School ID Christianity

University of San Carlos (USC) is one of the few schools that still imposes strict policies on wearing uniforms and ID cards.  And probably the first directive the security guards in the campus were given was to implement these policies.  This entry is not a critique on the policies and the guards; it is rather a reflection of how we are as Christians as seen in the analogy of wearing ID cards.

The most common scene at the gates of USC is this: students (on their way into the campus) taking their ID's from their pockets and wearing them; students (on their way out of the campus) taking their ID's off and shoving them into their pockets just a few meters away from the gates.

I can't help but notice certain similarities between this scene and our Christian lives.  Many of us wear our "Christian ID cards" when we are in church.  We don our kind, compassionate, loving, friendly, accommodating selves when we are in church or when we are with our friends from church.  But as soon as we step out of the gates, we take them off and go about our ways.

Let us examine ourselves.  How do we take our identity as Christians.  Do we wear it like an ID card - which we can take off whenever we feel it's not needed anymore?  Or do we wear it like our skins for everyone to see?

Just do it

Just do it.

That is the catchphrase of one of the world’s leading sports apparel brand.  Their store in a mall, just recently, and for quite a long time, put up a big poster of two of their leading endorsers: Kobe and LeBron – two basketball superstars whom fans had hoped to battle it out in the (recent) finals.  They never did.  It seems they just couldn’t do it.

The company, in a way, put their faith on two humans.  Failure of the endorsers to “just do it” may not topple down the company.  But imagine if it was you who put your faith on people and they failed big time.

Put in Christian light, “just do it” is a disposition that entails a lot of faith – faith in God, of course, not in men.  When the first missionaries arrived in Cebu encountered obstacles – the least of which was not having a sanctuary to worship in, they probably said to each other, “Let’s just do it. God will provide.”  When people were pessimistic about reopening the Bradford Memorial Church, citing the unsuitability of the old building for worship services, our church leaders said, “Let’s just do it!”

Sure enough, God provided; just as He did almost a hundred years ago; just as He always does.

So the next time you are doubtful about having enough to do something, just do it.  God is sure to provide the needs of His children.

perspectives

(This entry is also published in ridenwrite.blogspot.com)

Yesterday, a recent venture of mine took me to the road which took me to one of the premiere subdivisions in Cebu City - Beverly Hills.

Going to the venue (a function building called the Beverly Pavilion), we passed by big, beautiful houses - the kinds that cost millions to build. Though I was driving and had to follow another vehicle to the venue, and hence, didn't have the luxury of visually exploring the place - I couldn't help but notice these houses. My amazement climaxed when we arrived at our destination - a pavilion nestled on the edge of hill (cliff-ish?) overlooking a ravine and the city.

The cool air and the ambiance quickly took me to a trance-like state as I can't believe I never left the city at all. In fact, I was at the very heart of it. The beauty of the place got me thinking about how much people would pay just to have this view from their balcony; and even how much people would pay just to hold an event in such a place.

From my vantage point, the horizon was blurred by storm clouds and the city seems harmless and serene. I almost got lost in the moment until I refocused my eyes on the immediate surrounding. I can't believe I missed the shanties dotting the other side of the ravine.

I wondered: if one of the houses near the pavilion was mine, would I be able to look out the window every morning knowing what "disturbing realities" await right outside?

Then it hit me: looking at reality (and life) straight in the face boils down to one thing - perspective.

One can look at the "shanties of life" - realities that often bring us down; one can look to city and its lights - mesmerizing escapes that are often just around the corner; one can look at the horizon and get lost in the tug-of-war between earth and sky; or one can look up - to God, have faith, and see that the sourness of reality is indiscernible in the sweetness of His love.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18

¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.