Pop Spirituality Anyone?

For some decades now the term "Pop Psychology" has been in use to describe the way Psychology has become available to the common man it has become part of popular culture. Speak of self-help books and motivational speakers, they're part of a sprawling network that strives to "help" an individual do some psychological face-lift. Yet let me extend this "pop" thing to Spirituality, where persons, after reading some spiritual books or listening to inspirational talks, become so "filled up with the Spirit" they seem to blaze with new-found level of sanctity.

It's quite common but silent phenomena among us, when we are so inspired by one talk or another, or some book, or some event that recently happened we tend to think we have actually crossed heaven's threshold way ahead of time. Sure, 180-degree conversions have taken place miraculously, but for the most of us, conversions don't happen in a single spark of inspiration. I'm not pouring water over the action of the Spirit, but if we talk of conversion, we are actually talking of a life-long struggle.

As they say, there is never a shortcut to heaven without really passing through Christ and his cross. So forgive me if I doubt some magnanimous conversions because the first thing I really search for in a true conversion are the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, kindness, patience, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Without sensing these fruits of the Spirit one could not have received real conversion.

I admit, I quite find myself irritated with persons who act like they are saints, so pious in religious practices, but then are found wanting in the qualities that you can find in those who have really found the treasures of heaven. Maybe it's because it's my own pitfall too and maybe I find too many of them in the churches. True sanctity, I believe, is achieved through hard work and through the grace of God who gives it generously to those who ask for it.

One thing that I find most useful for anyone who wishes to become a holy, if not holy then someone who just wants to get closer to God, is fidelity to Truth. You can never work on your weaknesses and develop your strengths if you can't see the Truth within you. Being honest to one's self, perhaps is the first step. But, let me remind you, I'm no guru in sanctity. I too have my own struggles and falls, and I hope we all persevere in our own struggles that we may be found worthy of God because, despite our misdeeds and mistakes, we have always set our eyes on Him.

True Friends Stick Like Super Glue

"Kahit maputi na ang buhok ko..." so goes the song. I was listening to some oldies as I was enjoying again my past and one thing really struck me. You guessed it right,

True Friends Stick Like Super Glue

I had the experience of dealing with fingers stuck together with some super glue, the skin so strongly pasted together you might literally tear yourself apart if you force it. Such are friends who really care. No matter what the circumstances, they stick on and hold on. Even when your hair turns grey.

I have excellent examples of friends who never left me and excellent examples of people who you thought were friends leave you behind or abandon you. Not entering into bittersweet melancholy mode, we all have our share of good friends and fake friends. So, beware, both of the danger of fake friends and of the danger of being the fake friend.

Since we are approaching the big day of our Father and Teacher, St John Bosco, let me connect this with the saints. The halls of sanctity is also marked with pairs and pairs of really good and loyal friends. As they say, you don't get to be a saint alone, you bring others with you.  For a short and interesting list, here you go:

St John Bosco and his good friend Louis Comollo. 

Bl. Augustus Czartoryski and Ven. Andrew Beltrami. 

St. Francis of Sales and St. Jane Frances de Chantal. 

St. Francis of Assisi and St. Claire.

and there was Jesus and Lazarus.

From humanity to sanctity, we need friends whom we can depend on. We need friends who can accept us for who we are and love us just the way we are. We need friends who can push us to change for the better. We need friends who we can grow together with. Friends are gifts from God. We need to take care of them. So take care of your friends who have always stuck up with you through thick and thin. Find and thank those who have been silently supporting you in the dim background. Beware of those who wear masks who could easily betray and abandon you, people who really don't value you.

As a note, I'd like to thank all my friends out there, who have been always a source of inspiration for me. Once you touch my life, your print stays forever.

Beyond

I wish to go beyond, to faraway
Somewhere far, farther than today
Beyond the small confines of my fears
Above the grey clouds of my saline tears
To where I can soar towards the golden sun
Where I won't have to hide or run

I wish to go beyond, somewhere
Fields of green and life to share
With those I love and closely keep
Near my heart and then gently sleep
In night's embrace and day's caress
In deep slumber of sweet peacefulness

I wish to go beyond, sometime
Where time stands still in my solitary mind
Each moment is all mine to seize
Wishes and dreams for my hand to reach
Far beyond, and farther still
Until nothing is but love to feel