Kapit Lang Sa Kanya

Dear Ate Emz,

I am Jelly, 17 yrs young. Just a thought, why do we feel so satisfied when someone we hate gets hurt or unlucky and unfortunate? Sometimes we even curse people we don’t like or if we are threatened, then we say bad things and express anger. Human as we are, yes it is given nga naa jud weak side of our personality.

In some instances it is very easy for us to give advices to our friends nga dunay problema but kung kita na gani anaa sa sitwasyon nga nagkaproblema we break down and we do not know exactly how to handle them.

What seems to be lacking? How do we deal with all of these? Please enlighten me.

Thank you very much.
Jelly

* * * * * *

Dear Jelly,

It’s very typical of young people like you to entertain many questions in mind, just like the ones you are asking, such as “Why do we feel so satisfied when someone we hate gets hurt or unlucky and unfortunate?” or why curse, say bad things or express anger?

Actually, you have answered your own queries when you mentioned: “Human as we are, this is the WEAK SIDE OF OUR PERSONALITY.” Indeed, this is the other side of ourselves, these negative tendencies which manifest when things or certain unfortunate situations arise in other people’s lives. We do not only feel satisfied but sometimes even victorious when others are experiencing pain, misfortunes or difficulties in life. Yung iba naman ay parang nasisiyahan pa, lalo na kung itong mga “kamalasan” ay nangyayari sa mga tao na ating kinasusuklaman! Minsan masasabi natin na “buti nga sa ‘yo!”

If you come to think of it, we can say that these are the influences of the prince of darkness, of the evil one himself. Alam naman natin na hindi ito nagdudulot ng kabutihan sa kapwa. Just like what you have mentioned, these are manifestations of our weaknesses, hence, have to be subdued, controlled and tamed. We need to be aware that we are always waging “war” within ourselves, war between good and evil, always making choices between these two forces that influence our thoughts, words and deeds.

But we are not only human. We also have Divine influences, God Himself, the Source of Light that illumines our path to goodness, the Source of strength to win in the inner warfare that we constantly struggle with. And, as what St. Pedro Poveda clearly reminds us, PRAYER IS OUR ONLY STRENGTH. Mao lang gyud kini ang atong panlaban, that is why we need to always stay connected to God in anything we do. If we have God as the center of our lives, all are thoughts, words and actions are always motivated by love because God is LOVE. Then, as what St. Paul experienced, our weaknesses will later become our strength when these are all subdued and are overcome. With God, nothing is impossible.

On the other hand, about your concern with regard to giving advice to others who have problems, we usually experience that what we tell them are easier said than done. Dahil tayo mismo nahihirapan or hindi magagawa ang pinapayo sa kanila. That is why sometimes others will remark, “look who’s talking” dahil we do not “walk the talk”. Mao nga makita nato usahay ang atong tendency to just be good in words pero kulang sa action. Just like the Pharisees, when Jesus said, follow what they say but don’t follow what they do, tungod kay sukwahi ang buhat sa pulong.

Yes, it is a reality that sometimes kung sa atin na mangyayari ang mga problema or challenges where we give advice to others, we “breakdown”, or “cannot handle” and you ask “what is lacking”. Well, isa sa mga sagot nito is: Maybe God is not involved in your life. Baka absent si Lord sa buhay mo. Hence, once again, I reiterate, we must allow God to be the center of our lives so that with His help, we can deal with and handle such situations.

Kapit lang tayo sa Kanya in all our endeavors. Keep in your mind and heart St. Padre Pio’s prayer: STAY WITH ME, LORD… and He always will. Hindi Niya tayo bibitawan kailanman, unless we sin, since this is what separates us from Him.

If ever you have questions as you journey thru life, find your answers in God’s Word, in the Bible. Remember, Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

God bless us more
Ate Emz