Confidence On the Future (In Memory of Nanay Geling)

You’re not ready to live until you’re ready to die.

TO BEGIN WITH

Last Tuesday, November 12, 2013, my wife’s grandmother, Nanay Geling, passed away at age 86.

It was evident, hers was a full life. A successful and blessed life.

A life lived for the glory of God. From the time of her youth up to the time of her death, her relationship with God is beyond contestation. I must say that I’ve never experienced such atmosphere of joy, such peace during the nights of her wake.

It’s clear that Nanay was a very special, very loved person after hearing her loved ones talk. Words like Love, Legacy, Humility, Generosity, and Sacrifice were mentioned – all beautiful and powerful words.

What I remember most about Nanay is her smile, genuine every time we see each other. I also knew her as very, very smart, even with her age. I always see her reading a book and I sense that her knowledge is vast.

She is also very thoughtful. I’m amazed at how she always prepares malunggay soup, specifically with the fruit, every time we visit her home because she knows it is my favorite.

Nanay is indeed one of the best persons I’ve been honored to meet and know. Added bonus was I also got to be her grandchild even for a short period of time. I love our Nanay and I’m going to miss her terribly. But the blessed hope is I have faith we’re going to see each other again someday.

With that, it got me thinking about death.

Death is imminent to everyone. So far, nothing has been invented to stop the process of aging. It is important to understand that death is logical and preordained. From our birth we begin moving toward death. It may be that death upon this earth is merely the coming off of a body grown tired and weary, so that the soul and spirit can display itself in some better place.

To be a Christian is to believe that death is a prelude to another life, an eternity with God. Jesus Christ said He is the only way to it. We know little of the so-called afterlife, since no explorer has returned to tell us about it. Except Christ.

Below is an essay I’ve written in 2009, after Typhoon Ondoy devastated the Philippines, and after I almost died in a freak flash flood. I think it’s also timely that I post it here after the recent Typhoon Yolanda tragedy.

CONFIDENCE ON THE FUTURE

The series of events happening around the world these past couple of years surely gives any person a feeling that our lives are not that safe anymore. No one can ever surely tell that he/she is going to be free from harm even in his/her own house.

Case in point is the recent tragedy here in the Philippines, the tropical storm “Ondoy” onslaught. Deaths are reaching to about 300 as of today, and many more are still missing. Families, clans died together, in one embrace. Children and old people drowned without a fight. And those were deaths right in their own homes. My heart grieves for these people.

Since 2005, many global catastrophes have occurred, the earthquake in China, cyclone in Myanmar, tsunamis in Indonesia and Sri Lanka, hurricanes in America, the recent earthquake in Indonesia again, and many more that I didn’t mention and didn’t know about.

I hope and pray that people with get the message behind all these events. This is not about religion, this is about reality. Reality that God, above all, is still in control of everything. And if we don’t heed His message, humble ourselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways, these things will continue. Nature is finally retaliating after centuries of abuse by ignorant men.

Have you ever thought that all these things were of man’s own doing?

As you all know, I myself was almost a victim of these natural disasters. I myself almost made it to the Philippines’ “death” tally this September. When someone goes through something like that, his perceptions change. Pictures change. I learned to love and appreciate the little things in life. I learned to be grateful for my family even more. But that’s me, what about you? You don’t need to be nearly dead to learn that. I hope so.

You are going to die – someday. Me too. Only a fool would go all through life totally unprepared for something that everybody knows is inevitable. You’re not ready to live until you’re ready to die. You don’t know how to live until you’re ready to die.

God promised in His Word that no matter what, a good future is in store for those that love him and abide by His words. Death, therefore, is a transfer, a promotion. It’s on to better things; no more pain or problems. If we just trust God, accept Him in our hearts through Jesus Christ, and continue having that intimate relationship with Him, then we can say that to live is for Christ, and to die is gain! We are confident about our future!

When I hear the phrase “a good future”, I no longer think about a mansion, a beach house, nice cars, a fat bank account, and tons of cash. What comes to my mind is spending eternity with the Lord forever. Now, how about that for a good future!

But that doesn’t mean I no longer aspire for these things. I do everything excellently, for the Lord, and I believe His promises of blessings and a good life for me and my family will follow. It’s just the way it is. He will make the work of my hands prosperous. It’s just that my first priority is my personal relationship with God, and everything follows next. Because ultimately, at the very end, it will just be ourselves and God - face to face.

In ending, I would like to encourage all of you with this verse from my most favorite chapter of all time in the Bible, Psalm 23. Join me, and let us keep this in our hearts always.

“Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”          - Psalm 23:6

- from ““Coffee and Mornings”, 2010 essays

Raymund's Random Insights

Our relationship with God is the most secure to be found on earth or within the cosmos.

It doesn’t have to be a happy life, but it ought to be a full one.

We are rich or poor not because of what we have or do not have, but because of what we are.

Poem of the Week

THE DAY IS CALM

by Emon

The day is calm even with rain.

The storm is cool,

its touch stinging the skin

with impalpable thorns

from the weary sky,

still the heart

is warm

with sweet firewood

burning from above.

Oh, God, everything

I give unto You.

This life, this love,

this heavy load,

this cracked bell, this torn heart.

You always know what to do with it,

You never fail,

You never leave,

You always come through.

I love her, she loves me,

we ask for Your blessing

and protection.

Thank you, Father

for the day is calm,

with Your presence

I am still.

(July 2005)

AND FINALLY

Death is imminent for everyone.

I do not know how death will come to me, though once I thought I did. How will I greet it depends on how hard or easy it comes in. I am very sure that any pain that might accompany it could not be as bad or worse than some I’ve known within my life. I am resolved that, if I can, I will view the end as a writer does the blank page in front of him. A beginning.

Our beloved Nanay is gone, but her legacy remains. She did her purpose here on earth, the question is “Are we doing ours?”

I have two takeaways in all of these:

(1.) It is our moral obligation to discover the purpose of our life and fulfill it with all the strength that God let us borrow during our brief stay here on earth. To have a life of lasting impact for His glory.

(2.) Relationships are so much more important than material things. Starting with our relationship with God, down to our spouse, down to our children, to our family, our friends, and everyone around us. In the end, it’s what we contributed to the lives of others that will matter.

We become unimportant without right relationships to others or at the very least appreciation to those who came before and our duty to those who will come after we are gone.

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Thanks for stopping by - see you next week.