I Thank,

Therefore I Am

October 8 – Fr Reuter’s pastoral text is: Life is a beautiful gift of God. Every moment of life is beautiful. Especially this moment, right here, right now.

Oh Father, yes! You’re 93? I’m 67. I thank God you’re able to write that, I thank God I’m able to write this. Years ago, I learned something. So now, when friends or acquaintances greet me, ‘Kamusta?’ ‘How are you?’ I always say, ‘Buhay!’ ‘Alive!’

Sometimes I forget, but when I don’t, I give thanks to God for the sleep I am about to take, or the morning I am about to greet. Another day, another thanks. In my Yahoo email (frankahilario@yahoo.com), my tagline is: ‘I thank, therefore I am.’

My photograph this time is that of a waste bag during Freda’s birthday party (courtesy of Dr O) at Immaculate Conception last September 29, Saturday. Folks, don’t look at the waste bag – look at the green leaves! See? There’s a palm growing, there’s a world out there to explore, to celebrate, to give thanks for.

Peace With God

‘Earth Sandwich’ by Airsteen

Peace With The Environment

14 January – The pastoral text of Fr Reuter is this: There is an inseparable link between respect for the environment and peace among men. Both presuppose peace with God. – Benedict XVI. Respect for the environment goes beyond following the laws of man. This image of a placid Crater Lake in Oregon presupposes an adequate understanding of man, nature and something greater than man and nature that does not stand to reason: God. Faith is faith; you will never arrive at it by reason. You cannot see the above scene as an ‘Earth Sandwich’ unless you understand relationships: ‘one part water, one part sky, rock in the middle!’ (Airsteen). Faith is a perspective, a relationship accepted between man, nature and God. You have to see that perspective yourself, perceive that relationship – no one else can do it for you. If you are able to assume that perspective, if you accept that relationship, then you will respect it, then you will have peace. If you do not have peace with God, you will never have peace with men.

The Signs

The Signs Of The Times

20 December – The pastoral text of Fr Reuter is this: God left heaven, to be born in a stable. At Christmas time, He leaves heaven, to come to you. If you don’t believe that, look at the photograph. Apt image by KatieBate who captions it not-so-simply ‘Trust’ (flickr.com/). The message in the photograph says, ‘God is closer than you think.’ I’ll call that the Signs of the Times.’ That is the message. If you don’t have your eyes examined, you won’t be able to read the rest of the message, because the next letters become successively smaller and smaller. I just had mine eyes examined and ordered a new pair of glasses, courtesy of an old-gold friend, Dr Tony O, so now I can read the fine print. God is over and above everything; all you need to do is read clearly the signs of the times, down to the littlest details – even if there are shadows darkening some parts.