Going Green

Going green again. Trying to imitate my brother Alden who is into fish, green vegetables and red rice now. Broccoli and Baguio beans sauteed in a little butter topped with sliced squid balls. Yum 

Greens are healthy.

 

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Understanding Life

“Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.”- St. Augustine of Hippo

One of the highlights of today’s homily are these words:

“To understand LIFE, you have to visit three locations:
1. The Hospital
2. The Prison
3. The Cemetery

At the Hospital, you will understand that nothing is more beautiful than health. In Prison, you’ll see that freedom is the most precious thing. At the Cemetery, you will realize that life is worth nothing, the ground we walk today will be our roof tomorrow.”

When I went home to take care of my brother three weeks ago, I  set aside an hour visiting our beloved dead at the cemetery with my cousin before going to the hospital. Since I seldom take a vacation during All Saints and All Souls Days, I make it a point to light candles and offer prayers in front of their  graves every time I go home. There is always that nostalgic feeling,  remembrance of old days when my dad, my youngest brother, grandparents, aunties and uncles and some close relatives were still alive. Their graves are near each other.

In the hospital when you’re passing by the halls, you’ll see all kinds of reaction from people looking so sorrowful and staring in one direction, people texting or those who spent the night sleeping  along the corridors waiting. I haven’t tried visiting a prison yet but some years ago, I went with my high school classmates to visit a former schoolmate at the National Center for Mental Health where patients are like prisoners caged in open  (with grills of course) rooms  with several beds adjacent to each other.

It is quite depressing sometimes to be able to see hospital patients and those in the mental hospital.  And yes, health is one commodity that makes us rich in life even without those material trappings. Good health is not something you can buy.

I’d like to end up this post with these words.

“Health is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest friend.” 
― Lao Tzu

 

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