Life has been stressful in so many ways.
Whenever I reminisce about how I was before, I always see how worked-up I’ve been. Aside from my job as a call center agent, I had multiple responsibilities with my church organizations. I can consider myself “on-the-go” because I made it a point that I’m always there and I’m involved because in my heart, I know I need to give back. Between the funny faces, the laughter, and the jokes was a heart that was struggling to move forward with life. The good thing with living is that, I live with music.
I’ve been a musician for the longest time. Musician in the sense that I am inspired and motivated because of the music I live with. Listening to music is one thing – living it is also another. I remember how I love opening songs in mass celebrations. This one is indeed a favorite:
Purihin ang Panginoon
Umawit ng kagalakan
At tugtugin ang gitara
At ang kaaya-ayang lira
Hipan ninyo ang trumpeta
Sa ating pagkabagabag
Sa Diyos tayo’y tumawag
Sa ating mga kaaway
Tayo ay kanyang iniligtas
This one certainly sets the mood. Aside from it being the first mass song I was able to play in the piano, it certainly assures me that God is here and we’re His angels offering all of our music to Him. I love that part – being an angel offering my services to God. It gives me a bigger perspective to live.
The offertory song reminds me of how I have offered my life to service. One of the best songs that move me a lot is this:
Panginoon, turuan mo akong maging bukas-palad
Turuan mo akong maglingkod sa Iyo
At magbigay nang ayon sa nararapat
Na walang hinihintay mula sa Iyo
Na makibakang di inaalintana, mga hirap na dinaranas
Sa tuwina’y magsumikap na hindi humahanap ng kapalit na kaginhawaan
at di naghihintay kundi ang aking mabatid na ang loob Mo’y siyang sinusundan.
This song gives me a purpose. As I have always told myself: there’s more to life than living. We must strive to be good to others more than ourselves. This has been an everyday mantra because we all know that God is perfect and being perfect is something we cannot achieve. We always move out of our ways every now and then but with a reminder of being more giving, we go back to where we are and God will always accept us. There’s more to life because He is here and a reminder of giving and caring for others, being selfless without expectations, is a direction to a greater sense of love. Yes. Love is everything that we need.
In connection to being selfless, one of the best will be this song. I have included the lyrics that best signifies it:
For Yours is the voice in my deepest dreams
You are the heart, the very heart
Of the greater scheme of things
Why don’t we follow the voice that calls within
Dance to the silent song it sings
One day we’ll find our place
For all things fall in place
For all things have a place
In the greater scheme of things
This certainly warms my heart because throughout the uncertainties that I have in my life, I know He has a bigger purpose in me. My recent years were really overwhelming. I lost so much and yet I am here because there’s a greater scheme of things. He knows what we need and He will certainly lead the way.
I can recommend a dozen of songs and all of it moved me from my lowest to my highest. I find myself in tears multiple times because I know how much change I’ve been through. It is true that you will know Him more through the times that you are at your lowest and I’m glad I always visit that place because I always get the chance to talk to Him. During my highest, I praise Him because He deserves everything because everything comes from Him. As one my best friends say, he is our director, our leader, everything. He certainly is and one of the best songs to move us all and remind us that He is ours is the prayer He taught us.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come, thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Let’s sing forever to our Lord. Let’s listen to the words He communicates to us through the songs we sing in service. There’s more to these songs and there’s more to life because of Him. (John Rimher Manubay)
Songs:
Purihin ang Panginoon – Fruto Ll. Ramirez, S.J.
Panalangin sa Pagiging Bukas-Palad – Tim Ofrasio, SJ, Jandi Arboleda, Manoling Francisco, SJ
Pilgrim’s Theme – Johnny Go, SJ, Manoling Francisco, SJ
