fall into the trap of the devil’s own job.

She knew I was desperate for an employment and she took advantage of my condition to put me in her schemes. The way she dictated the circumstances weren’t easy and it was like to be between the devil and the deep blue sea–in a scary, in a controlling, and in a cunning way. Sorry, I wasn’t born today. 

“Better the devil you know, than the devil you don’t!” I once read, but which is which is still devilish and I am on the side of the angels–not on her side.

Just had a big regret because I really hoped she was another angel could journey with. But thank God I discovered immediately that she wasn’t the one before she could finally ruin my life. I wonder how many are her kinds? Please do remind me!