 | And God Handed me a Pau by Che Francisco Posted by Kate Deiparine on 8/13/2008 7:28:45 AM |
Let me share with you my brief encounter with God yesterday.
At the strike of midnight, I raised my glass, peered thru my window to see the night sky and with the sweetest smile – offered God a toast.
And as I brought down my glass, I started my conversation with Him. I began by thanking Him for giving me another year to live, love and learn. I thanked Him for all the blessings I have received and for being constantly with me in all my struggles, failures and triumphs.
His response is by helping me recall all the wonderful gifts He has poured generously into my life. (Have you ever experienced a moment when you feel that God has locked you in His tight embrace?) That’s exactly how I felt last night when I was praying.
I felt grateful, humbled and unconditionally loved.
And like in a soap opera, I wetted my face with tears of joy… and of sorrow.
After all, I am like any other human being. I am thankful and yet I have my own desires that I know only God has in control of fulfilling. Not that I wanted to coerce Him to give into my petitions by bribing Him of my hard sobs and sorry cries.
In the middle of my tears (and now escalating self-inflicted chest pains), I surrendered to Him all my plans, dreams and hopes. I asked Him to let His will be mine.
He was silent so I thought better to sleep and just get ready for the day.
Then in the afternoon I met God in the office.
Believe you me; He answered my prayer by giving me a pau.!
Wait, before I get a rousing suspicion that I have fallen mad (which I am sometimes…) and I needed to be exorcised, here’s a side story to my story.
The day before, one of our old uncle cleaners told me that He will give me a Pau. In his broken English he described that it tastes really good and he wanted me to try it. That encounter was a pleasant surprise given that I rarely see or talk to him. But out of the goodness of his heart, he just wanted to give me a treat which I assumed he thinks will make me happy. (Well, not only happy, just the mention of siopau has already made my mouth drool…) So I accepted the offer and told him I’d love to give it a try.
Fast forward to yesterday morning. Unfortunately it slipped my mind that I have made an appointment with uncle to collect my pau. So I went in my merry ways throughout the day in my office. Come afternoon, a lady called to inform me that one uncle was looking for me and is waiting at the canteen. Immediately I remembered my date with uncle and I rushed out to meet with him. He handed me over the Chicken Pau (which he brought in the morning) after he reheated it again in the microwave. He said its better to eat while it’s hot. I thanked him and I explained that it was a great birthday present that he’s given me.
Where is God then and how did I meet Him?
Simple. I saw God thru Uncle’s heart.
I realized that when He handed me the Chicken Pau, He wanted me to savor and enjoy the gift at that moment He has given it to me. He wanted me to be present and live in that time capsule when I am nourished by a bite of that white soft bread and that succulent tasty meat. He even reheated it so I would be careful and pay attention while I am happily devouring it. (Yummy!)
I related this analogy to what He wants me to do in my life. He wants me to forget the past, live in the present and leave to Him the future. My future. (I know.. there`s always a nagging question whether we will allow God to run our lives. It`s hard to imagine that we are not in control in deciding the things we want to have. Things like what if he chooses beef instead of chicken? Or what if He gives me a BMW instead of a Lexxus? Hmm.. I think I could settle for that. Alright, that`s good for another sharing.)
But anyhow, that was God’s answer to my prayer. That I should not worry for He is always with me. He knows my yearnings and He loves me enough to know what to give when to give.
When God handed me a Pau.
I said, it is good…
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