Nang Maligo Ako sa Ulan

“When we were kids, the whole world was a playground. As adults, we forgot that.” -- Yes Man

Malakas na ang buhos ng ulan noong ako’y nagising. Bumangon ako para isara ang pinto pagkatapos makaalis ng aking kapatid. Naramdaman ko ang malalakas na patak ng ulan sa aking mga paa. Maligo kaya ako sa ulan? Matagal ko na rin pinangarap na makaligo sa ulan ulit. Kailan pa ba ang huling beses na ginawa ko ‘to? Hindi ko na maalala. Nagdadalawang isip ako at medyo inaantok pa kaya pumasok nalang ulit ako sa kwarto. At doon nagsimula na ako makipagtalo sa aking sarili.

Inaantok pa ako, sa susunod nalang.

--- Minsan lang ‘to! Ngayon na!

Baka magkasakit ako. Pagod ako kahapon, tapos mamaya madami ding gagawin.

--- Magkasakit?! Diba sabi nga ng mga libro mo mas mahina ang immune system ng mga bata? E nung bata ka nga kapag pinayagan ka tatakbo ka na agad sa labas para salubungin ang ulan! Tapos sasabihin mo ngayon ka pa magkakasakit?

Eh.... Baka humina na rin agad ang ulan, sayang effort.

--- Hindi pa ‘yan hihina. Matagal pa yan.

Hindi naman pwedeng nakapantulog ako diba?

--- Magpalit ka na.

...

--- Now na.

Nagpalit ako ng damit, lumabas ng kwarto at nagtungo sa aming hardin.

Masarap pala talaga maligo sa ulan.

Kakaiba ang pakiramdam ng mga patak ng tubig sa balat. Masaya. Para kang lumangoy pero hindi. Pagkatapos ng ilang sandali may iba akong naramdaman. Giniginaw ako. Bakit dati noong bata ako hindi naman ako giniginaw? Ah, oo nga pala, naglalaro ako noon at tumatakbo. Hindi naman ata ako puwede maglaro ngayon kasi wala naman akong kalaro. Magsasayaw nalang ako. Kaya sa gitna ng ulan, ako ay nagensayo ng “Worthy is the Lamb”.

Masaya maligo sa ulan. Masaya maging bata. Lalo na ‘pag matanda ka na.

Gateway to the Acropolis

6,000 years. that's how long scholars think the Greek civilization has been existing. i stood at the gate of the Acropolis, the Propylaia, and was amazed by the enormity of the structure.

for thousands of years, people have come and gone through this gate with various agendas and thoughts. people of different eras and cultures and backgrounds have stepped on the same piece of marble i stood in. i found it hard to comprehend the number of individuals who have gone before me through this same gate. what they looked like, what they wore, what they ate and what they spoke of, i could only imagine. in a sea of people in my thoughts, i was lost. i felt tiny. insignificant. just another vapor in the wind.

in seeing my meekness, i saw GOD's greatness. imagine: how many babies' cries has he heard? how many faces have smiled when they saw the flowers bloom? how much food has He provided the world? how many storms and earthquakes has he allowed? how many families has He cared for? how many lies has He been told? how many broken promises? how much insult and shame has He received? how many times has He gone after those who were lost? how much scorn, rejection and pain has He felt?

i could only imagine.

they say that people have existed for several thousands of years. but how long is a thousand years? i'd never come to understand that, and perhaps i never will. but i do know this, before those thousands of years came to be, the LORD ALMIGHTY was there. He is the ALPHA, and He is the OMEGA; the FIRST, and the LAST.

GREAT AND MIGHTY IS THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY!
HE IS WORTHY OF OUR PRAISE FOREVER!

Escape

In prison, when you cheat your way out, you escape.
In traffic, when you take the uncongested detours, you escape.
In life, when you want to press pause and take a breather, you have a vacation.

i am going to escape.

yey!