Newspaper headlines tell about election related issues, different confusing political agenda and different disturbing situations here in the Philippines. How are we affected with these? Sino ang mga naiipit sa lahat ng ito?

Year 2006 has just ended and another year is counted but it is has no such gap even just for second, between 2006 and 2007. Perhaps, we can use it to give ourselves a hint where are we in our own individual lives. As if there’s a big difference between the two years, not too much. It is always a hint that gives us the idea that we are “on-the-go” always.

I would like to borrow the “road sign” that says, “Work on Progress, Slow Down.” This is what we do, whether it’s 2006 or 2007. It is always a question of our attitude in life; how we see it and how do we live it accordingly. Our work is always on progress. Our daily ramblings, our daily obligations to our families, to our careers, to ourselves and to God. It’s an affair of our whole being; heart and mind, the whole person towards God, to others and to self: interconnected, interoven and that is “relationship.”

Relationship can be either detached or attached, intimate or in conflict. Everything is in relationship. Even just as simple as taking a bath is how we relate with one’s self, even just helping other siblings in washing the dishes, extending a hand to the needy or by just listening to a person whom nobody listens with, is a relationship, and being aware of the great creator, , being grateful is a relationship. Asking ourselves, “Where am I now?” is a question of how do we relate with ourselves, to others and to the Great Author. Are we in conflict? Are we intimately attached? Yes or no, is the same as thank you or I’s sorry. Which is easier?

The purity of attitude is saying thank you or I’m sorry is significant. Am I really saying these with pure intention? Or it is just for a show. To self, to others, and to God, mentioning is not necessary, it’s the heart that knows: reconciliation with one’s self, others and to God. Which is easier, really? For me it’s not on the weight but on the attitude of what it is all about.

For the new counting of the year, we need to realize that reconciliation is important. Janus, a Roman mythological god, whom we got the name for the first month January, has two faces, in front and at the back. he sees what’s in front of him and what’s at his back. It is also like seeing the future and the past, symbol of change and transition, there is reconciliation. Like Janus, we may have the attitude to say truly: Thank you for the goodness of the past year, and I’m sorry for the bad things happened…

“Random reflection”