Listening and believing

Preparations for celebrating Christmas and welcoming the New Year continue with so much thinking ahead that a reminder to find more meaning in these celebrations was most welcome. The visit of typhoon Pablo made stronger the reminder to always deal with what happens as a religious experience. The encouragements started with a Sunday message of being able to listen against just hearing. The former requires focused attention and digestion.

Storm signal # 3 prompted all the preparations to address the needs of food, water and shelter. The furniture near the sea shore were moved, kerosene for the lamps was procured, the antennae brought down, electricity was shut off, the bonsai trees stored, office work was ended very early to get home in time for the arrival of Pablo. He arrived on time and with so much strength. For an hour and a half Nature revealed the violence that brings death and destruction. The wind screamed, the waves roared and the rains pounded all. In the dark, the sound of falling trees and breaking branches increased concern for safety.

We had to quietly and patiently wait out the storm on bended knees. As the storm moved on, the rescue operations started as the road had to be cleared of obstacles for traffic to freely move again. The morning brought the test of character as it had to take a willful choice to be grateful for what was spared and appreciative of the many additional household chores to do. The dike held while one-third of the pavilion’s roof was gone. The house remained unscathed despite being soaking wet. The orchids survived while 12 mango trees lay down. Cleaning the debris was a good way to continue to listen to what the typhoon’s visit means to us.

The second Sunday’s message encouraged us to strengthen our belief in the impossible. The example given was that of a virgin giving birth. We know nothing is impossible with Him but do you still retain some doubts or are you completely certain? Interestingly, this question and related issues come face to face with our national boxing icon as we all learn to stand up after a stumble. In my opinion, becoming a better listener and believer is so much more interesting, as well as challenging, toward making ourselves more meaningful.

Let us end with the following story to rub the salt in. A pastor concluded that his church was getting into very serious financial troubles. While checking the church storeroom, he discovered several cartons of new bibles that had never been opened and distributed. So at his Sunday sermon, he asked for three volunteers from the congregation who would be willing to sell the bibles door-to-door for P1,000 each to raise the desperately needed money for the church. Jack, Paul and Louie all raised their hands to volunteer for the task. The minister knew that Jack and Paul earned their living as salesmen and were likely capable of selling some bibles. But he had serious doubts about Louie who was a local farmer, who had always kept to himself because he was embarrassed by his speech impediment. Poor Louie stuttered badly. But, not wanting to discourage Louie, the minister decided to let him try anyway.

He sent the three of them away with the back seat of their cars stacked with bibles. He asked them to meet with him and report the results of their door-to-door selling efforts the following Sunday. Anxious to find out how successful they were, the minister immediately asked Jack, "Well, Jack, how did you make out selling our bibles last week?" Proudly handing the reverend an envelope, Jack replied, "Using my sales prowess, I was able to sell 20 bibles, and here's the P20,000 I collected on behalf of the church." "Fine job, Jack!", the minister said, vigorously shaking his hand.

"You are indeed a fine salesman and the Church is indebted to you. "Turning to Paul, "And Paul, how many bibles did you sell for the Church last week?"Paul, smiling and sticking out his chest, confidently replied, "I am a professional salesman.. I sold 28 bibles on behalf of the church, and here's P28,000 I collected."The minister responded, "That's absolutely splendid, Paul. You are truly a professional salesman and the church is indebted to you. "Apprehensively, the minister turned to Louie and said, "And Louie, did you manage to sell any bibles last week?" Louie silently offered the minister a large envelope.

The minister opened it and counted the contents. "What is this?. Louie, there's P320,000 in here! Are you suggesting that you sold 320 bibles for the church, door to door, in just one week?" Louie just nodded. That's impossible!" both Jack and Paul said in unison. "We are professional salesmen, yet you claim to have sold 10 times as many bibles as we could.""Yes, this does seem unlikely," the minister! agreed. "I think you'd better explain how you managed to accomplish this, Louie."Louie shrugged. "I-I-I re-re-really do-do-don't kn-kn-know f-f-f-for sh-sh-sh-sure," he stammered. Impatiently, Peter interrupted. "For crying out loud, Louie, just tell us what you said to them when they answered the door!""A-a-a-all I-I-I s-s-said wa-wa-was," Louis replied,"W-w-w-w-would y-y-y-you l-l-l-l-l-like t-t-to b-b-b-buy th-th-th-this b-b-b-b-bible f-f-for one thousand b-b-b-bucks ----o-o-o-or------ wo-wo-would yo-you j-j-j-just l-like m-m-me t-t-to st-st-stand h-h-here and r-r-r-r-r-read it t-to y-y-you??"*