With you...here, there and everywhere

I was talking with a friend and she narrated how she was touched by an angel several days ago. She was about to cross the street to get a ride at the other side. She was in a hurry, as she wanted to get to her destination in time, so as not to be late for her breakfast meeting.

She was too concerned with the time that she seem to have suddenly forgot she was crossing a busy street. She forgot that she has to be very careful as cars slow down at their own discretion as the area has no traffic light. She was already midway the street when a loud screech was heard - it was the sound of a a sudden brake.

As she turned her head to the left, she was shocked seeing a white car merely a hair strand away from her. The driver hurriedly came out of his car and looked so frightened as he asked my friend with a trembling voice, "Where is the old man beside you, I must have run over him!" My friend could not figure out what the driver was talking about because she was herself in a state of shock. When she gained her self, she replied, "I am alone all the while!"

To make the story short, she and the driver just settled to leave things as they are and she then hurried to her breakfast meeting as if nothing happened. " I could not comprehend what happened but I am humbled and grateful,to my guardian angel", she said.

Most of us, actually all of us do have encounters with angels, except that non believers do not give the credits to the angels, rather to some supernatural powers.

I have had many angel encounters throughout my life, and in several ocassions, I literally escaped death. One of the most unforgettable encounters I had happened in 1994.

It was about 8 in the morning, I was on my way to my office. The traffic was not really heavy but I was driving at a slow pace, feeling a little dizzy as I didn't have enough sleep the night before. I have been taking this same route everyday for almost a year, so I have familiarized myself with all its curves and stop lights. My familiarity gave me much confidence that I rarely glance at the rear mirror, sometimes even the side.

While I was a few blocks to the office, I didn't understand why I did not notice the concrete fence of that building on the right side of the road. It was too late for me to swerve to the left, being a two-way street, a car was coming towards my direction. If I took a swerve, it would have been a head-on collision. I slammed on the brakes but in a snap of a finger I found myself shocked and motionless behind the steering wheel, the concrete fence collapsed, the hood of my car wrecked beyond recognition.

When I finally regained my composure, a number of bystanders gathered around me, two men opened the door of the driver's seat and carefully helped me out. Everyone thought I was seriously hurt because of the damage of the car. But to their surprise and also mine, I was almost unscathed except for a few minor bruises. All I was able to utter then was "Thank you Lord!" After a while, I asked the traffic policeman to call my office so they could come to my rescue and settle what need to be settled.

I was already sitting at the office lounge taking a sip of coffee, while my startled colleagues took turns asking questions but I still could not figure out what really happened. I only knew then that I was saved by my angel, although I really did not know how an angel looks like.

Angels are not really accompanied by flowery fragrance as our parents used to tell us or as described to us by figments of imagination of books authors. Angels may not necessarily be the beautiful girls with alluring faces and with wide wings as we see in movies.

Angels take many forms when we meet them in various circumstances. They can be the beggar across the street, policeman at the outpost, a nerd classmate, an innocent newborn or a stranger you just met. Yet, although they come in different shapes, they are all here for a single purpose - to guide us as we take the journey of our lives.

That fateful incident more than strengthened my belief in angels, it made my faith in our Creator even more profound.

"The guardian angels of life sometimes fly so high as to be beyond our sight, but they are always looking down upon us." Jean Paul Richter

Frail but Champions

Do you remember the first four or five years of your life? It is strange how so many do not have a hold on these critically important early years. We only come to know of them through pictures and stories of our elders.

Yet I feel lucky because unlike most who hardly have a trace, I can vividly picture the place and so many memories of my primary years. I could describe in detail our old house in Bulacan where I was born and spent my fond pre school years. That old house of my grandparents is still there until today. Though I could hardly picture their faces, I can never forget the names of my two playmates, they are only two as there were only two houses in our compound then.

For most of us, perhaps, those nascent years are not for us to remember. Perhaps we feel that those subconscious years of our utter vulnerability and dependence are really for our parents.

Scenes of my childhood just flashed my mind after attending mass last Sunday, the Feast of the Sto. Niño (Child Jesus) which is celebrated by the Catholic church in the Philippines. "Unless you change and become like little children, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven", was the message for the entire Christendom.




A child depicts innocence, obedience, frailty and purity. He is reminding us to return to the ways of a child - weak and humbly seeking His strength.

Of course this is not to condemn grown ups, who are given the choice to be as young and refreshed as children who get excited over chocolates and story telling.

It is true that you cannot enter heaven using your senior citizen's discount card but you can receive heaven as a child. This is to go slow enough to pray with thankfulness and hope, to enter the kingdom as a child is to age with grace, become forgetful enough to hold only the memories that truly matter.

Life has a lot of grace and surprises, about never knowing what's coming to you, about growing to be who you are and learning about things that last and things that must die

Have you become like a little child? When do you plan to become one?

Thank God We're Not SENIORS...YET!

This is a forwarded message and though it may sound funny, it does happen. We all come to age, that is a law of nature we can't prevent or reverse. We may not notice time but definitely, one day we will suddenly become SENIORS!

However, there's no need to worry, you just have to live each day as if it was your last and if you're nearing the "twilight zone" take my friend's advice: simplify life!


Age-Activated Attention Deficit Disorder:
(Author Unknown)

Recently, I was diagnosed with A.A.A.D.D. - Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder.

This is how it manifests:

I decide to water my garden.

As I turn on the hose in the driveway, I look over at my car and decide it needs washing.

As I start toward the car, I notice mail on the porch table that I brought up from the mail box earlier. I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car.

I lay my car keys on the table, put the junk mail in the garbage can and notice that the can is full.

So, I decide to put the bills back on the table and take out the garbage first but then I think, since I'm going to be near the mailbox when I take out the garbage anyway, I may as well pay the bills.

I take my check book off the table, and see that there is only one check left. My extra checks are in my desk in the study, so I go to my desk where I find the bottle of beer I'd been drinking.

I'm going to look for my checks, but first I need to push the beer aside so that I don't accidentally knock it over.

The beer is getting warm, and I decide to put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold.

As I head toward the kitchen with the beer, a pot of flowers on the window sill catches my eye-they are drooping and need water.

I put the beer on the coffee table and discover my reading glasses that I've been searching for all morning.

I decide I better put them back on my desk, but first I'm going to water the flowers.

I set the glasses back down on table, and on the way to get a container of water, I spot the TV remote. Someone left it on the kitchen counter.

I realize that tonight when we go to watch TV, I'll be looking for the remote, but I won't remember that it's on the kitchen counter, so I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs, but first I'll get the water for the flowers.

I get the water and spill some on the floor.

I set the remote back on the counter and get some paper towels and wipe up the spill.

Then, I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do.

At the end of the day:

The car isn't washed
The bills aren't paid
There is a warm bottle of beer sitting on the counter
The flowers don't have enough water
There is still only one check in my check book
I can't find the remote
I can't find my glasses
And I don't remember what I did with the car keys.

When I try to figure out why nothing got done today, I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all damn day, and I'm really tired. I realize this is a serious problem, and I'll try to get some help for it, but first I'll check my e-mail.

Do me a favor. Forward this message to everyone you know, because I don't remember who the hell I've sent it to.

Don't laugh too hard-- if this isn't you yet, your day is coming!!

The WINE Theory

This email was forwarded to me some time ago but I never had the interest to read it, until I browsed through it now. I was touched by the message, as I myself is sometimes guilty of excluding my friends in the list of my priorities. I'm sharing the message to give each one a chance to make a thorough review of your life, amidst the demands for daily survival.



TWO GLASSES OF WINE...

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 glasses of wine theory...

A professor stood before his philosophy class with some items on his desk in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous 'YES.'

The professor then produced two glasses of wine from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

'Now,' said the professor, as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things; your family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions; things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else; the small stuff.

If you put the sand into the jar first', he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the good things that are important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18 holes. Do one more run down the ski slope. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first; the things that really matter. Set your priorities.
The rest is just sand.'

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the wine represented.

The professor smiled. 'I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of glasses of wine with a friend.'

the golden words of silence

"Silence makes the real conversations between partners...not the saying but the never needing to say is what counts."
Margaret Lee Runbeck



Have you ever experienced asking your friend a very critical question and all you get is a bemused stare?

Definitely, your first natural reaction would be to frown and feel disdained. There is the feeling of rejection and disregard or even disrespect. Then we ask ourselves, "What is the matter with him? Is he all right? But did we ever deliberate what his silence means?

So very few people consider silence as a form of communication, but as a communications graduate, I personally believe it is the most powerful one. We commonly believe in the adage "the pen is mightier than the sword" but have we ever thought that "silence is mightier than words"?

While it signifies non-behavior, it does not necessarily mean inaction. The person you are talking to may have not given an immediate "verbal response" for a thousand and one reason. He may still be thinking or contemplating for a "response" or may either be anxious and fearful of speaking. His silence may also mean agreement or maybe dissent.

The interpretation is now left on the person asking the question. This may be thought provoking at times, but when we really want an answer, we have no choice but to speculate and understand.

It happens most of the time - that we fail to pay close attention to the silent portion of a conversation, and most often, we miss the most vital part of the message.

Silence is golden especially when any word we say may cause chaos, breed disputes, shatter reputations or worse, cause other people's lives.

It is really important to listen to other people's silence, more so to people close to you - your friends, partners, children, parents- because there are a lot of essential messages they could not put into words.

Their silence may tell us everything - even more than we ought to know!

Be still and count yours!

"I'm dead bored with my job! I'm sick and tired of the piles of paper works and projects on my desk everyday! Can't I just have a little break?"

We often hear these complains, and we do complain, too. There is always something we complain of everyday and the resentments never cease. It looks like there was never a day we did not complain about anything.

But have we ever pondered why these things happen? Have we ever mulled over these events and perhaps considered their importance in our lives?

When we complained that long office hours hinder our social life, did we ever think of the man on the street who has been bumming around because he has been jobless for years?

When our temper rose to our heads because of the heavy traffic, did we ever think of the thousands of people whose feet have swollen because they have to walk to all their destinations as they live in an area not accessible to any form of transportation?

When we looked at the mirror one morning and was disgusted with a few gray hair showing, did we ever think of the cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy who wished she had hair to comb?

Many of us have ostensibly been transformed by modern life into "human robots" who are all physical - without emotions and spirits. We take everyday as a survival competition, and we consider mere surviving as a feat.

We no longer have the emotions to appreciate blessings we receive because "blessings" for some have been reduced to amassing material fortune and fame. We sometimes become unmindful of the Lord's blessings disguised as "ordinary" things, because we only acknowledge those that we can physically "count".

Let us not be like the man who once cried out in despair "Touch me God and let me know you are here", but when God reached upon him, the man brushed the beautiful butterfly and walked away.

Let us not not miss out on the blessings we receive simply because they are not packaged the way we expect them to be.

A modest "hello" from someone you have not been with for years, is a blessing in itself - he must have told you that in the midst of a very urgent and demanding project. If a friend stopped you from posting an article in your blog, don't mistake it as curtailment of your right - it is indeed a blessing for it may save both of you from a lifetime of ridicule.

Take notice of the blessings around you, name them one by one and you will be surprised what God has done for you!

And as you count your blessings, ask yourself "Have I been a blessing to the people around me?"

The SEESAW METAPHOR

The clever boy stood at the middle of the seesaw trying all efforts to make it swing. He struggled, pushed his body to the left and to the right but to no avail - he could not make it move. After several minutes, all his energy seemed exhausted, he finally came down and slumped his body on the grass.

This scene caught my attention while taking a walk at the park, and the poem I wrote a few months ago flashed back to my mind. It was about the principle of the seesaw, which does not move when the two ends are not balanced.

We often reckon the seesaw as an ordinary playground trifle, but it teaches us a lot of lessons in life, love and relationships. It is a metaphor in life.

When we are alone, it is so hard to keep balance in life. There is no one to keep us balanced when we move. No one is there to check us when we're wrong, no one to remind us that we are going adrift the right path. There is no one there to share our dreams, happiness and pains.

Although some stronger individuals are able to manage living on their own, it is delightful to have someone to go home to after a hard day's work. It is always enchanting to have a hand to hold when aimlessly strolling. It is always fulfilling to have someone listen and laugh at your jokes.

The seesaw likewise gives us lessons in loving. Any relationship has to be two-way, symbiotic - it has to be mutually beneficial to both persons to keep it going.

For some time, one partner may be able to compensate for the shortcomings of the other but this is temporary. No human being in his right mind will allow himself to be "manipulated" all his life. Although others choose to end it immediately while others choose to prolong their agony, there will always be a conclusion.

Both partners must give their share in making the board move, on some instances, one has to move down to make the other soar. And for both to appreciate the ride, taking turns is necessary.

The "right" distance between the partners has to be maintained all the time, because getting too close or too far may destabilize the relationship.

The boy at the park reminds me that I myself is trying to move the seesaw on my own. I am taking every step to balance my life alone. It is not easy but unlike the boy, I don't want to slump on the ground.

It is my heart's desire to keep trying as long as I could because I believe that one day, someone will come, sit on the other end, and complete the balance.

As I move towards the twilight of my life, I am still looking beyond - someday, my Creator will find the way, He will send the right man - right at my doorstep, so there's no cause for me to worry, I don't even need to search.

He is just in one corner, hiding behind the post, awaiting for the red light to turn green.

All I need to do is to wait steadfast despite opposition, difficulty and adversity.

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

The Christmas season officially ends today, with the Baptism of Jesus Christ, according to the belief of the Catholic Church.

As Christmas, described by many as a season of fuss and extravagance, ends, will the spirit of Christmas die with it?

Are we going to stop mending broken friendships? Are we going to cease sharing our blessings to less fortunate people? Are we going to stop loving and caring and continue again after 11 months?

It is so tragic to think that for many, Christmas is a mere one-night religion and reduced it to mere sentimentality, a traditional feast.

It is so sardonic to hear people say we wish "Christmas is everyday but it would be too expensive" because they equate this special day to giving expensive gifts.

As Christians we were taught that the real meaning of Christmas is not the material gifts and presents we give and receive, it is not the amount of delicacies we feast on the dining table, but the remembrance that a Savior is vulnerably and humbly born.

The bottom line is that Christmas is not seasonal, it does not come only once a year, rather it is a way of life. The lesson it brings is for us to be Christ-like, to live a life of humility and love.

Being a Christian is not seasonal but a lifetime commitment.

I want to think that I am not a "C to E" Christian, meaning a Christian only during Christmas and Easter. Yet, I could neither claim I am a devout, unblemished one. I commit mistakes, I disobey rules, I shun moral norms but at the end of the day, after realization, I do repent and ask for forgiveness.

It is not easy to live a Christ-like life because we are just humans. Yet our being humans should not be used as an excuse for living in the image of Christ.

It is just a matter of faith, and a matter of choice!

There is no reason for you to raise your brows then, when someone suddenly greets you "Merry Christmas" at the middle of the year.

Our Refuge

Thought of the Day:

Psalm 9: 9-10

"The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know Your name will trust in You for You O Lord have never forsaken those who seek You."

Everyday brings a new challenge to all of us, some may be too small to be recognized but others are too heavy to carry. But let us not forget that there is always someone stronger, who is always willing to give a hand. He is just waiting for us to call him and ask His help.

I DON'T HAVE THE HEART

There's no need for you to speak more - you have said it all!

Yet, I will be lying if I say everything is fine and the words you said did not hurt me. But there's nothing more I can do than respect your feelings and understand you as much as I could.

I, myself could not say much at this moment though I don't have regrets either. I have done my part, I have gotten across to express what I feel for you, I have given you more than you expect of me at this point.

I don't want to even think about what's going to happen to us tomorrow, all I know is that whatever happens, my love for you will stay in my heart and you will always be there just as you were before we were "reunited" by fate.

While we were talking a few hours ago, while you were divulging your feelings and my "role" in your life, I was reminded by this song. It clearly sums up what you were telling me. I am really fascinated by the songs of James Ingram, except this one - because I don't want then to be in this situation. I could not imagine myself then hearing these words from the person I love.

But alas! I just did - and the pain is just incomparable because the words came from the person I have considered "love".

Perhaps, when James Ingram made this song, he was exactly in the same shoes as you are now....so as we mark the third month of Bread and Coffee's birth (January 8), why don't you sing this song for me? And every time you hear the song, be reminded that these were the words you just told me, and hit me right where it hurts!

I Don't Have The Heart

Your face is beaming
You say is ‘cause you’re dreaming
Of how good it’s going to be
You say you’ve been around
And now you’ve finally found
Everything you wanted and need in me

I don’t have the heart to hurt you
It’s the last thing I want to do
But I don’t have the heart to love you
Not the way you want me to

Inside I’m dying
To see you crying
How can I make you understand
I care about you
So much about you, baby
I’m trying to say this as gently as I can

‘Cause I don’t have the heart to hurt you
It’s the last thing I want to do
But I don’t have the heart to love you
Not the way you want me to

You’re so trusting and open
Hoping that love will start
But I don’t have the heart, oh, no
I don’t have the heart

I don’t have the heart to hurt you
It’s the last thing I want to do
But I don’t have the heart to love you
Not the way you want me to....

Give HIM a Chance!

(picture taken 7 days go)

I had dinner last night with two friends I have not seen for years. It was a wacky get-together - a seeming re-enactment of our younger days. There was of course the usual exchange of what have beens and what's going on in each one's life.

But what struck me most is their comment - that I look great, more than before! I was flattered, I admit, but beyond the personal gratification, there was a more imminent desire for me to share my "anti-aging secret".

"You seem to have gone over your agonies and problems, friend!", remarked one.

"On the contrary, my problems doubled," I answered with all sincerity. "So what's the secret behind your unusual glow?", both mused.

My load is heavier now, however, I do not carry these myself. I have given the Lord the chance to solve my problems for me. And everything else was in order - I am now at peace with myself and the world!

That was my simple, effortless reply, but surely touched their hearts.

Many times, because we consider ourselves intelligent, strong, materially stable and mature, we think we can manage, direct our lives to success. We make decisions on our own, solve problems on our own and plan on our own. In countless instances, however, we regret what we have done and ponder where and what went wrong.

We bend on our knees in prayer only when the waters are too deep or the mountains to high to climb, and during moments of calmness, hardly do we remember Him.

The Lord is not a precious jewel that we keep in a vault and use only on special occasions, He is neither money we deposit in a bank and withdraw in times of financial crisis - He is more than that!

He can do more than what our minds can conceive!

So why don't we give Him the chance to solve our problems?

Why don't we give Him the chance to rule our lives?

I AM BUSY!!!

It is really frustrating to receive the answer "I AM BUSY", when you needed him at that very moment. He may say "sorry" after but the point is, he was too busy for you when you needed him most.

So many relationships have gone to waste because of this simple line. Sounds unbelievable, but this is reality. In any relationship, time is of great essence. Lest we forget, we must be reminded that there are 24 hours or 1,440 minutes in a day so how can you not spare even just a minute to say hello or to ask your partner how she is?

In these days of technology, there are so many channels on how we can make our partners feel our presence - and all it would take you is a minute and a few strokes of the finger.

There is very little effort, but we often forget it either intentionally or accidentally.

This brings to mind an article I read a few days ago saying, that one of the most important keys to having a mature, loving relationship is to recognize the importance of practicing the art of loving every day. If you are not prepared to do this daily work, you will never experience mature love.

Relationships either rise or fall-- they do not stand still. If you are not putting in the effort, you are neglecting your partner and contributing to the eventual demise of the relationship. Practicing the art of loving, each day, insures that your relationship will rise.

Loving relationships are built. They do not happen by chance. It's the little things that you do (taking a few seconds or a few minutes each day) that will make the difference in your relationship.

It's taking the time to share a moment with one another before you go to work, instead of rushing out of the house. It's a phone call at some point during the day to talk to one another - even if you are on different parts of the globe!

So next time, before you say "I AM BUSY" to your partner or friend, think again- you might send the signal that the end is near!

Auld Lang Syne

Traditionally, New Year is a most opportune time to say goodbye to woes and usher a new life with renewed hope. And since it is a new dawn, it is a time to say goodbye to bad habits and make resolutions which are often left unfulfilled until another year is through.

I personally do not believe in making New Year's resolutions, for the simple reason that I never really observe them anyway.

However, I constantly assess my life and set goals rather than wait for special days during the year to make one. Personal transformation is not occasional, I believe, it is imperative. We set goals because if we don't, we don't move forward, but even if we set them and don't follow through, still, we don't move forward.

Resolutions, I suppose, are specific steps that propel us to achieve our goals while we are immersed in our daily routines for survival. Resolutions are about how our behaviors impact other people's lives and more importantly, resolutions are about our relationship with our Creator.

This year, like any other year, I will not be making any New Year's Resolutions. So every time people ask me "What is your New Year's resolution?", I am consistent with my answer - "Don't ask me, I do not have one!"

I will just continue to give thanks for all the blessings I was bestowed and look forward to more in the year ahead. Part of the blessings are friends who never forget, who always have a word of encouragement when life seem unfair. And of course, blessings would also include the pains and the trials that give me strength and make me more of a "man".

Let me then take this space to express my utmost gratitude to all the people who have made a difference in my life and friends who sent me words that enlightened my new year.

"Happy new year to you and your loved ones" - Bread

"I wish you today a day of special graces, a day of extraordinary things to smile about, and a day with much happiness and love in your heart! Enjoy the day with your loved ones" - Pastor Vic

"In a few hours, Mr. Rat leaves, welcome Mr. Ox. Let us all together bow our heads and fervently thank the Lord for all His graces. May this coming year be filled with love, good health and the Lord's blessings! Wishing you wonderful days ahead! Happy new year!" - Lalaine

"Happy new year! Stay safe!" - Cristina

"Looking back, may you be filled with gratitude, looking forward may you be filled with hope, looking inward, may you be filled with peace, looking upward, may you find comfort, knowing that God is always there. Happy new year!" - Leah

"May you spend the last few hours of 2008 wisely. Give thanks for all the blessings you reaped. Repent and be sorry for all the wrongs you did. Make amends with those you hurt. Continue doing good even if people don't appreciate you, you don't owe them anyway. Just think they're not worth your while. Lighten your heart. Smile and be happy. Have a bright outlook. Welcome 2009 with a clear mind, light heart and happy soul!" - Seny

"Each one's work will become clear for the day will declare it! (1 Cor 3:13)" - Irma

New every morning

(Taken at Luneta Park, December 30, 2008, 730AM)

I haven't been at the Luneta Park for years, but on December 30, I was obliged to go there to participate in the celebration of Rizal Day (our national hero}. There was no other reason for me to go but to comply with the mandate of our management. I was so hesitant to attend, first because it was supposed to be my "free day" from work. Second because I haven't had any sleep yet as I was soul-searching the previous night, trying to figure out where my life has been and where I'm going.

My heart and mind were far from the event because I'm too preoccupied with my own problems, miseries, heartaches and cynicisms of my life. I was in a state of confusion and delusion.

Like a helpless child, I was asking the Lord's intercession, for His enlightenment and for answers to my questions. The Lord is really so kind and good to me because in the midst of this state of bewilderment, He answered my plea. As I glanced up to the sky, I was mesmerized, there I saw His "answer" - the rainbow! I gazed at the "mystical figure" stretched across the sky and in all fascination and awe, I took pictures of it.

The rainbow does not appear all of the time, and when it does, it always gives a glimpse of hope and unexplained joy to those who are lucky enough to see it. It is always associated with good news, hope, redemption and the end of gloom. To some it means that a happy change is coming.

Seeing the rainbow was the answer to my prayers, to my questions. After that brief encounter, I suddenly felt lighter and relieved. Then I realized life is beautiful depending on your outlook. It becomes even better depending on how we shape it to make it more advantageous for ourselves and the people around us, especially the people we love.

I realized that to give meaning to our life is to find something new every morning even in so called "ordinary" things or circumstances. We get to view the rainbow at a time we least expect to see it and I saw it a the start of a new year - what a beautiful way to start 2009 indeed!