Cruise Ships and Beautiful Women

The other day, my uncles and I were talking about how it would be like to work in a cruise ship. One of them said something really funny (and somewhat true as well). He said. “Kapag nasa barko ka na at napapaligiran ka ng tubig, lahat ng babaeng kasama mo gumaganda (When you’re on a ship surrounded only by water, all the women with you become beautiful).”

I’m wondering right now if I’m experiencing a similar phenomenon.

For a few months now, I’ve resolved to “kiss dating goodbye” (for many reasons, but mostly because I realized that love is a blessing, not something we seek out). With this, probably for the first time in my life, I am not on the lookout for prospects. It’s been working out quite well for me.

I observed something intriguing though with myself these days, and I’m curious if it has something to do with my resolution: I noticed that women are starting to become “interesting” to me, even if they don’t have model-like looks. I admit it now, looks has been the first quality I look for in girls. It’s only after I find a girl physically attractive that I would evaluate if she is also smart and kind enough for me to like. Recently though, I’ve found myself giving certain girls a “second look”. However, it’s not because they’re hot (actually, they’re just average in the looks department for me), but because I admire their attitude (such as passion to serve the poor, spirituality, wit and humor, tactlessness, confidence).

I can think of only two explanations for what is happening. The first is that I’m finally learning to really see past looks. The second… is that I haven’t had a love life for so long that I’m starting to get desperate! (Oh God, let it not be so!) Regardless of why though, it’s still an interesting turn of events. In any case, I choose to believe it’s the former.

I think this may be another sign that I’m actually meant to become a Jesuit. Hahahahahahahahaha! *sigh*

Why He chose to die on the cross

I'm happy that I went to mass this afternoon. The reason that I'm glad is that the homily helped shed some light on a question that I've been asking Christ for some time now, namely, "Why did You choose to die on the cross?"

I remember around two years ago while I was contemplating Christ's Suffering and Death, I told Christ (accompanied with tears, anguish, and all that stuff) , "You didn't have to let yourself be crucified just to show me that you love me! There are other ways to show me your love. You're so stupid! Stupid!" What was the sense of letting Himself be abused, humiliated, tortured, and murdered?

I got a speck of the answer this afternoon. During mass, the priest asked the question, "When someone has been abused, mistreated, oppressed, exploited... amidst all this injustice and suffering, where is God?" He said that the answer lied in Christ's suffering and death.

Christ became human to share in all our human situations, such as growing up, weddings, having friends, etc. Part of this was sharing in our experiences of suffering. And He allowed himself to experience the most horrific of sufferings --- to show us that even in the worst instances, He will still be there with us. He won't just watch from the clouds using his telescope. He'll be here hurting as we are hurting. He isn't just an observer in our life. He actively participates in it.

Maybe, just maybe, there really wasn't a better way to show us how much He loves us. I guess (and this I've seen in my own life), sometimes we gotta do drastic things for others to get the message.

I think I'm getting the message, little by little.

Hey Dude, thanks for sticking around.