Indulge Into Poverty: My Personal Encounter

The past had brought me to several special encounters with the poor. They are no ordinary people to me because they are my relatives. Summer vacations while I was still in high school were spent with my whole family visiting them. My less fortunate relatives are based in the province and have their own houses made of bamboo floorings, while some have the earth as their floor. Walls were made of wood and roofs made of nipas. The lamplight brightens up the darkness of their nights as there is no electricity. Also, the place cannot be reached by cellular signals; there is no proper comfort room and drinking water is fetched by the well or from the river. These are situations that are different to what I am used to while I was growing up.

Looking back at those times, I have thought that the parents work for farming and fishing. I have imagined how difficult it would be for them to work under the sun and what they earn is just enough for the family to have something to eat. There is a desire to send their children to school yet they do not have the financial capability that is why children are forced to work at a young age. The most difficult part for them is when they get sick, they cannot easily be sent to the hospital or buy medicine.

But despite their lack of money to answer their basic needs, I have seen how capable they are to use the resources they have around them. Just like for medicine, they use herbal medicines that is planted in their backyards. Since they are rich in soil, they also plant vegetables and fruits so anytime, they could just get straight from their backyard. Everything is just so fresh in their place, not just the food but the clean air too.

Whenever I am there, I feel very relax and comfortable because of the warmth they give. The discomfort due to lack of electricity and transportation among others is nothing compared to all the stories and laughter we shared. Time passes by without feeling bored because I enjoyed the place since it is so different being in the city, the people most especially because they are my relatives and we bond together.

It made me realize that being together with your family is just enough for a person to feel contented. The lack of financial resources is not a big issue for them because in the end, what matters is the relationship they had with one another. In my reflection, with the experiences I had with them, I have thought that a person would not mind the status he has in the community and that is because they are used to it and they are born that way. What matters for them is that they are able to eat three times a day and in good health. They just cannot leave the place and live somewhere else thinking it would gain them much money, because they are already tied to their livelihood, to what they have now.

Going beyond these things would really entail sacrifices and risks and there are only a few poor people who does this. Most of them just are what they have to be. Through these people, I am able to see God and with that I will end my reflection with a quote from Mother Theresa,

“Our life of poverty is as necessary as the work itself.
Only in heaven will we see how much we owe to the poor for helping us
to love God better because of them.”






This was for my first reflection paper for Theology 104 submitted 24th of Nov. 2010 were I got 100, thanks to my prof., Sir Ato Dela Cruz! (Yey!)
Credits to my mother, Eugenia Madelo, for her contribution; to my sister, Marriete Madelo, the editor; and to my father, Rito Madelo, my inspiration. (Naks!)

My Life's Purpose

Who am I? What does God wants me to be? Where is this life leading me? For the past twenty-one years of my existence, there are times that I ask these questions to myself. Asking may be a hard thing to do, but answering is much harder. Perhaps, one step for me to find the answers is to look back…

As a daughter and sister, my parents raised me as a selfless, respectful, and God-fearing person. When they scold me or when I observe how they treat themselves and others through their words and actions, I realize that God is in them. They have been a good model and teacher to me, as what Psalm 25:9 says regarding our Lord: “He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.”

As a friend, they taught me to be understanding, to accept others the way they are, and to freely express myself. We learn from each other. Whenever I’m with my friends or with other people, I am able to represent myself as a child of God, as the verse says: “…and whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father.”(Colossians 3:17)

After reminiscing and reflecting all that has happened to me, another question popped in my mind. “Have I lived my life to the fullest?” --- Another question which I find difficult to answer.

Given the “scale of living my life” from 1-10, where 1 as the least and 10 as the fullest, I can rate it as 7. I have not really experienced much about life. To experience life for me means to see beautiful places, to appreciate nature, to try something new for myself, to decide what really makes me happy and contented, to give back the love and care my family and friends have given me, to share to others my blessings, and to not being afraid of taking risks.

I have been a play-safe person because I am afraid to try things that I feel I cannot do. However, I realized that having this mindset will never help me live my life to the fullest. To be able to live to the fullest, I should learn to be a risk-taker to things which I know will make me become a better person, and to pray to God and ask for His guidance.

Despite the many issues this present life encounters, such as poverty, war and terrorism, these should not serve as a hindrance. Instead, they must be treated as a purpose for living. This calls for action in each one of us. Helping others would make God happy just as what the verse from Deuteronomy 15:11 says, “There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be open-handed toward your brothers and toward the people and needy in your land.”

There is always a feeling of self-fulfilment when we do so. Just like what my parents do to our relatives and to others, they help without hesitation. This taught me to help as well, especially if I have something to share for them, all I just have to do is to take action and be initiative. For God has commanded us according to Matthew 22:39, “The second most important commandment is like: ‘Love your neighbour as you love yourself’.”

These things made me hope for the best for me so I could be able to give back to God what He has given me. The things in my past, from the experiences to the teachings, will serve as my treasures and inspiration so I could be able to encompass life’s challenges in the future. All I have to do is to learn from my mistakes and to continue to ask for God’s help.

“You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest.

Every moment you know where I am. You both precede and follow me.

You place your hand of blessing on my head.”

(Psalm 139:3, 5)

*this is a Theological reflection paper for my Theology 104 class submitted 05 Jan. 2011. ;)