The [Whereabouts]

Lately, I find myself always reading books from motivational speakers like Bo Sanchez and Francis Kong. I haven’t met them but whenever I read their books, I always feel like being close to them that I can take their advices and apply them to my life without having any second thoughts. They are my new friends that the only way to talk to them is to have a good and sincere conversation to myself so I can reflect about my life. Sir Francis Kong have shared something about prayer in one of his books entitled One Day At A Time Book 2 that I would like to share also to anyone who’d accidentally or intentionally end on my blog.

One anonymous author said:

I don’t believe in prayer if…

Prayer is JUST a magic charm. But that’s how some people pray. They pray… only so they’ll be safe when they go on vacation. Only so their day will go smoothly. Only so their family will stay happy and healthy. Only so they will get their lucky breaks. I don’t believe in that kind of prayer…

I don’t believe in prayer if…

Prayer is JUST a way to “place my order” with God. But that’s how some people pray. They pray because they’d like to have something they don’t have. Only because they’d rather not have something they do have.  Only because someone is bugging them and they need to have God straighten that person out. Only because they don’t want to have to go through the hard times. I don’t believe in that kind of prayer.

I don’t believe in prayer if…

Prayer is JUST a tranquilizer. But that’s how some people pray. They pray not only because they feel so much better when they do. Only because they’re more relaxed and at peace with the world when they pray. Only because they’re easier to be around when they pray and they want people to like being around them. I don’t believe in that kind of prayer.

I don’t believe in prayer if it’s only a matter of what I can get from God.

BUT I DO BELIEVE IN PRAYER IF…

Prayer is a conversation with someone I love. And that’s just how some people pray. They pray… they want to show God how much they love Him (and spending time with Him is a way to show Him). Because they want to tell God how wonderful they think He is. Because they want to let God know how they’re feeling and what they need Him to do for them and for others. Because they want to say thank you to God. Because they want to say, “I’m sorry.”

I DO BELIEVE IN PRAYER IF…

Prayer is a window that lets me see into God’s heart. (This does not mean I will always understand what He’s doing, but I will understand the kind of God He is – that He is loving and kind, for example.) And that’s just how some people pray. They pray… so they can listen to God. So they know what He wants them to do. So they learn what to ask for now and what not to ask for. So they understand Him better.

I DO BELIEVE IN PRAYER… Prayer is a matter of what I can give to God – my love, my admiration, and my trust.

And indeed, this should be what prayer is all about. Listen, there’s just something about prayer. Not those short text messages we send from time to time, but those disciplined, diligent honest to goodness times-alone-with-God kind of prayer.

Kierkegaard said it right: “Prayer does not change God, but it changes him who prays.”

And if prayer changes me day to day to become more like Christ, then that’s the prayer that I believe in, don’t you?

It’s been more than two years since I had a Facebook account and I must say that it evolved a lot from its site, to the application and even to its users. Now, I’m having a hard time understanding what a social networking site is all about. I thought it’s just an easier way to connect people despite the distance, so I joined.  Now, it was never that way for most people. It’s good at some point that other people see it as a new market to sell products so they can earn money. But what frustrates me is when I see my wall flooded by tags on pictures of items they sell. It’s really annoying. I don’t want be obnoxious but no matter how much I filter what I want to see on my feeds, it still don’t work. Second thing, I’m friendly but I don’t offer friendship that much. It’s something that’s always reserved. For me, I don’t need a lot of friends. I just need a few, seriously. I don’t have much time to keep in touch with everyone and that’s really as sad as it sound. Third, I know I made my life public since I decided to create a personal blog 5-6 years ago. Yes, I must admit that at first I got enticed by also seeing you as a new market to gain additional readers because people from social networking sites are most of the time online so I approved each and every friend invitation I received. But ;ater on, that turned to be something negative. Short status message I put on my wall are not always similar to what I post in my blog. Though both of them are personal, short messages I have on my wall are more personal. It was too late for me to realize that I deserve some privacy since there are people in my list that aren’t really my friends. It resulted on me having stalkers and threats which to me sounds really creepy because it’s not so common for that incidence to happen to a guy. Well, that’s really scary for ladies but it’s really creepy for men. I disabled my “Add as Friend” button to limit on adding me and I also decided to remove some people who I really don’t know. It helped somehow but I have an additional problem. I found out that Facebook is also a place for people who tries to seek fame or popularity (whichever applies best) by changing their names. That’s just ridiculous for me. Why do people have to change their names every now and then? To attract or get people’s attention? Go to rehab retards because you have a histrionic personality which needs to be treated asap. Seek a psychiatrist and get some counseling. Lastly, I see Facebook as a new problem in the family and in school. Instead of spending quality time with family during weekends, everyone is busy Facebooking which sometimes preventing us to eat together as a family. That’s just really sad. And instead of reading books to become smarter in school and in life, they just became too busy feeding their staffs at Restaurant City and Cafe World, harvesting their crops at online Farmville, and a lot more. I’m mad at you and what you caused to the world.

We all have financial obligations. It’s alright to splurge as long as you know that what you are spending is something that is EXTRA. We all deserve to reward ourselves once in a while after spending more than 40 hours of our week from work. We can all eat at fancy restaurants, buy expensive clothes, go somewhere else to unwind, drink and party til you can’t take anything no more, etc. We all deserve it.

I am aware that we all had a high electric bill last month. There was a dramatic increase, I know. Like more than 50% of the regular bill we always see. It was expected because of this hot weather but not that high. And the result? We have to lessen the budget for our grocery. Find alternatives to the usual brands we’re used to so we can still feel that nothing has changed.

We don’t talk that much. We’re not even friends in the first place. But when you approached me and asked me if you can borrow some money because your mum was sick and that she’s in the hospital, I did not fail you. The story was unbelievable but I still gave you the benefit of the doubt. You may not know, I’m a nurse and have a medical background. It’s been quite a while since we last talked. As far as I remember, that was the last time we talked. That was also the last time you looked at me straight to the eye. But what happened now? We’re still seeing each other at the hallway and inside the office but you seem so cold.

But wait! Isn’t it ironic? It’s me who have issues with you and not you who have issues with me. It’s me who should be scared whenever you ask if you can talk to me personally for you may borrow money again. You haven’t paid me yet and you may want to pay now. I heard you’re always eating at McDonalds instead of bringing your own lunch like what most men in the office do. I’m not asking you to pay now because I can still manage. But your promise is already past due. You may want to renew it. Approach me. Let me know when you can pay me. It isn’t that hard and degrading to let me know that than me approaching you about your debts which will make you feel that you’re at the lowest point of your life.