Isang tanyag at sikat na detergent (sabon panlaba) company sa England, UK ang nagsagawa ng survey dahil marami daw mga kabataan ngayon ang nawawalan ng pagkakataon na maging isang bata. They said that, “We are concerned that many children today are missing out on the simple pleasures of childhood because their mothers don’t want them to get dirty.” Their campaign is called, “Dirt Is Good.” They began the survey focused on children. They have a list of questions of what they wanted to do before their 10th birthday. Ang nanguna ay ang, (1) Magpagulong-gulong sa damuhan, (2) gumawa ng mud pie or cake na gawa sa putik!

There are times when we camouflage ourselves to avoid being criticized by others so what they only see on us is just that “fake” smile when the truth is: ‘we are deeply wounded.’ We maintain status quo symbol, a reputation of being clean as if never been dirty at all or has been clean all throughout your life. But this is being misunderstood by others that isolate us into a loneliness, dahil ikaw lang nakakaalam ng mga hapdi at pasakit ng buhay. You are the only one who knows what pains and struggles you are dealing with.

I heard Gary Valenciano’s song entitled: “The Warrior Is A Child.” which says: “But they don’t see inside of me, I’m hiding all the tears…” Kaya minsan mahirap humusga sa mali at kasalanan ng iba dahil hindi natin alam ang totoong nangyari bakit nagawa ang mga bagay na ginawa nila. I want to remind you that the Lord knows where you have been and what you’ve been through. You may be hiding your tears because nobody sees the inside of you. But God is wiping your tears away. Remind yourself what God told Moses: “Now you see them, but soon you will never see them again.” In the same way, now you feel the pain, but soon it will be over and you will never be there once again.

An American proverb says: “Don’t judge a man until you walked a mile in his shoes.”

I saw once a post that says this:

• Yung batang buntis na nakita mo sa kalsada na sinabihan mong ang agang lumandi, na-rape pala siya.
• Yung lalaking tinawag mong baduy, working student pala at wala siyang pambili ng bagong damit.
• Yung nakatabi mo sa jeep na sinabi mong mabaho, construction worker siya at dali-daling umuwi dahil may sakit ang asawa niya. Sinusuportahan niya ang pamilya niya at di pa siya naghahapunan.
• Yung sinabihan mo ng masakit na salita noong nakaraan, di mo alam na sa bahay palang discouraged na siya at hindi na siya masaya.
• Tinawag mong mataba yung babae, hindi na kumakain ngayon sa sobrang hiya at pressure na mameet ang standards mo sa ganda.
• Yung lalaking tinatawanan mo kase bulol magsalita, natrauma pala nung bata pa siya.
• Yung kaklase mong maraming beses umabsent at sinabihan mong tamad, araw-araw niyang hinahanap ang pamasahe niya.
• Yung crew ng fast-food chain na tinarayan mo dahil hindi ka masyado narinig sa ingay a loob ng lugar, ay working student at pangalawang duty na niya ngayong para lang matustusan ang pang matrikula nya.
• Yung ale na binarat barat mo sa palengke para sa isang kilong gulay at sinabihan mong madamot, dose kilometro pala ang nilakad pagpuntang palengke para makapagtrabaho lang ng marangal.

Let us not compare ourselves to others because we do not have any idea what their journey is all about. And there are many people who show strength because they win their personal battles we know nothing about.

Minsan may isang bulag na nakita si Hesus. Sinabi ng lalake na gusto niyang makakita. Dumura si Hesus sa lupa at lumikha ng putik at pagkatapos ay itinapal Niya sa mata ng lalake. Kung titingnan mo ang pangyayari ay maaaring magtaka ka, bakit putik pa ang inilagay sa mata ng lalake ay bulag na nga? Jesus told the man to wash himself in the pool of Siloam. The man went and came back seeing.

If this man refused to do what Jesus asked him to do, he would have missed the miracle of sight.Pwede siyang maging sarcastic or magreklamo dahil nagkadumi ang mata niya. But it was Jesus, the God Himself who spat on the ground, made some mud, and applied it to his eyes. He received what he wanted for because he obeyed. He did what he was told.

Do we complain a lot when there are things we need to do or God was asking us to do? Do we protect our “cleanliness” or our appearance not get dirty that we miss the big things in life? Ang naging puhunan ng lalakeng ito ay ang kanyang pagsunod lamang.

Do you know one thing that if you do it, you will succeed? Just do it! I like what Paul said in the book of Philippians chapter three verse twelve:  “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” Like him, we must be a man of action. A “just do it” man.

Minsan if we only do that “one thing” it will make a big difference. Yes, it may get us dirty in the process, but that’s what growing is all about. You crawl then you walk, then you run. But sometimes you fall in between, you get dirty, you get wounded, you get hurt, you get mocked and ridiculed…tatawanan ka dahil bumagsak ka. But keep going. Paul said, “Forget what is behind.” Forget your past failures. Just do it. It may keep knocking on your door, but do not open up your heart for it anymore. What happened may be ugly, malicious and intentional, but you must learn to forget. Just do it. Forget it.

“Straining toward what is ahead.” Keep your eye on the prize. Never get sidetracked. This is the reason why horses install “blinders” so their eyes remain focused on their destination. Most appliances now are by “horsepower.” They have this principle of straining toward what is ahead, determined to overcome every obstacle along the way. Just do it. Go forward.

“Press on toward the goal.” You have goals. You cannot reach the finishing line if you keep carrying that baggage of negativity, hurts, and pains. Those are heavy and may be unbearable. Just like Jonah, he was thrown out of the boat. As soon as he is out, storm stops and peace occurs. This was just an analogy to Jonah as he is the man of God. But what I want to emphasize a point, that we need to press on toward the goal. Life is too short to make alibis and excuses. Just do it. Press on.

Minsan may isang Police General ang tinanong ano-ano ang kahulugan ng mga “simbolo” na nakapin sa kanyang uniporme. Ipinaliwanag niya na ang bawat simbolo ay ang mga giyera at laban na napuntahan niya at nakabalik siya ng buhay.

Ikaw? Saan ka galing? Anong mga madilim na kahapon ang ayaw mo ng maalala? You may have had an unforgettable experience. You got dirt, you fell down, you suffered in agony. But can you now tell the world, that despite of what happened to you, you are still here. You were wounded, but you are still here. You got shot, but you are still here. You have been spat at, but you are still here. Your friends have died, but you are still here. Your family told you, you cannot make it, but you are still here. Whatever you think you must do to achieve greatness and reach for your stars, just do it.