The Real Rich People

Today the sun is out and everyone seems back in the business. But what seems to be a normal day for one person is the darkest, most miserable day for someone else. 49 people have died most because of drowning, others were buried alive and six more remain missing. Many people lost things in the most recent flood, things that took them years, sweat and tears to build.

But I have made a great discovery. I have discovered who the real rich people are. And these are the people who are able to pull through with life’s storms and crises. To those who stay strong amidst rubbles and chaos, loss and deaths. To wiser people who don’t put their hopes only on money and things.

We Filipinos are not only resilient; we sprung from a hardy race. In the words of the ex-President Carlos Romulo, we are browned skinned men, putting out to sea in ships that were as frail as their hearts were stout. Since time immemorial, we are tested by countless calamities; volcanic eruptions, devastating earthquakes and lahar flows, super typhoons, flash floods and landslides.

Today we are once again faced with great loss. But our richness of spirit does not come from what we see but from the One we put our hope on. It acts like a rudder that continuously reminds us the great truth- being God’s children.

Pains, trials, difficulties in life, non-stop, continuos action-packed adventure. That’s what life is and the blows, well, they keep coming. But I find inspiration from Corrie Ten Boom who says: When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer.

Having problems? Trust in God the engineer,the God of storm. He knows our beginnings and endings.

I don’t think I need to say more.