Religion or Relationship: A Lenten Reflection

 “Jesus is alive! He is risen from the death! He is alive forevermore!” These words are typically stated during the Easter Sunday mass anywhere. However, at some point in time, this statement is accompanied with “we are serving the ONLY living God! Buddha is dead. The patrons of Catholicism are dead; their Christ is hanged on the cross! Mohammed is dead! So are the gods of Hinduism.  So on and so forth. Our God is the ONLY living God!”  Will it make us more good, [and] they more evil, when we say these words? Will it make us more righteous because we are serving the “only living God”? I don’t think so. Some say we are not after any religion for we pursue and we campaign relationship with the Saviour than religion. Then again, why is there a need for a comparison of whose god is living whose god is dead? Is it really necessary? Comparing with other “religions” makes our advocate a religion as well, isn’t it?

It is written that by faith, and by faith alone, a man can be saved. It is the belief of mankind that brings about salvation. We have different ways of believing. We do also have different ways of worshipping. It is still faith that saves one, no more, no less. Whether a person is a Muslim or a Christian, a Hindu or a Buddhist, a theist or an atheist, faith brings about salvation.

“Religion is just a way of living,” as how one of my trusted friends defined it. It is a discipline that strengthens our faith to the saviour. However, it is also the primary reason why people are divided into factions of multiple beliefs. We do not need to debate about which “religion” is true, and which is hoax. (Well, anyway, every religion claims to be the ultimate truth; all the others are just a part of the whole truth.) Debate, in the first place, causes disagreement. In disagreement, peace is gone. If there’s no peace, there’s war. And, yes, we are in a war. It is not a battle between who is good and who is less good. It is a battle between good and evil. Religion is a weapon discreetly used amongst us. We should learn not to be deceived by it.

I agree that we have to build relationship with the saviour and live through it religiously. I do not question the fact that faith is built and strengthened through constant conversing with the saviour. This is how a lasting relationship is built. Moreover, I also believe that everyone is in a relationship with the saviour already. We do not have to question what kind of relation there is. The only things we have to do are to respect and understand their choice of who to believe and who to worship. We should not condemn nor convict them!

The world is dying. I am afraid that there will be no hope in reviving its losing life. There are wars raging in almost every continent, physical or not. If we continue claiming that ours is the ultimate truth and theirs is not, how can we win them over religion? If we persist on saying “our God is the only living God” and their gods are not living in one way or another or our faith is the only faith that brings about salvation to the mankind, how can we convince them that it is their relationship with the saviour that will lead them to being saved?

What this world needs are people who can understand and who can respect. Regardless of what religion they are into, we must respect it. However, anyway, it is not a religion that we are offering, right? Regardless of what religion they are into, we have to understand them. We have our own choices. We cannot dictate someone to choose one over the others. They are not our slaves, in the first place. We also have our own reasons. What we can do is to understand them, and tell them they might as well consider building a lasting relationship with the saviour.

 There is no need for a comparison. There is no need to say that ours is better and theirs is not; ours is truer and theirs is false.  It would only lead to division, and, soon, separation. What we have to do is to promote relationship, not religion. What we have to do is to understand, not undermine their beliefs. What we have to do is to respect their choice, and not to force them choose ours, as well. In this way, I believe, the harmony that once was lost can be gained again. In this way, the peace that was once bogus will be genuine. Choose a peaceful living.

2014: A Year of Realization

Everyone is in deep search for his own happiness. Some just find it across the street, some found it resting in a corner. As for where my happiness was, I can say I know where it was however I haven't had the chance to genuinely feel it. Described as something that brings genuine joy and draws an upright curve on a face of the beholder, genuine happiness is something that cannot be easily found and searched. Sometimes it was met along the journey called life. Indeed, it was just the journey itself. 

                    

The past year brought both joy and pain to my being. I lost a lot and gained just fair. As I journeyed my way to my own happiness last year, I realized a lot of things. I learned some of them the hard way.

                                  

I realized the importance of friendship amidst crisis. Not all who called you friend are true and real, some are just users. It broke my heart to know that some of whom I considered friends just broke my trust and left me in deep agony and regret. However, it brought joy to my being that there are genuine ones—those who are ready to get me out of the pit and encourage me that I can still push through. I am thankful to the One who brings these people to my life.

I realized the importance of having someone at your side all the time when my pet friend dog, Tukla, and my pet friend cat, Black Tiger passed away. They were not just pets, they were our friends. I used to call them puyatero buddies for they always stayed with me all night. Now that they’re gone, I seldom stay late at night just to spare myself from missing them.

I realized I don’t have a long-time goal in life other than having a genuine happiness and finding a right place for me. My siblings had their goals and plans laid black and white with our parents while I have none. I think it is because of the fact that I am still uncertain about my career. I still in the journey of finding the right place for me.

In connection with it, I realized all that I need were support and encouragement from the core people in my life. Many have already said I am capable of doing almost everything because they know and believe I can, but still doubt covers all they have uttered. Recently I realized it was because I haven’t got enough support from the people who supposed to be the first to do so.

The year 2014 brought more sadness in my life because of the unfortunate events happened. However there were unplanned reunions and celebrations took place. There happened the first alumni homecoming of the organization which had sent me to school. It is a good avenue to be reunited with my co-scholars and spent the night reminiscing the past. What made it so wonderful is it happened during my birthday. Late that night, my friends and I, together with our mentor and “nanay” celebrated my special day in a coffee house. That was memorable!

I have been in a roller coaster ride of my life during the past year. There were just more downs than ups, though. I will not wish for a problem-less year for this year, rather I hope that these realizations will make me stronger and at least a step closer to who I ought to be and where I am supposed to  be.