Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Reigning (over) cats and dogs

Cynthia's granddaughter, Janina, recently acquired two pets - a black kitten whom she named "Raisin" and a few weeks later a black labrador puppy whom she named "Vanilla". Janina loved both animals with equal passion, caring for them, cuddling them, feeding them. Until one day for some unknown reason Raisin bit her master. Three times! Sadly Janina had to return her beloved kitten to PAWS where she originally got her. I thought that incident would make a good analogy about God and people.

God is like Janina who treats all mankind equally. God wants to care for us and love us so much and is very much concerned about our welfare regardless of who we are. Non-believers are like cats. Their relationship to their master is based on their own terms. They will only approach their owner when they are hungry. Occasionally they would purr and rub their bodies to their master's leg if they wanted some attention. But the master can never expect any loyalty or constant affection from them. And they can be real mean if they are forced to do something they don't want to do.

Christians on the other hand are like dogs. They know that their master loves them and cares for them. In turn they are loyal and affectionate always wanting to be near their owner. They would even protect with their lives their master if necessary.

We can never change a cat into a dog, but we can, through the power of the Holy Spirit, help make non-believers into believers.

When I'm 64

I don't know why I delayed writing a blog about my birthday. Perhaps it's because I am still basking in the joy of celebrating my 64th year on this earth. It all started with a bang. Two days before my actual birthdate, a group of my high school classmates gathered at the Cabalen restaurant located at the SM Megamall. Despite it being a Friday, and a rainy day at that, sixteen of them showed up to join me in celebrating my special day. I was so touched because some of them came from as far away as Sta. Cruz, Laguna and Malolos, Bulacan. We had a great time recollecting and reconnecting as we enjoyed the sumptuous buffet. As if that wasn't enough, Bert Calaquian then treated us to some coffee at the nearby Coffee Bean. My classmates giggled and snickered when they saw the t-shirt I was wearing. I got the idea from the Beatles' song and thought it was quite appropriate to wear on my birthday. The cost of making this t-shirt was shouldered by my step-daughter, Jenn, as her birthday gift to me.


The following day, Saturday the 23rd, Cynthia and I were in Calatagan, Batangas, where we stayed overnight at a resort called Golden Sunset (quite fitting, don't you think?). This time our stay was a gift from another step-daughter, Darrel, and her husband, Rev. Although birding here was a little disappointing, we had a good time nevertheless.


All day Sunday, I got text messages and facebook postings from family and friends greeting me on my birthday and sending me good wishes. All of which made me very, very glad. I'm not big on birthday celebrations but when I receive all these warm greetings and love from those who are close to me, I felt younger. Did I mention I just turned 64?