From shock waves to love waves

WE have to learn how to convert shock waves to love waves. This is not a desperate act of sweet lemoning, but rather a real necessity and the most practical thing to do, given the circumstances.

            It’s definitely no good to be dominated all the time by shock and fear. We should not allow ourselves to rot in those predicaments. Rather, let’s use the aftershocks into rampaging waves of genuine and effective concern for others. The shock waves should elicit in us the corresponding love waves

            We can expect the shock waves to diminish both in number and intensity. That’s because, while nature can unleash tremendous powers, it also has its limits. They just cannot go on and on. They peter out sooner or later. That’s part of the good news. Thus, we need to cultivate a sporting attitude toward calamities like this.

            But we should work on our love waves to grow both in quantity and quality. The spirit that drives them knows no limits. It has the capacity to be hitched with the omnipotent and ever-wise love of God.

            The love waves can only grow and grow. They can be inventive and creative. They can effectively correspond to the needs of the people at any given moment, and in fact can go beyond the level of needs.

            This is the call of our times, the challenge we have to face with God’s grace and our trusting, all-out efforts. The love waves should be a lot stronger than the shock waves. They are what repair and reconstruct what the shock waves destroy or damage.

            Let’s not allow the shock waves to reduce us into some subhuman species, harassed by doubts and worries. Much less should we let them lead us into petty and lowly thoughts and reactions.

            It’s unfortunate that the current relief operations in Bohol are marred by ugly politicking, or is it just a case of small-mindedness or plain stupidity? I hope that we can go past this distracting stage, and really work in solidarity with everyone for the good of all, and giving preferential and prompt attention to the more disadvantaged.

            We have to unleash the best of our abilities, our inventiveness, spirit of sacrifice and generosity, and other resources to tackle the emergency situation we have at hand. The effort to get earthquake victims back on their feet, not to mention, the road to recovery, is going to be long, arduous and complicated.

            Let’s look into how we can sustain the effort to help our brothers and sisters in dire need. But we have to see to it that the love waves we should produce spring from a genuine life of prayer and faith in God and in our people.

            These love waves cannot be authentic, and can be prone to be distorted and taken advantage of if they do not come from a vital relationship with God and with the people. Forget it if they are just grounded on emotions and feelings.

            It’s in our prayer and faith that we can see things objectively and extensively. It’s through our prayer and faith that we can derive the energy we need to launch and persevere in doing good, and that enable us also to rectify our intentions, and pursue the right course, despite problems and difficulties. It’s our prayer and faith that would keep us going.

            But neither should we fall into the other extreme of making our life of prayer and faith a hindrance, a sweet trap in our effort to be effectively engaged with the needs on the ground.

            Sad to say, this is also a proximate danger, and a very common one too. We can easily fall into it, thinking that by going through the motions of prayer, we are already helping. This is when we become armchair operators only, filled with good intentions but lacking in deeds.

            We have to spring into action. Love is deeds and not just sweet words or good intentions. Remember what St. James said: “Faith, if it has not works, is dead in itself.” (2,17)

            We need to help one another to convert the shock waves into love waves. Let’s try to create the appropriate culture able to discern as quickly as possible the beautiful divine messages embedded in the disasters and calamities that visit us, and to pursue the many wonderful possibilities that they possess.

            We need to broaden our minds and hearts to detect and follow God’s ways. We should avoid being caught with our pants down when shock waves come.