Ball Catching 101

123 Catch!.. 123 Catch!.. 123 Catch! 

What a melody to complete the ambiance of my date. 

One Sunday afternoon, in a ground size of a football field, clothed with soft green grass, surrounded by tall and dancing mahogany trees, (where the dry leaves under them makes them look more lovely), with a cold refreshing air and beautiful skyline brought by sunset, matched by sounds of birds and airplane passing above, plus the laughter of children, I found myself dating a beautiful three year old boy whose arms were already stretched forward set to catch a pink, mouse-decorated, not so well inflated bouncy (not really) ball. 

Yes, I was teaching my son AJ how to catch a ball, and we’re doing it on a vacant lot near Walter Mart - Carmona. 

It was a wonderful and inspiring date for me (I hope for AJ too). AJ’s laughter has never failed to echo God’s goodness to me since I have committed myself to raise a family. Moreover, this date ‘aka’ Ball Catching 101 course for AJ has reminded me of the  Inspirations of Pasahero; relationships that a pasahero should sustain if he wants to be truly generous and experience God’s abundance in his life. 

What is this inspiration?

I call it, The Inspiration of Allowness! 

Or The Readiness to Receive!

Or simply, The Gift of Openness!

I do not know how you were able to learn to catch a ball or how other tatay’s  teach their children this thing, but observing my son even before I counted 1,2,3 and signaled him to catch, AJ had already stretched his arms and had opened his hands for him to be ready to catch the ball. And as I tossed the ball towards him, he did all the effort to catch the ball and hold it in his both hands. Most of the times he failed, but you know what- whether he was able to catch the ball or not, his laughter and excitement never change. (I cannot really describe how happy I was dating my son like this. If you have little kids and never tried this before, please do it with them. If you don’t have one yet or you’re still single, just borrow).

Most of the times, this is what people fail to realize and the reason why they fall from the belief that they do not receive any blessing from God and see themselves ‘malas’ or  failure. I do not believe that God gave you His own image and likeness and later on make you a ‘malas’ or a failure. Surely, God has a great plan more than this. What I believe is what Jesus said, 

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask him”. (Mt. 7:11). 

Have you noticed, the problem is not that God is unmoved by our needs, or has favoritism in distributing His goods. He is actually so generous (as in sobrang generous!) The problem is that many people are not ready to stretch their arms and open their hands to catch and hold God’s blessings.  Worse, many of these people are indifferent to His blessings because they are busy holding other things. 

If AJ would not catch the ball I’m about to toss, nothing would happen. This is obvious! This is also the same with blessings. If we’re not receptive enough to catch and hold blessings, we will never enjoy it. We will never be able to maximize it. 

Furthermore, I believe that all of us is enrolled in ‘Ball Catching 101”. Our professor is no other than our Tatay in heaven.  Everyday, He throw blessings (saying 1,2,3 .. catch!) and train us to be ready to catch, hold, and enjoy them. My prayer is that we learn fast and be able to pass this course. 

Believe me. There’s no other way to experience and maximize the abundance of our Father’s goodness than to be ready to catch and hold them dearly.

Why I’m sharing this to you?

Because this is the main idea behind the Four Inspirations of Pasahero. Without this inspiration of Allowness, you will find it very hard to be a pasahero. Without the ability to be receptive, you cannot truly give. 

What are these inspirations?Are you ready to discover them?

Sure?

Let’s begin!!

    Inspiration 1:  Allowing God to Love You

    Inspiration 2:  Allowing Yourself to Love You

    Inspiration 3:  Allowing Yourself to Love Others

    Inspiration 4:  Allowing Yourself to Love by Others

I’m already excited to expand these inspirations to you one by one in my up-coming posts. My prayer is that you have already ponder on these things and just like before, I will be glad to hear some comments from you.

Thank you for your generosity reading this post.

May you always be inspired! 

"All The Things I Need To Value, I Learned As A Passanger!"

 You do yourself a favor when you are kind, If you are cruel, you only hurt yourself.

- Proverbs 11:17

A blessed day!

Let me introduce the “Four Inspirations” and “Eight Habits of Pasahero” by sharing to you first my “Jeepney Etiquette”.

Have you ever heard of this before?

If not, this is actually a list of good manners and right conduct (parang ‘yung kinalakihan nating table manners) that a pasahero should observe in order for him to experience a joyful, inspiring, safe and holy travel (don’t worry, this is not yet the travel to afterlife).  

This is not a complete list (I will really appreciate if you can add more to the list) but as far as being pasahero since birth up to this day, deliberately observing them has helped me (consciously and unconsciously) to acquire set of values which continuously guiding  me in maintaining a happy relationship with myself, others, and specially with God. (Kaya pala ‘di ako binibigyan ng sariling sasakyan ni Lord hanggang ngayon.) 

I am looking forward to share with you a more detailed discussion on this list in my future posts but for the meantime, I ‘m just giving you the list. Enjoy it.

Ready?

Go!

 

1. Wake-up early! (Ito ang simula ng lahat).
2. Eat breakfast. (Crucial din ‘to kapatid).
3. Prepare an exact fare. (Barya lang po sa umaga! Plataporma na rin ito ng mga kandidato makapagdikit lang ng mga stickers sa jeep kahit hindi pa oras ng kampanya).
4. Pay your fare. Honestly! (God knows Hudas not pay! Isang example ng Pinoy  Homophones).
5. Return excess change.
6. Share your seat. Or for elderly, disabled, and children; give it!
7. Mag-abot ng bayad...with a smile:)
8.  Say please and thank you a lot. 
9.   Smile to as many passanger as you can. (Batiin ang kakilala kahit walang pang-libre. Challenging ‘to). 
10. No smoking! (Batas na ito ngayon).
11. Huwag matulog lalo na sa jeep. (Di pa batas, pero malapit na).
12. Makipag-usap lang ng katamtaman (May natutulog kasi. Joke).
13. Sumakay at bumaba sa tamang lugar. (Bawal! May nanghuhuli- driver).
14. Iwasang bumanggit ng pangalan sa kwentuhan. (Lalo na kung negatibo at tsismis ang pinagu-usapan).
15. 'Wag magbasa ng text ng may text, lalo na't hindi kakilala (nakaka-asar kasi).
16. Maki-'para' (Kapag ‘bingi’ ang driver, sabi nila).
17. ‘Pag may pila, pumila. Kung wala, gumawa!
18. Iwasang sumabit. (Sa pintuan, sa harapan, sa bubungan, sa gilid, o maging sa ilalim ng sasakyan).
19. ‘Wag magkalat sa loob o labas ng sasakyan. (Mortal sin na ito ngayon, fyi).
20. Magdala ng candy or biscuit, pati na rin ng libro. (Marami itong benefits, share ko sa inyo next time).
21. Tumulong at magbigay ng direksyon (Kung kaya at alam mo).
22. Ingatan ang iyong mga dala at sikaping hindi ito makaabala.
23. Huwag pag-isipan na mandurukot o holdaper ang lahat ng ka-sakay mo. (Bad yon).
24. Always maintain a positive self-talk (Madalas kausap mo ang sarili mo pag nagbi-byahe ka mag-isa, wag tatanggi).
25. Magmasid (na parang turista).
26. Pray a lot! (Highly recommended ko ito. Lalo na yung ala-living rosary sa loob ng sasakyan.  Marami rin akong kwento tungkol dito).

What do you think?

I hope you enjoyed and appreciate the list. Again, if ever you have additional “Jeepney Etiquette”, please let me know. I‘ll wait for it!

Thank you very much.

May you always be inspired!