13/01/2020
A PRAYER FOR THINGS WE CANNOT CONTROL
(It's a long read, but I want to inspire you, encourage you, and change your perspective on what's happening now.)
When volcanoes erupt (and other calamities happen), we’re reminded of a brutal fact: Humans control so little of our universe.
In this age of robots, artificial intelligence, and milk tea pearl shakes in every street corner, we still don’t know when a volcano will blow its top.
Oh yes, because of our intelligence, we now control a bigger chunk of our universe. For example, when my great grandmother wanted to control the temperature at home, she would fan herself like crazy with her abaniko and drink copious amounts of water from her tapayan. But today, I can actually determine the exact temperature I want in my room by the remote control of my AC.
Alas, volcanoes (and earthquakes, tsunamis, and storms) don’t have remote controls.
Perhaps one day, in the year 2359, technology would be so advanced, all volcanoes would have giant thermostats attached to them. Perhaps science will also discover how to detect an earthquake 6 months before they happen--so we can prepare. Perhaps some scientist will find a way to tame a storm, and with a touch of his electromagnetic gizmo, bring it down from signal #4 to signal #1.
But even if all that happens, I bet there will always be many things we cannot control. Like when a killer comet will crash-land on planet earth and decimate 75% of our population. (Oh wait. How about if we send 1,000,00 nuclear warheads towards the comet before it hits earth? Gosh, I watch too much Hollywood flicks.)
Bottomline, I can’t control everything.
Shoot, I can’t even control a bus from bumping my car in EDSA.
I also have two teenagers at home. Control isn’t their favorite word.
So what’s my point?
I don’t have a point.
I have three points.
FACING WHAT WE CANNOT CONTROL IS...
1. AN INVITATION TO BE HUMBLE.
It forces us to bend our knees and pray in trust.
Sometimes, because of our ego, we become arrogant.
But when we see magma flowing out of a volcano, it puts us in place.
We are so tiny.
Which brings us to related topic when calamities like these happen: Can you control God with your prayer?
Some religious people think they can.
That’s why there’s such a thing as spiritual arrogance--perhaps the worst sin.
But God doesn’t submit to a formula, or else, the formula becomes God.
God is God. He sees the future. We don’t.
And it leads me to the second invitation...
2. AN INVITATION TO TRUST
Calamities cause a lot of people to panic.
Panic buying. Panic hoarding. And panic living.
I read an IG post that asked the question, “Is this the end of the world?” It listed all the volcanoes that are erupting in the world. It’s scary.
But here’s a fact: Seismologists say that in any given day, as many as 10 volcanoes may be spewing ash or lava somewhere on Earth. Read history and you’ll realize that calamities have always happened and will continue to happen.
Once upon a time, I researched “End of the World” writings of the past 2000 years. As early as the year 100 AD, religious leaders were already predicting that “this was it”. So i advice everyone to chill. Instead of being preoccupied with these doomsday predictions, I’d rather embrace that fact that I can choke on my own saliva and die sixty seconds from now. So I need to always be spiritually ready to meet God face-to-face.
The other popular thought that floods social media during calamities? “We’re so bad, God is punishing us.”
Here’s my counter-belief: God doesn’t have to pick up a belt to beat us through a calamity. I’ve always believed that sin is it’s own punishment. Our actions, good or bad, brings its own consequences. So one day, evil work will be punished by its own doing. That’s why God doesn’t want us to sin in the first place.
Read this carefully: God created a universe that has volcanoes, storms, and earthquakes. Why? I have no idea. Honestly, I wish He didn’t.
At the end of the day, when I’m faced with something I can’t control or understand, my prayer is a declaration that I’m not God, that He is God, and that I trust Him--that at the end of the day--a volcano or earthquake or storm--or any uncontrollable problem in my life--does not have the last say.
God has the last say. And it will be good.
Finally...
3. AN INVITATION TO SERVE
Right after Mt. Pinatubo erupted (Yes, I’m that old), I flew somewhere (don’t remember where); Seated beside me was a man who wept on my shoulder. He said, “I lost my wife and my daughter in the lahar. I’m now all alone.” I tried to pray for him, but I fumbled with my words. At that moment, beside this man’s sobbing, all my problems vanished in a blink of an eye.
When a calamity strikes, our own little suffering (such as an annoying boss or arthritis pain or boyfriend problems), becomes nothing, compared to the massive suffering around us.
While we cannot control natural calamities, we can control our actions, words, and thoughts. Today, choose to be more selfless. Stop making everything revolve around you, and your issues, and your hurts, and your problems.
Donate. Serve. Give. Love.
That’s what you can control.
LET'S PRAY!
May I invite you to say a simple prayer with me?
Lord, first of all, we pray for all those affected by the Taal Volcano eruption.
I pray for Your comfort and strength for each of them.
I also pray for protection for people who are in harms way.
Lord, I declare that I trust You. I cannot control much of this universe, nor do I understand why calamities have to happen, but in humility, I declare that I am not God, that You are God, and these calamities--and all my problems--will not have the last say. You will have the last Say. And it will be good.
I follow You. I live for You. And I serve You and serve Your people, in Jesus name.
(PHOTO: My wife took it in one of our visits to Taal during more tranquil times.)
