Uh…huh? Did I hear you right? What??? Director???!!! Oh no, no, no, no! I can’t. I don’t like!

The greatest challenge as a Brev for me since I came back after my five years stay in Cebu was being appointed suddenly as director for Brevstock 8 and 9th Breviarian Big Tent Festival to replace Brev Ricardo who got a job outside the country. As much as I tried to make an objection against this crazy appointment, in the end, I lost my case due to a simple order of…OBEDIENCE.

After series of struggles and endless nightly tears begging the Lord for the grace to accept the so called “Director” title, I was pierced by the thought that the Lord was actually giving me a chance to serve Him during these last days of my life here on earth. After having felt His mercy and love, how can I refuse to serve? So I finally asked the Lord to forgive me and told Him to take control…that I may be His puppet. I was clueless on what I was supposed to do. All I had were my ideals and my hopes for the two major activities.

As Brevs, we have as our character our being non-exclusive.  Thus, unconditional acceptance is a trait we
continually practice despite the many differences each soul possesses.  May I share to you a story emailed to me by a
friend.  May we all reflect on how far we
have practiced this Brev virtue.

I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college
degree.
The last class I had to take was Sociology.

The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human
being had been graced with.

Her last project of the term was called, "Smile."

The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their
reactions.

I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway.
So, I thought this would be a piece of cake,
literally.

Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went
out to McDonald's one crisp March morning.

It was just our way of sharing special playtime with our son.

We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone
around us began to back away, and then
even my husband did.

I did not move an inch... an overwhelming feel ing of panic welled up inside of
me as I turned to see why they had moved.

As I turned around I smelled a horrible "dirty body" smell, and there
standing behind me were two poor homeless men.

As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was
"smiling".

His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God's Light as he searched for
acceptance.
He said, "Good day" as he counted the few coins he had been
clutching.

The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized
the second man was mentally challenged and the blue-eyed gentleman was his salvation.

I held my tears as I stood there with them.
The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted.

He said, "Coffee is all Miss" because that was all they could afford.
(If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something.
He just wanted to be warm).

Then I really felt it - the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and
embraced the little man with the blue eyes.

That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my
every action.

I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more
breakfast meals on a separate tray.

I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a
resting spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman's
cold hand.

He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Thank you."

I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, "I did not do this for you.
God is here working through me to give you hope."

I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son. When I sat down
my husband smiled at me and said, "That is why God gave you to me, Honey,
to give me hope."

We held hands for a moment and at that time, we knew that only because of the
Grace that we had been given were we able to give.

We are not church goers, but we are believers.

That day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love.

I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand.

I turned in "my project" and the instructor read it.

Then she looked up at me and said, "Can I share this?"

I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class.

She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being
part of God share this need to heal people and to be healed.

In my own way I had touched the people at McDonald's, my son, instructor, and
every soul that shared t he classroom on the last night I spent as a college
student.

I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn:

All Christians are called to holiness. Holiness?
Whoa! Ambigat naman niyan! Most Christians tend to shy away when
holiness is the subject. Indifference is an initial reaction due to the
preconception that such disposition is only meant for those who are in
the priesthood, religious and consecrated life since it is highly
spiritual. Moreover, holiness seems so unreachable and is only for the
saints. So, if it is not merely about religious practices and symbols,
what then? Holiness is wholeness; that is being
well-rounded in our moral, sexual, spiritual, physiological, mental,
physical, emotional, and social aspects. It is perfection. That is, not
actually making perfect things but doing things with perfect love and
the purest intentions. It does not need to take us away from our
regular duties; nor does it pull us out from our present situation
before we can be in such a state. It is working with compassion and
doing something positive. Holiness is not “AT LEAST” but “AT MOST.” It
is being an A-plus person who willingly and joyfully takes an extra
mile and is generous in giving. It is being merciful and acting on it.
It is authentic love – being able to love not only those who love us
but our enemies as well. Holiness, therefore, is not at all
complicated. It is very simple. It is making love our vocation
just as St. Therese of the Child Jesus did. And the more we become like
God, the more simple we become.Finally, HOLINESS IS SIMPLY BEING JESUS TO OTHERS.