Kailan Kaya

11/19/2009

 
Kailan kaya ako makakaidlip ng payapa 
     ng walang luhang dumadaloy sa aking pisngi?
     ng walang mga buntong hiningang nagkakalma sa aking sarili?

Kailan kaya muling masisilayan ang pagsikat at paglubog ng araw 
     ng walang halong takot o ano mang pakundali?
     na muling mahawakan ang iyong kamay, mahagkan ang iyong mga labi?

Kailan kaya
Kailan kaya
Kailan kaya 
     ako mabubuong muli?

On Prayer

11/14/2009

 
One person’s comment about prayer bothered me the other day. He/she said that Prayer doesn’t work, that the problem sometimes is that people forget that there are prayers unanswered. This statement bothered me because its wrapped with misconceptions and self-gratifying expectations.

First off, Prayer does not translate “Abracadabra.” It is not a magical word we simply say for God to grant our wishes.

Next, Prayer is not a one-way street. It is two way - we speak, God listens. God speaks and we (should) shut up. It is a dynamic communication shared with a living God.

Lastly, Prayer is not always answered the way we want them to be. God is not a vending machine that easily puts out the candy once the money is in. As I had learned early on, God’s answer varies - it can either be Yes, No or Wait.

So it is not that Prayer doesn’t work, it does. We’re just too self-involved to realize it has been answered, especially in ways not prone to our liking.