The Journey with Teddy

Yakapin mo ako sa huling pagkakataon. Yakapin gaya ng pagyakap ng apoy sa uling: Mainit, maningas, nagbabaga. Yakapin mo ako nang tila walang wakas, Yakap na magtatagal magpakailanman;  Isang magpakailanman na nais mong magsimula ngayon; Isang magpakailanman na pilit mong isisilid  sa isang kandadong kahon upang hindi ka niya matakasan.  Yakapin mo ako sa huling pagkakataon.  Yakap na gaya nung una mong pagyakap sa akin: Yakap na paulit-ulit kong binabalikan Sa mga gabing nababalot ako ng lamig ng pag-iisa. Yakapin mo ako sa huling pagkakataon.  Yakap na tila walang bitaw Yakap na walang kasing higpit Yakap na pupukaw sa aking paghinga Yakap na kayang magmitsa ng aking pagpanaw.  Yakapin mo ako sa huling pagkakataon At yayakapin kita nang pabalik. Sa paraan ng pagyakap ng dilim sa  Kandilang malamlam at nauupos.  Yakap na bumabalot, sumasaklob, at nangangain.  Subalit kumikila at hindi nagkakaila sa apoy na dati'y may sindi.  

SELECTED READING  Jesus and His Family | Luke 8:19-21 PERSONAL REFLECTION I do not know how to deal with being in the receiving end of affection. That sounds so cold, and perhaps it is. I suppose, that’s bound to happen when you grow in an environment where emotions are a luxury; where you simply do not have the time nor resources to feel things because you need to keep on hustling to keep up with the things that life is throwing at you. Don’t be confused – I love my family, and I know fully well that my family loves me back. It’s just that we’re not the type of people who dwell on emotions; much less, verbalize them. We just live in trust that we love each other and we have each other’s backs no matter what – and somehow, that had been enough to tide us over. But definitely no expressions of affection whether on the giving or receiving end – no “I Love You”s, no “I Miss You”s, no “I’m Sorry”s, and sometimes even, no “Happy Birthday”s. The aftermath of that can be

SELECTED READING  The Renunciation of Vice | Colossians 3:5-10 PERSONAL REFLECTION What could be so wrong about savoring bodily sensations – about indulging in what the body perceives to be pleasurable? What could be so wrong about desiring a promotion, a bigger salary, and more property than your peers? What could be so wrong with unbridled use of obscene language in order to get a few laughs, or embellishing one’s stories to command respect and admiration? What could be so wrong about these activities that God will be angry with us when we engage in these things, that He threatens us with his wrath if we disobey Him and proceed with our old ways? Viewed through the lens of my pre-Arvisu life, I can guarantee you that I could not understand why God would be so angry when we do these forbidden things. Reflecting upon my past vices and how I could not understand why God would find them so wrong, I retraced my steps and have come to realize that God, being His omnipre