WHAT A NATURE!

As social beings, the socialization nature in us is inevitable. Nevertheless, for effective socialization and the exercise of our beingness, there must be TRUST. This attribute is also a basic component of all relations. This trust can be in three ways: trust to Deity, trust to oneself and the trust to others.

Trust to Deity, faith, is the force which is keeping many religions going (the name of this Supreme Being varies with religions). Writing about the Transcendent and Immanent God, from the Christianity point of view of God, we see His consequences in each one’s life. Taking the immanence view of God, whereby, He is down to earth, involved and concerned with our daily activities, He gives us life every day. I do not know if one has ever reflected on such great miracle that happens to some of the people. To be sincere, many do not. I can also certify that sometimes I also do not recognise that. However, it is a pity that people’s faith is based on miracles mainly in our current generation. People migrate from one church to the other, from one religion to another in the name of search of miracles but we fail to recognize and take time to appreciate God’s providence; first, being able to wake up each day. Having faith in Him, however much can be included in free will, I suppose it is very necessary, both directly and indirectly.

Confidence, trust to oneself, is among the basic aspects of human existence. Many people in the universe lack confidence and it is a big blow to the rest humanity. We can all agree that someone who does not believe in himself first will always have difficulties in trusting others. We can predicate this person’s relations to be lacking something very vital. Self-awareness and self-worthiness plays a vital role in building one’s confidence. To know oneself helps one to be a liberal and responsible person. Confidence can be credited as concrete and reasonable grounds for one’s ability to LIVE.

Once one has succeeded to trust in him/herself, one can have respect, trust to the other. Just to contextualize each and everyone’s life, he/she is in a community. As social beings, we cannot be alone. There is always the other, as we did not even come into the world on ourselves. In this setup, it is essential for the relations between people to be true and good. In the union between different people bounded by respect, there are responsibilities of striving to build the community of respectful people.

With this basic feature of human life, the universe can be a better place. These attributes can fit well in the society to fulfil the eternal dream, the idea of having heaven on this earth. As trust thrives in different people’s lives, I believe it is contagious; but it all starts with me before it proceeds to other beings. Trust is the foundation of love.

MYSTERIOUS MAN

Just another day; unending day,

I dare to welcome everyone, hey,

In the name of Agnus Dei.

Here are the men willing day by day to salvage,

Not only in Apostolate,

But also in all their ways.

This place is where calls are nourished,

Whether for priests or for brothers,

And in this my case not to first years only but to all years,

Towards there in ten years

You know what!

Life is never straight in here, am sorry,

There are multiple bended-back stories.

The herculean task depends on our decisions and policies,

Which drums the loudest when we touch that Glory,

Believe me because this is not irony!

The thing is,

Our stories make us touch the skies,

Even if they might be ambiguous or obvious

Of any descriptions of us.

All of us try to improve those previous scenes,

So that we are not slaves of various histories,

Surely, even Peter Drury knows,

But what is history, what is reality? Answer me!

Didasio and Venancio have information,

To the point of attaching prescription,

That spurs our continuation and motivation

Because, personally, am from a neighbour nation,

Yet I add my intonation in this vocation,

Believing in the authenticity of my intention.

You and me, inside strengths and gifts, needs different,

Outside dreams of priests, perfect

That makes me to yearn to be a prefect

Of myself, health and wealth to fit in this context

But don’t misquote me because I am worth it

Ready to face death of this earth!

Of course, I am a flawed being in reality,

Sometimes unwilling to use the best way conventionally,

Of kneeling to the floor unfortunately,

To pray to God occasionally,

To show me the way that has tranquillity

Pursued the journey of an indelible identity

Because when he called I answered in curiosity,

To place that has fraternity.

From pitch to church, to preach there is unity,

Which teaches how to strip anxiety,

That makes each understand leach in this vicinity,

Which cements four pillars in the society.

Personally, I trust the staff,

Because they puff nice staff,

Which are sound to chart and chant,

To people who are in need of light.

I chant as songs of hope and spiritual,

Not like the ones of Radio and Weasel,

I try to use faith and reason,

Even in spiritual direction,

If you think its lies and fiction,

Just ask Venancio and Didasio

You see, Mallya and Kapya for Pastoral always asking us

That even in holidays kindles a flame everlasting,

As though over passing,

Within the confines of humanity,

Not for personal greatness but to leave enough sanity and spirituality,

That is why am for freedom, maturity and responsibility

Because it rejuvenates diversity in community and in apostolate! I mean Creativity!

Funny, I do not promise the flock glitz

And glamour despite they seem nice,

But I promise hope under Christ,

Hope close to that of mice,

Alternatively, of cancer patients who walk miles determined to find oncologist.

Believe me because I don’t preach lies, well, call me unrealistic,

But my instincts tells me yes I can, that’s why the canning are sick and in sadistic,

With an intention of agonizing my optimization.

You know what! I have ever done it,

Because that plantation I dreamt it,

I dig it,

I weed it but I have never bragged about it.

EEEH! Even if am dreaming, thank God am prophetic!

I am chasing the dream, I, Moses, the ordinary man,

I do not desire flamboyant life style, am not a celebrity,

But I have an identity,

Even if my name rarely warn,

That’s why I spout out, ‘Yes I Can’,

I can, just as Hounsfield the inventor of CT scan,

Because I too, le grand prophet,

Started believing I can walk to Egypt

To this time through Suez canal

When I learnt to work hard even at nine.

The truth is am a simple poet who can wait up to ninety-nine,

Who don’t just create art at all,

But I fashion master piece that comes out master class- out of the box,

I mean outer class not mediocrity

And don’t call me proud because it’s either God or Cesar.

Just as a spade is not a big spoon, so mud is not glass,

That is what we pledge this year in our class.

Furthermore, I measure my friends

Because friends of pressure

Are not a pleasure

But pressure,

Whether those of abuse of alcohol or ‘pesa’.

I tell you, they can wash away all your dreams like Geisha soap

In addition, leave you crying at leisure

Because that’s their pleasure

If not their nature.

I promise they cannot stick and fly together

In the same sorrow feather;

I don’t want to fall like ancient Empire of Rome,

But to discover my potential,

To be rational inspire galaxies of generation,

Flow like H2O,

In future to be a master of my own

So that I might not fumble

With people’s soul

And one way at all to achieve this, is to welcome friends who are loyal.

You can laugh all you want

But I promise I will never hide my account

TO THE WORLD.

Jesus found me when I was on my way out,

Chasing the dream to fly in this world,

Admiring fashion and glamour of this world,

Desiring to follow the crowd,

Make money and copy every fashion on TV and radio,

Aiming to build a big home that another person going to owe,

Thank God, before I could go

And the casket pushed low,

He shone the light that will forever help me navigate.

Postulate to me how to get to,

Listened to his voice all to,

Answered his voice I too,

Started pursuing silence rather than noise chaque jour,

yes! Chaque jour, each and every day and now I look my face in a mirror grateful.

I said I have a world to tell,

I have people to preach to,

Way back my sister thought I was possessed,

May back my friends thought I was obsessed,

Even after, wayward formators thought I was depressed,

Thank God, now that, he gives me courage not to be oppressed

But to be real when I express I am pressed,

Now all as endorse it as a progress!

This is no longer my account,

But Jesus whom I count on.

I’m not ashamed to tell the world because time might run out.

This is not an argument am taking

But a reality I am placing,

Because I’ll never forget all I do is through Him, the one,

Who never faking His love,

Ever letting me accomplish one by one,

Forever pouring his blessing flow to me below

Convinced that your existence is real because I know.

His providence makes me speechless.

When am toothless he makes me shameless,

Caring less

About my doubters just like Clayton Jennings said,

and I quote, “it’s not my mission to be loved, it’s not my aim to be known”

So do I say I would care less if I don’t find text on my phone,

what am grateful of is, Jesus has put me as his own.

By ASHANGO MOSES.

CRAINTE!

Just to try to brainstorm a bit, what is fear? Why is fear present in many people if not all? Is there a place or a human activity that involves authority without fear? Is fear good or bad?

Fear by definition according to Collins Dictionary is, 'a feeling of anxiety and agitation caused by the presence or nearness of danger, evil, pain, etc.; timidity; dread; terror; fright; apprehension'. This definition at least gives some clues of its nature. It is very true that fear is a reality in our societies all along, from the whole of evolution and creation story to date.

In the creation story, it is quite evident as it is depicted in the Holy Book. From the time, man (humanity) ate the forbidden fruit, I believe that death came alongside many human faults; and fear is among the many. Following the whole history of man, it is all full of fear. Man lives in this state almost the whole of his/her life if not the whole of it. In the same very Book, we see how fear seized the other nations too; first towards God (for believers and non-believers as well), then the fear of the other.

Critically looking into the implications of this word, it is not all bad. Take the commonly known example of the Bible. The chosen nation of God mainly survived under fear. They feared God who liberated them from slavery and guided them all through. Nevertheless, other nations feared to attack them as they saw the consequences of attacking them when God is favoring them. This ‘fear’ is something that is present in our times too. Taking an example of the superpowers of our time, they fear each other in terms of some things like nuclear power abilities but we see most people sugarcoat it and call it respect in order for it to sound more appealing. However, it is fear! Imagine the state whereby no one fears the negative consequences mostly of the actions one does. I believe we will be in a very chaotic environment as everyone unleashes his/her very nature hidden inside. Everyone will be striving to fulfill the egoistic urge in oneself and not to respect the other at all; it will be an open survival for the fittest contest.

In a childhood’s upbringing, however much one can say it is instilling respect in the child, the aspect of fear is quite evident. The consequences of the action to be done, take part in the general introduction of the term ‘fear’ in a child’s life. Many people who have the fear of failing in life and many more examples might be the ones who were punished severely for any unintended fault committed. However, let us view this trust to one-self and trust to others the way has been gradually attained. Through different peculiar methods, especially using punishment as a tool, has, in most cases, given birth to the intended outcome. By writing so, I do not mean I support such methods, but in the eyes of fear, they are perfect tools to penetrate into once life and rule for the rest of his/her life. Nevertheless, the aspect of authority is quite debatable. Starting from our Creator, there are some of the fierce command given from Him which literally makes one fearful, i.e. the aspect of hell being a reality and the wrong doers have a straight ticket to it with Lucifer driving the bus. For believers, we all agree with the part whereby this fear of hell has helped most of us to be in line with God’s commandment. All still go back to the issue of punishment.

Is fear good or bad? We can debate to centuries about this question but believe me that we will always wonder in a vicious circle. However, there are some common grounds we can all have. Fear to some extent is good for the future, of which I can try to apply the philosophy of Hans Jonas concerning ‘The Imperative of Responsibility. Briefly, we can ask ourselves this question; is fear capable of securing the future of humanity? If yes, then it sounds reasonable to believe in it but if the answer if no, then the probability of that person having negative thoughts of fear are higher than the positivity implied by fear. I believe each and every person can reflect about his/her own life in order to gauge the weight of each side. Where will I be, either with or without fear?