The Incovenient Truth

I'm feeling a bit sad today. Please forgive this in not my usual sunshiny entry. Yesterday, I went to visit my friend's father's wake and the way going there took longer than expected. While in the jeepney, I learned that the reason for the crawling traffic was that someone was shot while on his motorcycle and his body remained splattered on the road.

I felt sad because given that there was a man who was murdered, people grumbled that he was causing traffic. I wanted to say out loud to fellow passengers, that sorry he incoveniently died at the time you were going home.  Look, here was a man who was no longer going home to his family. Perhaps, it would be okay to be more patient on his behalf.

I feel so sad also because I  learned that one of our GK resident's brother was killed by his co-worker. It is too much to bear the thought that life could be taken just like that without remorse, so callously, as if life was a garbage that could be easily discarded.

Life, it's so fragile and so precious.  Those that died in a bus bombing or the construction workers who fell to their death from a building a few weeks ago, knew not that the day would be their last. There are accidents and there are tragedies. But those who take life away is most disturbing to me.

To hear a former general accused of alleged corruption committing suicide today also makes me sad. Will taking one's life solve any problem? How can it be an honorable act? I understand that desperation and depression may have caused him to take his own life and I really feel sad that he felt so bad that he had to resort to such a recourse. Did he feel there was no hope left, no one to help him? I feel it is a selfish and a cowardly act to take one's life. How about the loved ones you will leave behind, think of the people who care for you?  Even just for them, will you not have courage to live! Will going away solve anything? What changes can one do when one is dead?

Is death an inconvenient truth? When we face the certainty death, we can live our lives with more meaning, always conscious of the fact that life has a deadline and because of it we must make most of every moment we have. I don't think we have the right to end it anytime we want. Life is a gift, only the Giver has the right to take it back.

There is always hope as long as we are alive. Let us not give up! Despite the loneliness or the disappointments, let's fight for life. Let's fight for all that is good in this life. May perfect love cast out all desperation. And may life in all its forms be respected. 

"With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,

It is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy." (Desiderata)

Our prayer today: May the souls of the dearly departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.