DAYLIGHT - DAILY MEN OF LIGHT REFLECTION December 12, 2014 / Friday Gospel: Matthew 11: 16 to 19 Sharer: Atty. Bong Roque + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 16“To what shall I compare this generation? It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another, 17‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance, we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.’ 18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said, ‘He is possessed by a demon. 19The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is vindicated by her works.” + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Sharing: It was also a Christmas Season – Advent, to be exact -- when I had this “siomai” experience. It was supposedly a time I had set aside for more prayer and reflection, for preparing for the Lords coming. But, as is my struggle year in and year out, I was caught up in the revelry, in making lists, in grabbing Christmas gifts, in braving traffic, and in doing all things “un-Advent”. All of a sudden, I found myself inside Chowking. Actually, all I wanted to do was stop by the courier beside it, send a few mail matters, and then head straight home. But, all of a sudden, I felt like relieving myself, and Chowking was the nearest place with the cleanest restrooms. “Welcome to Chowking, sir,” beamed the security guard at the glass door. How I wished he had another welcome spiel — something like, “Welcome to Chowking Restrooms, sir” — for that would have given me the ticket to head to the men’s room without ordering food. But his salutation was well-rehearsed and clear enough. There was no “restroom” after “Chowking.” The moment I stepped inside the store, the waiter at the entrance smiled and greeted me: “Welcome to Chowking, sir. Merry Christmas!” The lady at the cashier was sprightly and not to be outdone: “Hi, sir, welcome to Chowking.” With my original plan foiled thrice over by subtle greetings that seemed to say, “Only those who eat here are welcome to pee,” I found myself queuing at the counter. Good thing there was only one customer ahead of me, and old, wrinkled man. My Plan B was simple: order a black gulaman-to-go, and then dash to the men’s room. However, it looked like even Plan B was bound to fail. It happened that this old chap ahead of me was taking time in choosing from the menu. He kept on changing his orders and arguing with the cashier. Apparently, he was oblivious to the fact that the man behind him had a full bladder and was already squirming in line. Time for Plan C: Help the man make up his mind, order a black gulaman-to-go, and sprint to the first available urinal. Luckily, the old man was done before I could unleash Plan C. “Miss, babalikan ko na lang yung order ko mamaya ha? (Miss, I’ll just be back for my order, okay?),” the old man said to the cashier. As soon as the man left, I asked the cashier: “Miss, bakit nagtagal yung mama? (Miss, what took the man so long?),” I asked the cashier. “Kasi po gusto niya mag-additional order ng siomai. Tinatanong po niya kung magkano pa raw ang sukli niya sa in-order niyang beef mami. Sabi ko P7.00 na lang, eh hindi po aabot yung sukli para sa isang order ng siomai. So hindi na po siya kumuha ng siomai; pamasahe na lang daw niyang pauwi yung P7.00. (He had wanted to order dimsum in addition to the beef noodles he got, but I told him his change was only P7.00, which was not enough to buy the dimsum. So he just ordered the beef noodles; he said he’ll just use the P7.00 for his jeepney fare in going home.)” I felt my heart rend. There I was, ready to throw money for a drink I never intended to sip, while this man who had probably pined for dimsum, fettered his craving just so he may reach home with his remaining seven-peso change. Was it a coincidence that I opted to first order food at Chowking rather than to go straight to the men’s room? Was it just by chance that I was queued right behind the old man? Was it because I was just being plain nosy when I asked the cashier what took the man so long to place his order? Did it just happen that I was at the right place at the right time? Of all people, why me? Of all places, why Chowking? Of all times, why during Advent? The confluence of the incidents, the timing, and the characters, was just too much to be called a coincidence. What was laid before me, I believe, was rather a “God-incidence.” I have always espoused the conviction that nothing in this world happens by coincidence. It was time for me to turn my conviction into action. “Miss, bigyan mo ako ng isang black gulaman at isang order ng siomai. Yung siomai isama mo sa take-out nung mama. (Miss, give me one black jelly and one order of dimsum. Please slip in the dimsum in the take-out order of the man.)” The cashier looked thunderstruck. I smiled at her, paid the bill, and headed for the restroom. Then I left the store feeling relieved. Perhaps “privileged” is the more appropriate word. Because the imprints of God’s hand were evident in the circumstances. And it happened to a person who thought he only wanted to pee. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Point for reflection: I can imagine Advent to be a time when the Lord is playing a tune entitled “Change” and we are asked to dance to the tune. Are we dancing to the music of the Lord? Is the advent season changing us for the better? We can start the change by asking the Lord to sensitize our hearts to the needy people around us.
Posted on: Fri, 12 Dec 2014 16:09:34 +0000
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