Peace in the midst of trials

BARE. That's what I can say about the title of this discussion. BARE, PLAIN, but is the most SIGNIFICANT agendum anyone would love to have.

Monday, 23 August 2010, I officially started my first day at Divelink Resort Manila Sales Office as a part time Bookkeeper. I am still connected to Makansutra Asian Food Village though as a bookkeeper there (at Manila Ocean Park), just behind Quirino Grandstand where the hijacking of Chinese nationals happened. Since I am a part timer of Divelink, I have all the chances of visiting Makan for some important turn-over and other things to do which already piled up over the weekend and my absences.

Having no knowledge of the hijacking, I made a phone call to my co-employee from Manila Ocean Park accounting dep't. (who is to replace me at Makan). From her I learned of the incidence going on outside the company. I took it very lightly, thinking it was just a prank for me not to drop by. But I came to realize, she wouldn't just do that. And boom! It was real. Praise God I didn't proceed to MOP.

It is not everyday that we face this kind of tragedy though, but small or big it may seem to one's perspective, we face moments where our security is threatened - personal security or the country's line of defense.

Prophesy was already made, In 2 Timothy chapter 3 is says there, "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have NOTHING to do with THEM" ;

The incidence marked a stain of history in our dear country. As a Filipino, it left me the impression that even the most people we trust to bring us security, peace and justice can be the one giving us tragic times as this. Am not generalizing the entire policemen though, I couldn't be fair to them if I would! But am laying an argument that really, "EVIL LURKS IN A HUMAN HEART LIKE A VIPER IN ITS HOLE." We see that people can have the tendency to do things we never really imagine. That is why it is very important to be bathed and be borne in the Word of God, having an OLD SELF crucified with CHRIST.

I am now working at the sales office of a resort, and we can be affected by what happened. We cannot, however question the apprehensions of the other countries especially those Chinese people. Their government is only laying a norm of security to their people, like a hen covers her chicks under her wings. But security is never earned by being confined to a certain place. We can be secured even in the midst of battle. We can be at peace even if the whole world is raging against us.

Our PEACE, Our HOPE is under the shadow of the ALMIGHTY.

As Psalm 91 says,

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,

nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.

If you make the Most High your dwelling — even the Lord, who is my refuge —

then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.

For he will command his angles concerning you to guard you in all your ways;

they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.  He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.  With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.