I WOKE up at midnight, the other night. And the word “Ahorita” kept on drumming on my head. Then I realized that the podcast I installed in my smartphone was playing. I installed the Spanish podcast so I can study my Spanish while on lockdown. I also used my reviewer to fall asleep.
Then I brushed the cobwebs in my brain and reflected on “Ahorita” (the Mexican diminutive for “in a little bit” or in Filipino-English “For awhile”).
I felt God was telling me “Ahorita.” Or in modern teen English, “Chill.” Don’t be in a rush. God is working His miracles on me but in His time. Be still and have patience. I can now sit and stand. Do my squats. Work on social media. Even walk using my wheelchair. Or even compose columns. I even got to write to my human rights Ecuadorian colleague in Spanish without relying on Google translate. I was worried about Gaby Arguello. Ecuadorian police have removed almost 800 bodies in recent weeks from homes in Guayaquil, the epicenter of the Covid-19 pandemic there.
Back here in Bacolod, I requested my brothers and sisters in the Catholic charismatic movement to write their thoughts so I will know they’re doing fine.
Sr. Gracey P. Bermejo wrote me to assure that she’s todo bien (everything’s alright) but ahorita. She writes, “As a family-oriented person, and taught to grow up in that way, this season has made me realize its strong importance. Through the ups and downs, our family’s love will always be there.” She continues, “With that, the pandemic also teaches us on the other side, along with prayer and as one family, we are strong and we can continue to share the love with one another in a much stronger bond. Since we stay at home, we are encouraged to do things with family, thus, making every relationship a reminder of a great blessing.”
As for me, this is one of the things I wanted to treasure the most. I tend to mistook small things that could become great. So, in this trying time, may we learn the beauty of gratitude and embrace whatever we have in our lives regardless of its size. Through this exercise, the Lord is much pleased and more blessings can be more visible every day.
Well, we tend to neglect ourselves in replace of meetings, work, business, school and more. Even though we need to, but there’s nothing wrong in putting a little time for ourselves. Since we are in quarantine and some of us do get bored, why not take this time to do some love for ourselves? Whether it is having a new workout program, learning a new skill, pampering, read a book. Or in my case, listen to podcasts.
It is indeed that at this moment we are helpless. The frontliners who are the medical experts, government officials and others who are still working during quarantine, are also helpless because of the need for God’s wisdom and protection to serve the people. In this time, we allow God’s mantle of healing love to protect us all and to heal the sick. We can see through opening our minds and hearts that His power of healing will come to stop this virus. Ahorita. Have a grace-filled day! Amen.