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by PAM
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| A birthday wish... in hope and faith. |
Birthday can be that 'one fine day' of quiet contemplation and reflection, a soulful thanksgiving, or simply just being lazy and being left alone to enjoy some quality "me time"... with a good book and a good music playing in the background, or a day of leisure writing or re-watching a fave movie or TV mini series, or old music videos... or just being surrounded by good vibes all around. It can also be a gathering of loved ones, some fun sharing of anecdotes, or sharing some moments of warm togetherness, or an opportunity to laugh loudly and happily, making fun of each other to disguise deep affection, the expression of which on ordinary days can otherwise make everyone feel awkward and uncomfortable, or playing fun games with the aim of just being foolish and crazy-happy... with good home-cooked food passed around to keep feeding that appetite that grows with the feeling of happiness and satisfaction. Or, it can be a combination of both... a day of remembrance that, in all that we do, we take a step closer to the fulfillment of our fate - God's plan, and a step closer to finally seeing His face... a moment of pure love when there is nothing else to feel but joy.
With the "new normal" in this world that was taken over by COVID-19, I found that birthdays are still happy occasions, in a more laid-back way. There is that simple joy while being physically remote than usual from most of the celebrator's usual crowd. Strangely enough, it wasn't all that bad, especially when we allow ourselves to be treated
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| My simple birthday plate this year. The simplicity does not diminish how special the day is. |
This year, I get to spend my birthday 'quietly'. I made time for myself... I insisted to make time for myself. I refuse to remain a slave of one's, or a few people's, refusal to see why God might be allowing this hideous COVID-19 to take over our lives, which is for us to re-discover the path towards Him... for us to abandon the paths that we invented and built in our foolish belief that we have become so great that we can build a better 'highway' towards a kingdom of the same grandeur as His. I refuse to be a pawn to one person's obsessive desire to own excellence... by pushing everyone around that person to sprint exhaustively to reach the numbers that, to that person, define excellence. It is painful to watch that person's fierce push, believing that excellence in time of pandemic can be measured by numbers rather than the real feeling of joy for having collectively accomplished something of impact on people's lives from shared vision. Too bad that we are missing the golden opportunity to re-discover God... and each other; to make a real difference in people's lives so that they, too, can re-discover God. And, it is sad that that person is taking all the pawns in a direction that spells peril, frustration and disappointment through the emptiness of mere compliance.
Pardon me if that sounded like arrogance and judgment on my part. I admit that I am not in the position nor do I have the moral ascendancy to make that person see how mistaken that person is. And yet, that person might be right. After all, it is possible to be right and foolish at the same time, isn't it? Ah, but this birthday is not about such foolishness, and I have a few more minutes to continue celebrating it. Therefore, I leave a mark of this special day here... while I continue rediscovering the path towards my fate, while I pray fervently for strength, wisdom and love in my heart to resist foolishness without having to push back and risk hurting others... and shepherd my own flock to where true happiness can be found.
I rest my weary heart and troubled mind in God, and I hope that He grants me my wish on this special day. Amen.
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Photo credit: I own the photos. The first was taken in my front yard, and the second was taken on my birthday dinner.
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