Friday, May 15, 2009

Struggle: Matinumanon Ka

At the risk of some verbal negativity, I shall quote a quote I have been thinking about lately from the Irrepressible Wesley of the Princess Bride fame:

"Life IS pain..... anyone who tells you differently is selling something."

Now, while I have been mulling over this statement, I am wont to change it to something more applicable. "Life is struggle". (I have often wondered how such an awkward sound came about to form that word.) What part of life is not a struggle?

The last breaths of an aged man, the newborn pushing and straining to leave its cocoon and enter the world, the young child learning to walk, older children growing tall into their adult bodies.... what of life is not struggle?

In this vein, I have also been singing various Selah songs to myself. (Note: Selah being the music group, and "their" songs being the songs they sing/cover/etc. in thier albums)

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.


Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.

and

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee.
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord unto me.

Summer and winter and spring-time and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

My first memory of this song was at a wedding. I was tickled to death to be the flower girl for my dear Ate M. with hair curled, a gorgeous dress with lace and nice shoes. I remember being more than pleased with my appearance, but my only very clear memory of that day was looking at Ate M's face as she sang this song. I am sure I had heard it before, but for some reason, it never registered. I vowed at that moment to sing it at my wedding. however, I'm not saving it only for then, either, as I have been meditating on it a lot lately.

Life is struggle, remember?



1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Great choices! I find when I fill my head with praises and promises, especially if I wear earphones so that it is ALL I can hear, it is impossible to continue in a mood - whatever kind.