Yesterday, I was so delighted to see, Igi, my eldest, and Blaise, the youngest among the boys, finally able to swim across the ends of the pool (about 30 meters) at their young age of 5 and 4 respectively. Blaise, the most athletic of the boys (because Raine, my daughter, is the most athletic of them all!) was the first to learn swimming. His strokes and timing are very natural. Igi’s strokes and timing are quite off but more effective.
I am not a swimming coach and I am not a scientific swimmer. I can float and I can swim from point A to point B and that’s it—like a dog or frog or turtle, it doesn’t matter. The little that I know, I share to my kids. To my surprise, they mirrored back to me more precious lessons.
If my sons’ friends would ask them how they learned to swim, they might give these pointers:
1) I’d really like to swim in the deeper pool because it’s where Dad and I have more fun
1) To swim a distant, I build my confidence swimming short distances first
2) In building confidence in short distances, it's easier when Dad is within reach
3) Dad must move back when I swim nearer to him; he must stretch my abilities
4) When I am about to give up before the destination, Dad tells me how close I am and I usually can finish
5) At times I would not make it, Dad would hold me up, embrace me and tell me to try again
6) When I succeed in swimming across the pool, Dad shows me how far I’ve swam…then I know I can swim and I’m good at it
I can't help to see similarities in learning to “swim” from who I am now to who I am meant to be--from this world to thy-kingdom-come.
Sons, please teach your Dad some more.
Independence Day
12th of this month, we commemorate our country’s independence from our Spanish colonizers. Our forefathers fought long and hard for this independence. But from most historians’ account, it was a very short lived one since new colonizers—who bought us from the Spaniards—immediately came in. It may be a pseudo independence but it was a milestone worth celebrating for our country.
Celebrating small victories is a way to gain momentum to win a big war. Yet we are all aware that winning small battles does not necessarily ensure final victory; we may even lose small battles at times.
In life, we tend to go to both extremes. We celebrate small victories as though the work and struggle is over; or feel so down and out when we lost small battles as though we have been conquered. I feel the latter for the past several weeks. The feeling of defeat seems more emphasized when I cannot see (or probably refuse to see) what the struggle is all about or what I stand to gain from it.
Probably when we have a “Why” to go into battle and fully embrace it, the “How” in winning the battle comes very naturally. Temporary setbacks or victories would not derail us to achieve the final victory.
The Cavs may have lost Games 1 &2 of the NBA Finals Series but I’ll bet they’ll come out stronger for Game 3 at home. I always go for the underdogs. I myself will come out stronger and recover….
Celebrating small victories is a way to gain momentum to win a big war. Yet we are all aware that winning small battles does not necessarily ensure final victory; we may even lose small battles at times.
In life, we tend to go to both extremes. We celebrate small victories as though the work and struggle is over; or feel so down and out when we lost small battles as though we have been conquered. I feel the latter for the past several weeks. The feeling of defeat seems more emphasized when I cannot see (or probably refuse to see) what the struggle is all about or what I stand to gain from it.
Probably when we have a “Why” to go into battle and fully embrace it, the “How” in winning the battle comes very naturally. Temporary setbacks or victories would not derail us to achieve the final victory.
The Cavs may have lost Games 1 &2 of the NBA Finals Series but I’ll bet they’ll come out stronger for Game 3 at home. I always go for the underdogs. I myself will come out stronger and recover….
Orange Juice
My family went last night to West Coast Park to tour my in-laws and a nephew who are visiting us. The kids played in the swings, slides and everything there as if it's always the first time. Taking a sip of cold orange juice while watching them play, I cannot help but feel grateful to God for such wonderful gifts. It was a dream come true.
My eldest son was not "made" in Boracay where my wife and I had our honeymoon. We would muse that he was made at home after the honeymoon--after several patient attempts. I was a bit nervous at that time that my wife might not be able to conceive a child. But lo and behold, I even have now a twins. Four children--three boys, with a twins, a young cute and lovely princess--all of them healthy and bright. What more can I ask for?
At times I can be so engrossed thinking about what my specific Divine Assignments at work and in my community would be 5-10 years down the road. I want to contribute something meaningful and significant. But sometimes I tend to overlook that fact that having a family is itself a Divine assignment and a high priority at that.
I guess I have to take more fresh orange juice these days.
My eldest son was not "made" in Boracay where my wife and I had our honeymoon. We would muse that he was made at home after the honeymoon--after several patient attempts. I was a bit nervous at that time that my wife might not be able to conceive a child. But lo and behold, I even have now a twins. Four children--three boys, with a twins, a young cute and lovely princess--all of them healthy and bright. What more can I ask for?
At times I can be so engrossed thinking about what my specific Divine Assignments at work and in my community would be 5-10 years down the road. I want to contribute something meaningful and significant. But sometimes I tend to overlook that fact that having a family is itself a Divine assignment and a high priority at that.
I guess I have to take more fresh orange juice these days.
Riding a Bus
I take a bus everyday going to work. In the 15 minutes trip, I either read a book, or listen to music with MySony or occasionally recite the rosary or just let my mind wonder freely. The past days I allowed my mind to wonder and it bumped into something seemingly trivial but quite meaningful.
People change. Riding a bus can reveal to us funny and startling changes in us. So what changed in the way I ride a bus from my student days?
Before, I prefer sitting near the window. I never seem to get tired seeing the same things, place and people along the way--there seem to be always something new to see outside the bus. I don’t mind if I have to squeeze myself past the passenger sitting near the aisle. I enjoyed the wind brushing my face. So it’s not a big deal combing my hair after the trip. If there are no available seats near the window, I just take the nearest one.
Now, I prefer sitting near the aisle not only because it’s easier and faster to alight, but it seems that looking outside the bus is not as exciting as before. And it’s quite inconvenient now to squeeze past the person near the aisle—careful not let him/her kiss my butt, specially when the driver steps on the brakes. Yes, I don’t wanna comb my hair after a ride. Oh, I now comb my hair just twice a day—before I sleep and after I take my morning bath. (I recall always having a comb in my pocket then—my fingers now would do.) Now, in choosing an empty seat, I’d prefer to sit beside a more pleasant-looking person.
Do all these observations suggest then that my sense of awe and wonder have diminished? That I’m are more concerned with bottom lines and destinations rather than enjoying the trip? That not sitting beside a more pleasant-looking person will make my trip less enjoyable?
Hmmm…why not try again my old bus riding habits for a week?
People change. Riding a bus can reveal to us funny and startling changes in us. So what changed in the way I ride a bus from my student days?
Before, I prefer sitting near the window. I never seem to get tired seeing the same things, place and people along the way--there seem to be always something new to see outside the bus. I don’t mind if I have to squeeze myself past the passenger sitting near the aisle. I enjoyed the wind brushing my face. So it’s not a big deal combing my hair after the trip. If there are no available seats near the window, I just take the nearest one.
Now, I prefer sitting near the aisle not only because it’s easier and faster to alight, but it seems that looking outside the bus is not as exciting as before. And it’s quite inconvenient now to squeeze past the person near the aisle—careful not let him/her kiss my butt, specially when the driver steps on the brakes. Yes, I don’t wanna comb my hair after a ride. Oh, I now comb my hair just twice a day—before I sleep and after I take my morning bath. (I recall always having a comb in my pocket then—my fingers now would do.) Now, in choosing an empty seat, I’d prefer to sit beside a more pleasant-looking person.
Do all these observations suggest then that my sense of awe and wonder have diminished? That I’m are more concerned with bottom lines and destinations rather than enjoying the trip? That not sitting beside a more pleasant-looking person will make my trip less enjoyable?
Hmmm…why not try again my old bus riding habits for a week?
So why Soulsearcher for a handle?
Just a quick thought. No intentions to be philosophical or spiritual about it. Words with double meaning are fun. But sometimes quick thoughts and our kind of fun reveal something more about us. So after using this handle for almost a month, I took time to think how my unconscious might have suggested this nickname.
People at crossroads are basically soul searching. They examine themselves--who they really are, what they really want, where they really want to go, what must they do or stop doing. I am at crossroads (more on that in my succeeding blogs). But being too self-focused makes people miss the hundred other ways God can speak to us. God can speak to us through other people. People who in their brokeness can help us discover our own brokeness. It is in this discovery that we realize how dependent we are to God. Such dependency, which may be a sign of weakness, will be our source of strength. It is in our search for our soul that we become compassionate with other people.
When we search for souls, we can find our souls. Better yet, when we search our souls, we find other souls to help along the journey.
Did I say I had no intentions to be philosophical or spiritual about it? Hehe
People at crossroads are basically soul searching. They examine themselves--who they really are, what they really want, where they really want to go, what must they do or stop doing. I am at crossroads (more on that in my succeeding blogs). But being too self-focused makes people miss the hundred other ways God can speak to us. God can speak to us through other people. People who in their brokeness can help us discover our own brokeness. It is in this discovery that we realize how dependent we are to God. Such dependency, which may be a sign of weakness, will be our source of strength. It is in our search for our soul that we become compassionate with other people.
When we search for souls, we can find our souls. Better yet, when we search our souls, we find other souls to help along the journey.
Did I say I had no intentions to be philosophical or spiritual about it? Hehe
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