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Showing posts from October, 2008

In the last three minutes before I turn 31

I found a link to this poem on Plurk.

Love After Love
by Derek Walcott

The time will come
when, with elation,
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror,
and each will smile at the other's welcome,

And say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was yourself.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you

all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,

the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.

Today is a good day to start the St. Therese novena

Apart from St. Paul, the wonderful writer, St. Thérèse of Lisieux is my favorite saint. Even if I weren't Catholic, which I am, I think she would be one of my most admired people ever. I haven't read her book Story of a Soul yet, but I've come across some of her words that reveal her wisdom and highlight exactly why she's the most relevant saint today.

On her quest to glorify God, she says:
"Love proves itself by deeds, so how am I to show my love? Great deeds are forbidden me. The only way I can prove my love is by scattering flowers and these flowers are every little sacrifice, every glance and word, and the doing of the least actions for love."
On spirituality, she says:
"Sometimes, when I read spiritual treatises, in which perfection is shown with a thousand obstacles in the way and a host of illusions round about it, my poor little mind soon grows weary, I close the learned book, which leaves my head splitting and my heart parched, and I take the Holy Scriptures. Then all seems luminous, a single word opens up infinite horizons to my soul, perfection seems easy; I see that it is enough to realize one's nothingness, and give oneself wholly, like a child, into the arms of the good God. Leaving to great souls, great minds, the fine books I cannot understand, I rejoice to be little because 'only children, and those who are like them, will be admitted to the heavenly banquet'."
On prayer, she says:
"For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward Heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy; in a word, something noble, supernatural, which enlarges my soul and unites it to God.... I have not the courage to look through books for beautiful prayers.... I do as a child who has not learned to read, I just tell our Lord all that I want and He understands."
Simple. :-)

For those who want to pray the St. Therese novena, today's a good day to begin, as many devotees would be praying with you.

Well, hello, October!

So far this month, I've been:

1. A spa-goer. I made a last-minute decision to join officemates Donna and Marchie in the wee hours of Saturday to indulge in a two-hour massage and a buffet brunch at Wensha in the CCP area. I slept for like around five hours too.
2. A theater-goer again. Tanghalang Pilipino's Actor's Company in LAB was a blast. It was so worth the P100 I paid for it. I loved The Lover best, because of how it played with language.
3. An opera-goer. La boheme was a treat. It wasn't love at first sight, like with musicals, but a student told me to start with Verdi as Puccini is a bit difficult for the uninitiated. I don't know; I have a lot to learn. I'll find out, via YouTube. :P
4. A person who doesn't eat red meat. (21 days does a habit make!)
5. A person who doesn't eat fast food. (My October habit, which I will blog more about ASAP.)
6. A one-day pilgrim to the St. Therese Shrine.
7. And, perhaps, a baby gourmand. ;-)

That's just for the first week. Next Saturday, I get to watch West Side Story for free! :-)

Yes, I'm blessed.

This month, too, I am:

1. Very, very busy. I'm working two hours extra everyday for Christmas money.
2. Looking to buy a new cellphone.
3. Turning 31.