You Have The Power To Create Love

This beautiful book about creating love is the third
collection of the Boss articles from KERYGMA. Here,

nationally known author and speaker Bo Sanchez does
what he is best known for: From his heart to yours, he
shares common stories with uncommon wisdom. Join
him in his personal journey of deep faith and tender
love, and your heart will overfow with laughter and
warmth.
This special collection includes the most favorite of Bos
articles, including
Cherish Your Chosen One
A Tiny Human Being in My Arms
You Create Your Destiny
Your Past Does Not Defne Your Future
This book can profoundly change the way you look
at life.
You Have the Power to Create
LOVE
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ISBN 971-92613-0-7
YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CREATE LOVE
I
Bo Sanchez
Third Collection
From the National Bestselling Author of You Can Make Your
Life Beautiful and Simplify & Live the Good Life
YOU H AVE TH E POWER
TO CREATE
LOVE
Take Another Step on the Simple Path to Happiness
Z
Other Books By Bo Sanchez
THE BOSS Series
Thank God Hes Boss
You Can Make Your Life Beautiful
You Have the Power to Create Love
SIMPLIFY Series
Simplify and Live the Good Life
Simplify and Create Abundance
PRAYERBOOKS
Embraced
The Way of the Cross
Special Prayers for the Holy Rosary
Copyright 2002 by Bo Sanchez
Request for information should be addressed to:
SHEPHERDS VOICE Publications
#60 Chicago St., Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines 1109
Tel No (632) 411-7874 to 77
Email: subs@shepherdsvoice.com.ph
J
YOU H AVE TH E POWER
TO CREATE
LOVE
1
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, ex-
cept for brief quotations, without the prior permission of the publisher.
Layout design by Noli Vicedo
ISBN 971-92613-0-7
The stories in this book rst appeared in KERYGMA magazine under
the column, The Boss, by Bo Sanchez. This is the third collection of the
series.
BO SANCHEZ
Third collection
A KERYGMA Collection Book
Shepherds Voice
S
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Cherish Your Chosen Ones 9
Discover Yourself 13
Take Delight in the Simplest Things 15
Write Down 100 Dreams 19
Find God in Every Place, in Everything, in Everyone 23
A Tiny Human Being in My Arms 27
Love Isnt a Business Opportunity 31
Do For Your Soul What You Do for Your Body 35
God Will Watch over You Night and Day 39
Angels are Ready to Escort You 43
Failures are Necessary to Teach Us Lessons 47
Bless the World with One Thing 51
Stop Comparing Yourself to the World 55
Be Faithful to Who You Are 59
Winning Every Time 61
You Have Wealth Under Your Nose 65
Make Refocusing a Habit 69
Youre Always a Star 73
You Create Your Own Destiny 77
Complicate Your Life 81
Use The Power of Labels 85
Feel your Feelings and Then Let Go 89
Congratulate Yourself: Youre Human 93
Smille More Often 97
Defne Your Greatest Achievements 101
Always Give Your Best Struggle 105
Lear to Say No Sometimes 109
Enjoy Who You Are 113
See Your Fathers Tears 117
Live Your Life With Presentation 121
Live Life Knowing You Are Gazed Upon 125
Open Up Your Life to Love 129
You Have the Power to Create Love 133
Receive His Love in the Most Unlikely Places 137
Your Past Does not defne Your Future 141

PREFACE
Ilovetowrite.
EspeciallyifIwritefrommyheart.
IfIdont,thearticledoesntseethelightofday.
BecausethemomentIsensethatImnotwritingfrommy
passionsanddeepestconvictions,Igetboredandpressthede-
letebuttonratherquickly.
But if I write from my heart, I feel fre fow through my fn-
gersasIpoundonthekeyboard.
Butyouknowwhat?
AsmuchasIlovewritingfrommyheart,Ilovesomething
else more fercely that makes me want to write every day.
Letmetellyouaboutit.
Overthepastyears,Icannotcountthenumberofpeople
whohavewrittentome,whohavecalledmeup,whohavetold
metomyfacethattheirliveshavebeendramaticallychanged
becauseofwhattheyreadinmybooks.
Imhumbled.
AndImgratefulforthisrareprivilege.
Myfriends,youarethereasonwhyIcontinuetowrite.
IwritenotjustbecauseIlovetowrite.
Iwritebecause I love you.
AndIpraythatthisbookchangesyourlifeaswell.
Yes!
You have the power to change your life.
Ibelieveinthatstatementsomuch.
NotbecauseIreaditinsomebookbutbecauseIveexperi-
enceditagainandagaininmylife.
Youhavethepowertobecomehappyormiserable.
Youhavethepowertobecomeasuccessorafailure.
You have the power to become a loving person or a selfsh
person.
Thechoiceisinyourhands.
Maythisbookgiveyouthecouragetochoosewelleachday.
&
And in western
countries, one out of
two marriages end up
in divorce. Thats a
pathetic 50% failure
rate! I would never
buy a car, a stereo, a
shaver, or even a nail
clipper if there was
a 50% chance that it
would conk out on me.
7
CH ERI SH YOUR CHOSEN
ON E
Gettingmarriedisthegreatestmistakeanyonecan
evermake.
Beingwedistheheightofinsanity,themostludicrous
commitment,themosttotallyillogicaldecisionanyhuman
beingcanfallinto.
Tellme.WhyshouldIcommitmyselftobewithone
womanfortherestofmylifeandtherebyreject3.2
billionotherfemalesintheworld?Alongtheway,Ill
meetagirlwhollbemorebeautiful,ormoreintelligent,or
morecharming,orsexier,orholierSowhynailmyself
downtoonechoice,permanentlyandsuffertheagonyof
simplywatchingbeautiespassmeby?
Andinwesterncountries,oneoutoftwomarriages
endupindivorce.Thatblowsmymind.Thatsapathetic
50%failurerate!Iwouldneverbuyacar,astereo,ashaver,
orevenanailclipperiftherewasa50%chancethatit
wouldconkoutonme.Isimplywouldnt!
Andwhystaywithoneperson insicknessorinhealth,
IJ
inrichesorinpoverty,tilldeathdouspart?Ismymind
fried?IfmyshirtshrinksonmebecauseIeattoomany
pizzas,dontIjustthrowitawayandbuyanXL?(That
willbetheday.)AndifIoutgrowmyancientcomputer,
dontIjustlookforanupdatedversion?
Andthentheresthecatastrophesomecallkids.I
mean,doIreallywanttowakeupinthemiddleofthe
nighttoentertainaself-centered,bald,toothlesstyrant
indiapers?DoIreallywantlittlerampagingmonsters
tobreakthemostexpensivefurnitureinmyhouse?Do
Ireallywantjuvenilecreaturestostayonthephonefor
sixhoursstraight,listentonoisetheycallmusicthat
youbelievecamedirectlyfromhellandmopearound
uncommunicative,catatonicanddepressedbecause
anotherdementedjuvenilecreature(a.k.a.boyfriend)
hasntcalledinthepast30minutes?
WhyshouldIgothroughthetorture?Marriageis
insanity.
Butafewyearsago,onmy32
nd
birthday,Igavemyself
aspecialbirthdaygift:Igotmarriedtoalovelywoman
andcommittedmyselftoinsaneliving.
Maroweishername,theonepersonIchoseoutof3.2
billionfemales.Yes,wenowhaveatinytyrantthatwakes
usupatnight,andinthenearfuture,wewillmostlikely
havelittlemonstersthatwilldestroyourhouseduring
playtime,andcreaturesfromouterspacethatwewillcall
teenagers.
Why?
Forthreereasons.
FAITH.WebelievethatGodcallsusintomarriage.
CHERISH YOUR CHOSEN ONE
II
AndifHecalledusthere,thatmeansHellbetheretomeet
us.We will suffer all thingsjust let us be with our God.
HOPE. We confdently expect the best blessings
immeasurablymuchmorethanallthehardship. God will
bless us beyond our wildest dreams.
LOVE.Ohyes,therewillbeotherfemaleswhollbe
morebeautiful,ormoreintelligent,ormorethisandmore
that But theyll only be just thatfemaleslike fowers
in the feld of a million hectares of fower felds.
ButnotthiswomanmyMarowetheonebeautiful
fower I have personally chosen, personally picked
fromherroots,personallyplantedinmyownclaypot,
personallywateredeveryday,personallywatchedevery
day,andpersonallylovedeveryday.Because of my love
for her, there will be no one like her.
Inmyheart,shewilleternallybethe most beautiful
fower of them all.
Becauseintheend,therewillonlybefaith,hopeand
love.
Andthegreatestoftheseislove.
IZ
I believe that in real life,
getting discovered by
someone else is not as
important as discovering
yourself.
IJ
DI SCOVER YOURSELF
InthepartiesthatIattend,Ivenoticedacommon
ritualthathappensaroundtheKaraokeorVideoke
machine.Ivediscoveredthreestagesinthisritual.
First, someone is cajoled to sing for the group. He frst
declinesadamantlylikeitwasaspreposterousasrunning
forpresidentofthePhilippines.Heinfactpointstoothers
whomaysingbetterbutifforsomebizarrereason
peopledontcontinuepressingforhimtosing,youwill
noticethathewillgohomeutterlydepressedandmay
evenhanghimself.
Butletssaytheritualisfollowedandpeoplekeep
urginghimtosing.Thewould-besingerdeclinesnowwith
shyhumorinvitingthemtopressurehimmore.Hesays
inanestufflike,Ayoko, baka ma-discover ako.
1
Thesecondstageofthisritualiswhenthesinger
takesthemicrophone,pullsfromhisleftpocketanaudio
cassetteandsays,Minus one ko, side A. Nakasalang na
yan.
2
Thethirdstagehappensafterthesong.Everyone
1
I dont want to, as I may be discovered.
2
My minus one, side A. Its ready to play.
I1
asksforanencorenomatterifhisvoicegiveseveryone
abriefintroductoryexperienceofthepainsofhell.The
Filipinoaudienceissupposedtopraisehimwithwords
like,Naku, kailangang may makadiscover sa yo! Kalinya mo si
Martin Nievera!
3
Letmefocusononepointaboutthisritual:Thiswhole
thingaboutgettingdiscovered.
Ibelievethatinreallife,gettingdiscoveredby
someoneelseisnotasimportantasdiscoveringyourself.
Youdiscoverthebeauty,theglory,thewonderthatis
you!
ListentoaquoteIgotfromMikeMurdock:
Popularity is when others like you. Happiness is when
you like yourself.
Doyoulikeyourself?
Doyouenjoybeingyou?
Doyoucelebrateandthrowapartybecauseofthe
goodnessthatGodhasbestowedonyoufromthevery
beginning?
Letmesaythisagain:Dontwaittobediscovered.
Pray.Bequiet.LookwithinyourselfthroughHiseyes.
Discover!
Andbecompletelyawedathowbeautiful,how
special,howwonderfulyoureallyare.
DISCOVER YOURSELF
3
You have to be discovered! You rank with Martin Nievera.
IS
TAKE DELI GH T I N TH E
SI MPLEST TH I N GS
GuesswhatIgavemywifeontheeveofourwedding.
Myhoneymoonpresent,ifyoumay.
Rightafterthebigweddingofathousandguests,at
12:00 midnight, when we were fnally alone in our hotel
roominafarawayresortastwoawkwardandgiddy
virginswithexcitedhormonesslambangingandsloshing
throughourveins,Idecideditwastimetogivehermy
honeymoonpresent.
Wrappedinasimplebrownbag,mybridetookone
look at it and was petrifed.
Afterall,itwasourhoneymoonandIcouldlegally
giveheranythingsexy,sexual,sensual,seductiveand
alltheintimateswordsyoucanthinkofandGod
wouldntmind.
Sheclosedhereyesandpokedherhandinthebagand
pulleditout.
Andsothereitwasinallitsgreenandyellowglory,a
Crayolaboxof64crayons,withbuilt-insharpenerinthe
middle.PlusthreecoloringbooksofWinniethePooh.
(Monthsback,shetoldmethatoneofherfantasieswas
I
tohaveherveryown64-setCrayola.Iwasabouttoshare
myownfantasieswithherbutdecidedagainstit.)
Souponseeingthecrayons,mybrideshriekedand
wenttoworkatonce.Shepouredoutthefatlittlesticks
ofpeachandmagentaandpinkandamberandsilverand
goldandallthewayuntil3:00AM,WinniethePooh
becamebeautifulinherhands.(Unfortunatelyforme,
sheforgetabouttheexcitedhormonesslambangingand
sloshingthroughherveins.)
ThatswhyIalwayssaythatourhoneymoonwasthe
mostcolorfulintheworld.
Andourliveshavebeensuch!
Wetakedelightinthesimplestthings.
Sure,Icouldhavegivenheraone-caratdiamondring.
OraladysRolex.
OranewpairofFerragamos.
ButIdidntbecauseoftwoimportantreasons.
First,Icouldntaffordthem.
Second,wewerelearningtodelightinthesimplest
things.
Ihaveherealistofthingsyoucandothatsreally
downrightinexpensive.
Takeastrolltogether.
Watchthesunrisefromyourwindowandpray.
Playwithababy.
Readagoodbookunderatree.
Watch a Walt Disney flm with the kids.
Ordercoffee(andnothingelse)withyourbelovedone
latenightatahotellounge.
Sleeptill9:00AMoneSaturday.
TAKE DELIGHT IN THE SIMPLEST THINGS
I
Writeloveletterstoyourfriends.
AsearlyasApril,makeyourownChristmasgifts.
Smileatstrangers.
Breathe.
Takedelightinthesimplestthings.
I&
How can anyone be
bored in a world so
beautiful and full and
exciting as this planet
were living in?
I7
WRI TE DOWN 100 DREAMS
Thereareafewthingsinlifethatmakemegoberserk.
Oneofthemiswhensomeonesays,Imbored.Imean,
howcananyonebeboredinaworldsobeautifulandfull
andexcitingasthisplanetwerelivingin?
Welloneday,a15-year-oldfriendwithaluminum
fngernails and 12-inch clogs told me, Im bored. Instead
ofbouncingupanddownshriekingmyheadoff,Idecided
tocalmlyask,Why?
BecausemycellphonesbustedandIcanttext
anyone!
Ooooooh.Armageddoncanbreakloose,theozone
layercandisappearandanasteroidcandestroyhalfthe
planetbutthesedisasterscannotcomparetothecalamity
ofateenerwithouthercellphone.
Heresapieceofpaper.(Itoreonefrommydiary.)
Writedown100dreamsyouwanttodobeforeyoudie.
Hereyesbulged.Onehundred?I-Ineverthought
ofAfterthinkingforawhile,shesheepishlysaid,
ZJ
Well,Iwantedtobuythecuteavocado-greenBenetton
shirtIsawyesterdayinthemall.Isthatconsidereda
dream?
Illletthatpass.Writethatdownasnumber99or100.
Anythingmoreexciting?
UhIoncethoughtofbecominganauthorofanovel
oneday.Butnahshebrushedofftheideawithawave
ofherhand.
Writethatdown,Icommanded,I will become a
terrifc novelist.
Asshescribbledtheline,sheasked,ShouldIinclude
thewordterrifc?
Putthatdown,girl!Ialmostshouted.Whatelse?
Isometimesimaginemyselfstartingmyownshop.It
willselltrinketsthatgirlslikemelovetobuy.Butitstoo
farfetched
Fabulous!Writethatdown!
Shewenton.Andoneday,Ihopetogiveamillion
pesostoahomefortheaged.Soon,shedidntneedany
morecoaxing.Shewaslikearunawaytrain,hereyeson
fre. Learn the violin. Travel to Paris and Beijing. Try skydiving
once. Become a gourmet cook. Get married and have three kids.
When she fnished dream number 100 (the cute
avocado-greenT-shirtwassomehowforgotten),Isaid,
ThinkofsmallthingsyoucandoNOWthatwillbring
you closer to the fulfllment of your dreams. Start with the
novelistdream...
Well,Icouldstartreadingnovels.Illlearnthecraft.
Fantastic!Andhowaboutthetrinketsshopidea?
WRITE DOWN 100 DREAMS
ZI
PerhapsIcouldlearnmoreaboutbraceletsandnail
polishandhairstuff
Isuggested,Youcanalsoworkinanystoreduring
summeroronweekends,eveniftheydontpayyouacent.
Learnhowitworks,fromtoptobottom!
Thisisexciting!sheshrieked.
Andyousayyouwanttogiveonemillionpesostoa
homefortheaged?
Donttellme,Bo.Icouldvisitthemnow!Maybe
monthly!Inthatway,Illneverforgetmypromise!Gosh,
Ivegotamillionthingstodo!Gottogo!Shebidme
farewellandoffshewent,thegirlwiththealuminum
fngernails and 12-inch clogs.
Hmm.Thatwasstrange.
IthoughtIjustsawayounggirlwithouthercellphone.
Happy.
Imustbeseeingthings.
P.S.Writedownyour100dreams.Itmayjustdostrange
thingstoyouaswell.
ZZ
I need to learn that
every situation is a
window where one
can see the workings
of heaven.
ZJ
FI N D GOD I N EVERY PLACE,
I N EVERYTH I N G, I N
EVERYON E
IloveSt.FrancisofAssisi.
Butevenifhehasbeenmyidolmywholelife,Ive
livedlongenoughonthisplanettorealizehowdifferent
mylifeisfromhis.
OneofmyfavoritestoriesofFranciswaswhenhe
was walking through a feld of fowers and he ended up
screaming,Stoptalkingtome!Stoptalkingtome!He
laterexplainedthathewassooverwhelmedbywhateach
fower was declaring to him: God made us bloom because He
knew you were going to pass by.
Wow.
Imean,Wow!
When I walk through a feld of fowers, all I end up
screamingis,Stopgivingmeallergies!andabout17
haaaachooooosperminute.
St.Franciswasthesameguywhocalledeverything
brotherandsister.Idontmindcallingthesun
Z1
brothersunandthemoonsistermoon.ButI
thinkcallingratsbrothermiceandroachessister
cockroachesisgoingalittlebittoofar.Ijustsquashthose
crawlingthingswithoutanypermissionfromGod.
Hewasalsothemanwhokissedlepersandembraced
them.SimplybecausehesawGodineachofthem.
Honestly, the frst time I met a leper, I didnt know whether
tosimplywaveHi!orpretendIwasJapaneseandclasp
myhandsinmychestandgivehimareverentbowjust
sothatIwouldnttouchhim.
YouandIneedlessonsfromSt.FranciswhosawGod
ineveryplace,ineverything,ineveryone.
Imlearning.Oneday,aftergivingatalktoathousand
peoplethatIthoughttobeextraordinarilyinspiring,
Isteppedoffthestagefeelingveryproudofmyself.I
wasimmediatelygreetedbyafemaleparticipant,and
expectingtheusualpraiselike,Yourwordsblessmeso
much! or You are terrifc! I bent down towards her
sothatIcouldhearheradulationabovethedeafening
applause.Herwordshadimpact.
Shesaidsolemnly,Yourzipperisopen.
Afterovercomingmydesiretodiethatinstantand
aftermentallyselectingwhatremoteislandIcouldhide
inforafewhundredyears,Ibegantolaugh.Because
IactuallybegantoseeGodinthesituation.Imayhave
missed Him speaking to me in the feld of fowers, and I
maynothaveseenHiminratsandroaches(Istilldont),
and I may have missed him the frst time I met the leper
(Iembracethemnow!),butIdidntmissHiminthis
FIND GOD IN EVERY PLACE, IN EVERYTHING, IN EVERYONE
ZS
humiliatingexperience.Hewastellingme,Youre just my
mouthpiece, kid. Humble yourself and loosen up.
Ohyes,IbelieveHealsowantedmetozipup.
Ineedtolearnthateverysituationisawindowwhere
onecanseetheworkingsofheaven.Andeverythingisa
self-donationofGod,anexplosionofHislovethatcannot
becontained.Andeverypersonissacred,burstingwith
Hispresence,Hiswisdom,Hisbeauty.
St.Francis,pray for us.
Z
The nurse came out
of the delivery room
holding a tiny human
being wrapped in
a white sheet, his
chubby face screaming
to the entire world,
his small hands
and delicate fngers
shaking nervously.
Z
A TI N Y H UMAN BEI N G
I N MY ARMS
Myson.
Thesetwowordsdidntrolloffmytongueeasily.The
frst time I said it, it felt awkward. As if something didnt
ft.
Myson.
Itfeltstrange.AsthoughIwasreadingascriptofa
play.Ihadtopracticesayingitathousandtimes.
MysonMysonMyson
IstartedsayingitthedayIfoundoutthatIhadababy
boythroughmywifesultrasoundtest,andIkeptsayingit
tomyselfdaily.
Finally,onthemorningofJanuary21,my sonwasborn.
Thenursecameoutofthedeliveryroomholdingatiny
humanbeingwrappedinawhitesheet,hischubbyface
screamingtotheentireworld,hissmallhandsanddelicate
fngers shaking nervously. Baby Sanchez? the lady in
thegreensurgicalrobeasked,lookingattheroomfullof
expectantfathers.
Z&
Istoodup,holdingmybreath.
Sheshowedmemybaby.
My son,IwhisperedthelineIdbeenrehearsingfor
monthsnow.
Thelittleguyscreamed,Waaaaaaaaaah!
Butinmyheart,Iheardhimcryout,Daaaaaaaaaad!
Imsurethateveryoneinthatroomwillsweartotheir
gravesthattheydidnthearmybabysaythat.ButIdont
care.Icalledhim,myson,andhecalledmeDad,and
thatsthat.Endofstory.
Peopleaskme,Whatdidyoufeelatthatprecise
moment?andIcannotevenbegintoanswer.Im
supposedtobeawriterandthereforeamasterofwords
yetIgropewithmyadjectives.Morethanthat,Igrope
withmyemotions.
Joyfulisntpowerfulenough.
Blissisntsweetenough.
Peacefulisntcalmenough.
Happyisntintenseenough.
Aftermybabywaswhiskedawaytothenursery,Igot
backtomyseatinthewaitingroom.Ishutmyeyes.But
tearsescapedthemanyway.
Andthenoutoftheblue,my80-year-oldfather
lumberedin.
Aswealwaysdo,weembraced.
Dad,Iwhispered.
Myson,Iheardhisheartsaytomine.
Andsuddenly,thepast33yearsfoldedupintothe
presentandIwasnowthebabybundledinwhite,andmy
fatherwasstandingoverme.
A TINY HUMAN BEING IN MY ARMS
Z7
Myson,hesaid.
Daaaaaaaaaaaad!Icriedmylittlelungsout.
Atthatpoint,forsomereason,I knew I was going to be a
great father.
The80-year-oldmaninfrontofmeseemedtoagree.
Hesmiledandwebothwalkedoutoftheroominsearch
ofthetinyhumanbeingthatwillchangeourlivesforever.
JJ
Love is like that. It is
giving oneself without
expecting anything
in return. If I want to
get paid, then it isnt
love. Its a business
opportunity.
JI
LOVE I SN T A BUSI N ESS
OPPORTUN I TY
Inanoldbrownenvelopetuckedinoneofmydesk
drawers,Ihidemygreatwealth.Imsureyouhaveoneof
these,too.
Thishasbecomeaspecialceremonyforme:Onceina
while,wheneverIfeelnostalgicorsadorhappy,Iopenthe
oldbrownenvelopeandforageforitscontents.Ifeelthe
materialinmyhands,readit,touchit,evensmellit.Isigh
ahundredtimes,getafewtearsinmyeyes,andcloseitup
againforanothertimedownmemorylane.
Imtalkingaboutlettersandcardssenttomeby
mychildren.
1
Yes,whentheyweremuchyoungerand
uncomplicated. It is flled with beautiful unreadable lines
like,I lob yu, koya Bu.Plustheirsketchesofrainbows,
fowers, houses and stick men. The lines are crooked. The
Englishisbad.Thepaperandcardboardaresoiled.ButId
ratherkeepthecontentsofthisoldbrownenvelopethanif
IweregiventhepaintingsofMichaelangeloorDaVinci.
1
These are children adopted by ANAWIM, our special ministry to the poor and abandoned elderly.
JZ
BecauseMichaelangeloorDaVincididntloveme.
Thesekidsdidanddo.
Tome,thisoldbrownenvelopecontainsthemost
valuableartworkintheworld.
Welltoday,IperformthisritualbecauseIfeelsad.
Yesterday,Iinvitedmykidsforadayoutinthecity.
Letswatchamovietomorrow!Iannouncedoverthe
phone.Butinsteadofhearingtheusualshoutofgleefrom
them,Ireceivedtheirsadretort,Wecant.Wevegot
examsonMonday
Ouch.Aremykidsreallygrowingup?
ButwasntitonlyyesterdaywhenIpickedupthese
orphansfromtheirdilapidatedbamboohutinamountain
andtransportedthemtoAnawim?Withoutamotheror
fathertocareforthem,theywerestarvingandcouldno
longergotoschool.
ButthisJune,somewillalreadybecollegestudents.
Gosh.DidIsaycollege?
How can time fy so fast?
Iguessallparentsexperiencethissadseparationwhen
theyseetheirkidsgetolder,havefriends,getmarriedand
leavehome.
Butloveislikethat.
Itisgivingoneselfwithoutexpectinganythingin
return.
IfIwanttogetpaid,thenitisntlove.Itsabusiness
opportunity.
LOVE ISNT A BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
JJ
ButIlovemykids.Andwhereverlifetakesthem,these
preciouschildrencanneverbetakenawayfrommyheart.
Theylivethere,togetherwiththebrownenvelopeIholdin
myhand.
J1
Our bodies need
regular washing
because we get dirty
every day. But so do
our hearts! Because
each day, people hurt
us, offend us, forget
us, snub us, step on
us, reject us.
JS
DO FOR YOUR SOUL WH AT
YOU DO FOR YOUR BODY
Ihaveacoupleofquestionsforyou.
Canyouimagineyourselftakingabathonlyoncea
month?
Youllfreakout,right?Butletssaytheresawater
shortageandapresidentialdecreewasissuedthatshowers
canonlybetakenevery30dayswithamaximumoftwo
gallonsofwaterforeachFilipinoperbath.(Outofour
ingrainedhospitality,foreignersareallowedtousetwo-
and-a-halfgallons.)Enteringintoanair-conditionedroom
orbuswillbeanightmare,asvarioustoxicodorswill
hangsothicklyintheair,itmaycoagulateintogelform.
Charismaticprayermeetingswillprohibittheliftingof
hands. The basketball ring will be lowered to fve feet. And
Ipresumethatlightingacigaretteinacrowdedelevator
willbefatal,asthefumesofasweatinghumanitywillbe
fammable by that time.
Toogrossforyou?Letschangethetopic.
Whatwoulditbelikeifyoubrushedyourteethonly
onceayear?
J
Letssaysomeloonyscientistdiscoveredthattheup
anddownmotionofbrushingteethhasadirectimpactto
thethinningoftheozonelayer.(Whoknows?)Sobrushing
ofteethhasbeenbannedbylegislativedecreenumber
9002exceptonNewYearsEve.Thatistheonlydayyou
canbrushyourteeth.
ImaginehowthickyourmouthwillfeelbyNovember.
Thinkwithme.Letssayyoureoutonaromanticdate
inDecember.Notmuchkissingwilltakeplace,believeme.
Andasyoulookatyourbeautifuldamsel,younoticeabit
ofgreenlettucejuttingoutfrombetweenherteeth.
Soyoutellher,Iknowwhatyouhadforlunchthis
morning.
Whatpraytell?sheteasesyou.
Lettuce!yougrin.
Shechuckles,Yourewrong!ThatswhatIatelast
March!
Ah,thesesituationswillbequitenormal.
Mymessage?
ThatyouandIdomorederangedthingsthanbathing
monthlyandbrushingteethannually.
Forexample,when we do not forgive others every day.
Ourbodiesneedregularwashingbecausewegetdirty
everyday.Butsodoourhearts!Becauseeachday,people
hurtus,offendus,forgetus,snubus,steponus,rejectus.
Butifwechoosetoforgiveeveryoneeveryday,wecleanse
ourhearts!Wewakeupthenextmorningrefreshedand
pureandlovely!
DO FOR YOUR SOUL WHAT YOU DO FOR YOUR BODY
J
Somepeoplehoweverwillnotwashthemselvesfrom
thehurtsofeachdaybutratheraccumulatethemweek
afterweek,monthaftermonth,yearafteryear.Perhaps
insomeannualHolyWeekretreat,theydecidetoforgive
alltheirenemies.Perhapswhensomeoneclosetothem
dies,theyremembertocanceldebtsandliveforsomething
morenobleratherthancollectbitterness.
But without these rare events, they just become flthier
eachday.
Theirspiritsbegintosmell.
And their stench becomes fammable.
Forthesepeople,hellbeginsnow.
Doforyoursoulwhatyoudoforyourbody.
J&
I guess I wasnt
such a great shepherd,
because shepherds
need to be constantly
there, protecting and
caring, 24 hours a day.
But thank goodness,
God isnt like me
at all.
J7
GOD WI LL WATCH OVER
YOU N I GH T AN D DAY
HaveyoueverprayedTheLordismyShepherd
from Psalm23?
WhenancientJewsprayedthatspecialprayer,theyd
feelaninnerwarmthintheirhearts.Somewouldclose
theireyesandmaybeevenshedatearortwo.Because
theyknewwhatitmeanttobeashepherd.Theyfeltit.
They knew the toil, the sacrifce, the hardship of being
ashepherdthatloveshissheep.Iftherewasdanger,he
wouldntsleepatnightortakecoffeebreaksorreada
pocketbookoreventextsomeoneonhiscellphone.Hed
justwatchandbereadytolaydownhislifeforhissheep.
ButwhenmodernFilipinospraytheprayerofPsalm
23,theonlyreasonwefeelaninnerwarmthinourhearts
isifwehadjusteatentoomuchcrispy pata
1
beforepraying
andhaveheartburn.
Wedontseeshepherds,sheep,orlambsalot.Were
familiarwithwool,yes,butthesteelwoolvarietyfor
cleaningpotsandpans.Theclosestthingtosheepweve
seenaregoats,andtheyrenotverydocilecreatures.They
1
A Filipino delicacy: deep fried pigs knuckles
1J
eatanythinginsight,makealotofnoise,andsmellbad
remindingusofadrunkarduncle.
Sotohelppeoplefeel what it means to be a shepherd, Iask
people to think about their frst pet as a kid.
Canyourecallyours?
Mine was a chicken. Well, it was frst a tiny chick, and
thenachicken.Finally,itbecamefriedchicken,butthats
goingaheadofthestory.
I cared for that chick with my life. The frst thing I did
uponarrivingfromschoolwastovisitmypet,feeditwith
rice,androckitinmyhand.
Afteracoupleofmonths,mychickgrewupand
Istartedplayingallsortsofgameswithher:running,
jumping,peckingItriedteachingherchess,butIkept
gettingachickmate.(Sorry,Icouldntresist.Ipromisenotto
giveanotherpuninmyentirelife,ever.)
Butduringtheday,Iwenttoschool.AndIguessthats
whyoneday,Icamehomeanddiscoveredmyfeathered
friendinaplatterwithfrenchfriesandcatsup.Iwasnt
thereforherwhensomeonebecamehungrysomeone
whotothisdayhasremainedanonymoustome.
IguessIwasntsuchagreatshepherd,because
shepherdsneedtobeconstantlythere,protectingand
caring,24hoursaday.
Butthankgoodness,Godisntlikemeatall.
Heshereforyouforlife.
Permanently.
Eternally.
Youwontbeanyonesfriedchicken.
GOD WILL WATCH OVER YOU NIGHT AND DAY
1I
Orshishkebabforthatmatter.
Hellneverleaveyouforonemoment.
Hellnevertakesiestasorcoffeebreaksorreada
pocketbookortextanyoneonhiscellphone.
Hewillwatchoveryounightandday.
1Z
When I make the sign
of the cross, the iron
gate opens. And an
angel gives me her
hand. We walk into
the garden of God.
1J
AN GELS ARE READY TO
ESCORT YOU
WhenIwasanimpishkid,Irecallregularlyvisiting
thecloisteredCarmeliteswithmyfamilythosecute
brown-cladnunsbehindthesteelbarsandblackcurtain.
Contemplativesisters,theycalledthemselves,butasa
kid,Ihadmyownsecretnicknameforthem:penguins
becausetheylookedsomuchlikethem.Inoticedthey
weresmall;theydtrotaroundintheirblacksandalsin
tinylittlesteps;andtheydbobtheirheadsupanddown
whenevertheyseensomeone.
Noonecouldentertheirholyhouse,myparentstold
me.Itmustbeveryspecial,Itoldmyself,becauseonly
GodandHispenguinswerelivingthere.
Oneday,asmyfamilywasstillinsidethechurch,Iran
andpeekedthroughtheironfenceoftheconventtosee
iftheAlmightywasindeedthere.Allofasudden,oneof
thepenguinspeeredthroughthedoorandsawme.Ifroze
interror.Butahappyfacegreetedmeandsaid,Doyou
wanttocomein?
11
Didshesaycomein?BeforeIcouldanswer,she
openedtheirongateandgavemeherhand.Iwas
dumbfounded. One, two, three, four, fve I counted.
Yep, she had fve fngers. Funny, I always thought they
neverhadhands.Theykepthidingthembehindtheir
brownrobes!Hmm.Mypenguintheorywasfallingapart.
Wewalkedhand-in-handanditfeltgood.Infact,Ifelt
Iwasholdingthehandofanangel.Behold,anewtheory
inmybrainwasbeingformed.
Sheledmetotheirfabulousgardenanditstruckme
howbeautifulthegardenofGodwas.Icaughtaglimpse
ofaguavafruithighonatree.Shesawmelookatit,soshe
grabbedallofmeandliftedmeup,enoughformyhandto
pluckitoffmyself.
Thefruittastedsweet,butnotassweetasbeinginthe
armsoftheangelofGod.
Afterafewminutes,shecarriedmebacktothegate
wheremyparentswerenowwaiting.Outside.
BecauseonlyIwasabletoenterthehouseofGod.
Irecallthatexperienceandfeelthesamewayevery
timeIpraytoday.
WhenImakethesignofthecross,theirongateopens.
Andanangelgivesmeherhand.
WewalkintothegardenofGod.
ANGELS ARE READY TO ESCORT YOU
1S
IgazeatHisbeautyandeveneatthefruitofanswered
prayer.
Itissweet,yes,butnotassweetasbeinginthearmsof
love.
EnterintoGodshousemoreoften.
Theangelsawaitontiptoe,readytoescortyoutothe
Throne.
1
God knows how
to use failures.
He masters in the art
of recycling fops
like me.
1
FAI LURES ARE N ECESSARY TO

TEACH US LESSON S
SomanypeopletellmethatIvesucceededsomuchin
mylife.AndeverythingIvesetmymindonhappens.They
enumeratethemanydreamsIvehadwhichhavebecome
reality:Kerygma. Didache. Gabay. Companion. Sabbath.
Anawim. Light of Jesus Community. Light of Jesus Counseling
Center. Bo,theywereoncemerethoughtsinyourbrain,
theydcomplimentme,andafterawhile,wesawthemin
theconcrete.Forreal.
Butyousee,peopleonlyseeonechapteroftheentire
story.
Firstofall,allofthethingsmentionedabovewere
createdwith a bunch of selfess people who didnt like
theirnamesinthelimelight.Theyletmehavethegloryso
thatmyrewardsinheavenwillbeminisculecomparedto
theirs.(Rats.)
Butheresanotherthingpeopledontknow:About
myotherdreamsthathavenose-divedandcrashedtothe
bottomofthesea.
1&
In1983,Ilivedinadepressedarea,dreamingof
startingacommunityamongthepoor,plusacooperative
to assist in their fnancial needs. Nothing happened. Well,
notexactly.Throughthatexperience,Ilearnedtheartof
sharing one flthy toilet with fve families, two of which
hadeightchildreneach.(Imnot exaggerating.)Needless
tosay,mymorningstherewereveryinteresting!
In1985,IwantedtostartaChristianrestaurant
completewithChristianmusicandfoodwithbiblical
names.Ialsowantedtoprovidejobsforourunemployed
members.Thatideadidntevenreachtheoven.Iwanted
toservedisheslikeMarthasfullcoursemealandMoses
mannaandDanielsveggiemealandEsausstewand
Jonahs big fsh and Tobits liver and Jacobs broken hip
andHeck,maybeIshouldthankGodthiswholeidea
didntmaterialize.
ShouldIgoon?
Icanwritea30-volumeencyclopediaentitled,THE
FAILURESOFBOSANCHEZ.Andthatlljustbethe
index!Ifyouwanttheblow-by-blowaccountofhowI
failed,youneedanentireharddrive!Ivefailed,andIve
failedreallybad.Andatthetimeofthefailure,people
didntmincewords.Iwascriticized,ridiculed,lambasted,
fried,roasted,grilled,baked,sauted,stewedandeaten
alive.(Seehowmyrestaurantdreamstillhauntsme
today?)
ButGodknowshowtousefailures.
He masters in the art of recycling fops like me.
FAILURES ARE NECESSARY TO TEACH US LESSONS
17
Weareallwounded.ButwoundsarenecessaryforHis
healinglighttoenterintoourbeings.Withoutwounds
andfailuresandfrustrationsanddefeats,therewillbeno
openingforHisbrilliancetotrickleinandinvadeourlives.
Failuresinlifearecourseswithveryhightuitionfees.
SoIdontcutclassesandmissmylessons:Onhumility.On
patience.Onhope.Onaskingothersforhelp.Onlistening
toGod.Ontryingagain.
Ontryingagainandagainandagain.
SJ
Life isnt about
trying to be an
expert in everything.
Its about being an
expert in one thing
and offering it to
the world.
SI

BLESS TH E WORLD WI TH
ON E TH I N G
One day, a bird, a squirrel, a fsh and an eel got
togetheranddecidedtostartaschool.Naturally,thebird
insisted on a fying school. But the squirrel argued for
training in perpendicular tree climbing. And the fsh, a
swimmingcollege.
Theheateddebateseemedtogoonforeveruntilthe
eelproposedacompromise:Whynotletallthesethingsbe
includedinthecurriculum?
Andsotheschoolformallyopenedwithallthe
studentstakingallthecourses.
The bird was glorious at fying but a big fop at
swimming.Itdidnttakelong,however,forhiswingstobe
damaged by the freestyle and breaststroke; he fnally got a
C in fying, and naturally, an F in swimming.
The squirrel broke all her bones as he tried fying. (She
jumped from the tallest tree she could fnd and shouted,
Darna!
1
Itdidntwork.Shewasntinatwo-piece.)

1
A local superhero.
SZ
And the fsh? He couldnt breathe too well when he
tried climbing or fying. Until he got sort of brain damaged
andwasntevenagreatswimmerattheendofthe
semester.
Guesswhowasthevaledictorianoftheclass?
Theeel.Hedideverythinginahalf-wayfashion.
Intreeclimbing,hesortofsquirmedhiswayup.In
swimming, he wriggled in the water. And in fying, well,
hejerked.SohegotaCinallhiscoursesandendedup
highestintheclass.(IgotThe Animal School story from
LeoBuscaglia,inhisbestseller,Love, butIcouldntresist
changingandaddingafewdetails.)
Lifeisntabouttryingtobeanexpertineverything.Its
about being an expert in one thing and offering it to the
world.
IveacceptedthefactthatbecauseImhuman,Im
terrifc in one thing, good at some, mediocre at a bit more, and
terrible at others. Andifyourehuman,youaretoo.Youll
havetodiscovertheonethingthatyouaregoodatand
majorinit.
WhataretheprimarygiftsthatGodhasblessedyou
with?Answerthatquestionwellandyoureonestepcloser
toalifeofpeace,excitementandjoy.
IvedecidedtofocusonwhereImgoodat,which
ispreachingandwriting.Cometothinkofit,Imavery
unbalanced creature. Im pathetic at sports. And at fxing
stuffathome.(EvenifIhaveacompletesetoftoolsat
home,myfavoritetoolisstillthetelephonesoIcancall
a repairman to fx whatever is broken.) And I dont think
BLESS THE WORLD WITH ONE THING
SJ
Illeverbeamathwhiz.Managementisntmycupoftea.
Evenpastoringandcounselingarentadrenaline-pumping
eventsforme.
SoIdelegate.
ButIblesstheworldwithonething:Icommunicateto
peopleaboutloveandjoyandpeaceandallthegoodstuff
oflifethroughpreaching and writinghopingtochange
livesandmakethisworldabetterplacetolivein.
Whatisyouronething?
S1
The most diffcult
thing in the world
is to be who you
are not.
SS
STOP COMPARI N G YOURSELF
TO TH E WORLD
We live in a pathologically dissatisfed world.
AndImgoingtotellyouwhy.
Becausewelovetocompare.
Goaroundtheworldanddiscoverthatpeople
arenthappywiththeirbodies.Filipinoswanttobefair
complexionedlikeWesternersandsobuybleachingstuff.
Westernerswanttoownbronzedbodieslikeoursandso
purchasetanninglotions.Thosewithmoleshavethem
removed,whilethosewhodonthaveanystrategically
implantbeauty spots. Somepeoplewanttoshedafew
poundstolooklikeAllyMacbeal,whileotherswantto
gainsomebabyfattolooklikeDrewBarrymore.Whenare
weevergoingtostopandsimplybehappywithhowwe
look?
Weliveinasickworld,Itellyou.
Andthatsicknessiscomparisonitis.
Takealookatwealth.
When we drive our old Toyota, it really suits us fne.
Wefeelblessedinfactwhentherainpoursoutsideandwe
feelsnugandcozyonitsfadedupholsteredseats.Butthe
S
moment we see our own offcemate (or neighbor, or buddy,
orcousin,orbrother)drivehissleek,skyblue,four-door,
four-wheelRav4,weautomaticallyfeellikethirdclass
childrenofGod.Nexttimewedriveourbumpy,noisy,
rusted,dilapidatedToyota(noticehowallthedefects
comeoutallofasudden?),wefeeldeprived,dispossessed,
pariahs,totalfailures,debasedandonlyalittlehigherthan
theinsectsoftheearth.
Listencarefully.
BillGatestotalassetsis$60billion.Thatsmorethan
theGNPofsomesmallcountries.TigerWoodsearns$80
millionsimplybysmilingonTVwearingaNikeshirt.And
thestarsofthesitcomFriendsarepaid$50,000per episode!
Mypoint?Nomatterhowhardyouwork,therell
stillbesomepeoplewhowillbericherthanyouare.And
therellbesomepeoplewhowillbemorebeautiful,have
moresexappeal,havemoreboyfriendsandhavemore
problems.
Tryitforonce.Stoplookingaround.Dontcompare!
Dontcomparehernosewithyournose.
Dontcomparehiswifewithyourwife.
Dontcomparehissalarywithyoursalary.
Dontcompareherbreastsizewithyourbreastsize.
Dontcompareherkidsreportcardwithyourkids
reportcard.
Dontcomparehisprayergroupwithyourprayer
group.
Dontcomparehercellulitedepositswithyourcellulite
deposits.
STOP COMPARING YOURSELF TO THE WORLD
S
Forcryingoutloud,stop comparing and start living!
Andyoullbehappierwithyourlife,Iguarantee.
Thisiscrucial:The most diffcult thing in the world is to
be who you are not.Pretendingandtryingtobesomeone
else is the offcial pastime of the human race. (I dont think
dogsandcatsandcowsandhorseshavethisproblem.)
Andtheeasiestthingintheworldistobeyourself.
Behappy.Live!TheremustbeareasonwhyGodmade
youtallorshortorfatorthinorbumpyallover.
Lovewhoyouare!
S&
I believe that if
I will do what my
Creator wants me
to do, Ill end up
disappointing
a lot of people.
S7
BE FAI TH FUL TO WHO
YOU ARE
Letmesharewithyouasimplesecretinsucceedingin
life.
Dontevertrytopleaseeveryone.
IvebeenaleaderofCatholicorganizationsfortwo
decadesnow.IfItrytopleasealltheexpectationsthat
peopleheaponme,IneedtobePadrePioandBillGates
andFrancisofAssisiandJohnRockefellerandandClark
Kentrolledintoone.
Talkaboutsevereschizophrenia!
SomewantmetobePadrePio:Bo,yourearly
morningprayertimedoneatfourinthemorning
shouldlastforthreehours.Youshouldlevitateonceina
while.Whenyouwalkaround,weshouldsmelltheodor
ofsanctityandseeabeautifulglowonyourface.Jeepers,
Ihavesometypeofodor,thatIknow.ButIdoubtifits
sacred.(Spelloutmyname.Remindyouofsomething?)
OtherswantmetobeBillGates,thegreatCEO:As
ourleader,youshouldmanageawell-knit,well-run,well-
J
oiledorganization.Youshouldimplementreengineering,
developourmarketingniche,andworktowardsISO9002
systemsinourprayergroup.
OtherswantmetobeSt.FrancisofAssisi,theascetic:
Bo,youshouldliveinpoverty,wearsecond-handclothes,
andnevertouchorownorthinkofmoneyatall.Drive
abeatup,rusty,dilapidatedcar.Andliveinasquatters
area.
AndyetanothergroupofpeopleinsiststhatIbeJohn
Rockefeller, the philanthropist. When we have fnancial
needs,itllbeniceifweseeyoudigdeepintoyourpocket
andhelpuswithourchildrenstuitionfees,ourhospital
bills,ourshoppingsprees.
SomewishmetobeClarkKent:Idontcareifyour
scheduleisfull.Youhavetobethereforme!Bemy
personalbestfriend.Dontjustbemyleader!Phoneme
everydayandvisitmyhomeeveryotherday.Fortwo
thousandmembersofmyorganization?
Iveacceptedthistruth:I believe that if I will do what my
Creator wants me to do, Ill end up disappointing a lot of people.
Imnotallthesecharacters.
ImBo.AndIlikebeingBo!Godhascreatedmeto
bethisparticularpersonwithmyownsetofstrengths,
weaknessesandidiosyncrasies.
Donttrytopleaseeveryone.
Disappointpeople!
Knowyourcall.
Andanswerit.
BE FAITHFUL TO WHO YOU ARE
I
WI N N I N G EVERYTI ME
Behonestwithme.
DoyoubuyLottotickets?AnddoyoupraythatGod
willhelpyouwin?Youmaybedoingoneofthefollowing
techniques:(1)prayingbeforeyousleepthatyoulldream
therightnumbers;(2)cuttingtheBibleandnotingthe
numbersofthechapterandverse;and(3)promisingor
bribing(dependingonhowyoulookatit)theAlmighty
thatyoullgiveaway50%ofyourprizetoanorphanageif
Godwillmakeyouwin.
Hey,IknowofonepriestwhoboughtaLottoticket
andwon40millionpesos!Overnight,hebecamethemost
eligiblebachelorintown.Toshooawayallthewomen
liningupathisconfessionalbox,hequicklydonatedhis
prizemoneytotheChurch!
IalsoheardofonejanitorwhowonmillionsinLotto.
Heresignedandsaidgoodbyetohistoilet-scrubbingdays
andwentofftoliveasaking.Butafterafewmonths,the
kingcamebacktohisoldcompanybeggingforhisdirty
mop!Hefeltsolonely,hewantedtocleantoiletsagain.So
if by chance you catch a guy mopping foors yet sporting a
Z
RolexwatchandwearingBallyshoes,youwontwonder.
TheymadethissurveyofpastLottowinnersinthe
U.S.andtheyfoundsomethingmind-boggling:Manyof
themexperiencedmiserynothappinessduetotheir
suddenplopped-from-the-skywealth.Manyex-winners
hadasadtaletotell,from broken marriages to kids on drugs
to a total loss of personal meaning.Theysimplydidntknow
howtohandlethepotofgold.Infact,manyofthem
reportedthemoneylonggone.Vanishedratherquickly,as
easilyasitappearedbeforetheireyes.Butthedevastation
andhurtremained.
No,IhavenotyetboughtaLottoticketinmylife,but
IdorecallbuyingSweepstakesticketspeddledbyblind
beggars.Lord,makemewin,Idintonebeneathmy
breath,smilingdeliciouslyatthethoughtthatperhaps,
Godwouldrewardmeforhelpingtheneedy.Well,wonder
ofwonders,Godhasntansweredmyprayersonebit.
Hestotallyignoredthem.Probablylaughedaloudon
HisthronewhenHeheardmypleaandtoldtheangels
aboutit,whointurngiggledtheirwingfeathersoff.
Buttoday,IreallythankGodthatHestotally
disregardedmywish.
BecausenowIrealizeHelovedmetoomuchtosay
Yes.
Whoknowswhattroubleandheartachewouldhave
befallenmeifIhadwon?
Istillbelievethatthebestprayerintheworldis,Lord,
Your will be done.
WINNING EVERYTIME
J
Nexttimeyouprayanykindofprayer,whetheritbe
fortheresolutionofhealing,orforahouse,orforacar,or
for a husband, or for a family confict, or for a solution to a
problem,tellHimHecansayyesorno.
Becauseintheend,youreawinner.Every time.
1
Adultery happens
when you start
looking for what
you dont have. But
faithfulness happens
when you start
thanking God
for what you
already have.
S
YOU H AVE WEALTH
UN DER YOUR N OSE
Adulteryhappenswhenyoustartlookingforwhatyou
donthave.
Bo, this girl in my offce is a real looker, many a
husbandwillsay.ButitsnotherWynonaRiderfeatures
thatgettome.Imheadoverheelswithherbecauseshes
alsounderstanding,intelligent,tendersomanythings
thatmywifeisnot.
Sure.
Guys,trustmeonthis.Somewherealongtheway,
youll fnd a woman who will be more charming. More
alluring.Morethoughtful.Richer.Abettercook.Have
greater sex appeal. A more effcient housekeeper. And you
will fnd a woman who will need you and pursue you and
golocooveryoumorethanyourwifeeverdid.
Becausenowifeisperfect.
Becauseawifewillonlyhave90%ofwhatyoure
lookingfor.
Soadulterytakesplacewhenahusbandlooksforthe
missing10%.
Letssayyourwifeismelancholicbynature.Youmay
fnd yourself drawn to the pretty clerk who has a cheery
laughnomatterwhatshesays:Ibrokemyarmyesterday,
HahahahaOrbecauseyourwifeisahomebodyin
slippers and pajamas, smelling of garlic and fsh oil, you
mayfallforafresh-smellingyoungsalesrepresentative
that visits your offce in a sharp black blazer, high heels
andaredpencil-cutskirt.Orbecauseyourwifeisthe
quiet-type (a rare fnd), your heart may skip a beat when
you meet an old college fame who has the makings of a
talkshowhostlikeOprah.
Butwait!Thatsonly10%ofwhatyoudont have.
Dontthrowawaythe90%thatyoualreadyhave!
Thatsnotall.Addtoyourwifes90%the1000%that
representsalltheyearsthatyouvebeenwitheachother.
Thestormsyouveweatheredtogether.Theunforgettable
momentsofsadnessandjoyasacouple.Themany
adjustmentsyouvemadetolovetheother.Thewealthof
memoriesthatyouveaccumulatedaslovers.
Adultery happens when you start looking for what you dont
have. But faithfulness happens when you start thanking
God for what you already have.
ButImnotjusttalkingaboutmarriage.
Imtalkingaboutlife!
Aboutyourjobs.Aboutyourfriends.Aboutyour
children.Aboutyourprayergroups.Aboutyourlifestyles.
Areyouliketheeconomyairlinepassengerthat
perennially peeks through the door of the frst class cabin,
YOU HAVE WEALTH UNDER YOUR NOSE
obsessedwithwhathesmissing?Theyvegotmoreleg-
room!Ohmy,theirfoodisservedinporcelain!Wow,their
seatsreclineatan80degreeangleandtheyvegotpersonal
videos!Iguaranteeyoullbemiserablefortheentiretrip!
Dontliveyourlifelikethat.
Forget about what the world says is frst class. (Do you
know that there are many frst class passengers who are
miserable in frst classbecause theyre not riding in a
privateLearJet?)
Mymainmessage:If you start thanking God for what
you have right now, wherever you are is frst class!
Youhavewealthunderyournose.ThankHim.
&
We probably need
to get away with
Him. Talk with our
Lover. Take a second
honeymoon with
Him. Or a third,
or fourth, or ffth
7
MAKE REFOCUSI N G A H ABI T
WhenIenterarestaurant,Iimmediatelyknowwhos
marriedandwhosonlyengagedorgoingsteady.Imsure
youdotoo.
Theunmarriedloversareseatedveryclosetoeach
other. So close in fact, that microbes will have diffculty
passing between them. Their hands are joined, their fngers
wedged,theirlegsintertwined,theirtoeslinked.(Look
beneaththetableclothandyoullseeaverysensuallove
affairtakingplacerightthere.)
Mostcritically,youwillalsonoticethattheireyesare
fxed on each other and nothing else. Their mutual gaze
isnailed,gluedandcemented.Theirfoodiscoldonthe
table,barelytouched.Becausenothingelsematters.The
restaurantmightbeburning,anasteroidmightcome
crashingthroughtheroofandanuclearwarheadmight
suddenlylandontheirtableandtheywouldnteven
noticeit.Oooh-la-la.Becausetheyreinluv.
Marriedcouplesactquitedifferently.
The frst thing you notice is that they sit apart. A ten-
wheelercanpassthroughthemquitenicely.
Botharebusyeating,slicing,forking,spooning,
dippingandmunching.
J
Nosensualforeplayistakingplacebeneaththe
tablecloth.
Theireyes?Dartingleftandright,scanningthe
architecture,surveyingtheinteriordesign,countingthe
lightbulbs,critiquingthewaiters,observingtheother
customers.Ohyes,everyothercustomerintherestaurant
iscross-examined,theirfashionstyledenounced,their
hairdressercondemned,theirpersonalhistoryconjured,
their fnancial worth assessed and their body weight
ridiculed.
Soundsfamiliar?
Inaword,marriedcouplestendtobeunfocused.
Theynolongerseeeachotherfortheothergetslost
intheminutedetailsofthebackground.Liketuition
fees.Toilettraining.Houseamortization.Terribletwos.
Orthodontistsbills.Wrinklesandoverlappingcellulite.
Andthenwecomplainthatwehavefallenoutoflove!
Asthoughwearevictimstothingswehavenocontrol
over.
Baloney. (Too unflipino? Let me rephrase. Longganisa.)
Happy couples make it a habit to refocus. Becauseits
quitenormaltobedistracted.Sotheytalk.Theygetaway
forawhile.Theypray.Theygoonamarriageretreat.
Theytakeasecondhoneymoon.Orathird,orfourth,or
ffth
OurloverelationshipwithGodsuffersthesame
disease:Wegetunfocused.
MAKE REFOCUSING A HABIT
I
After some time, we lose our frst love for Jesus. We
fallinlovewithourspiritualcommunity,orwithpastoral
care, or with spiritual knowledge, or with our fnancial
blessings,orwithoursuccessfulministryWestartlosing
ourfocusonGod.Wegetlostintheminutedetailsofthe
background.
WeprobablyneedtogetawaywithHim.Talkwithour
Lover.TakeasecondhoneymoonwithHim.Orathird,or
fourth, or ffth
Makerefocusingahabit.
Z
Never go after
fame. In the heart
of God, youre
always a star.
J
YOURE ALWAYS A STAR
ImagineImanaspiringactor.Youmustagreethat
with my looks, it wouldnt be too diffcult to picture this
scenario.Afterall,thehorrorgenreisaplenty.
They tell me that there are fve stages that every tinsel
townpersonalitymustgothrough.Letmeshowyouthe
anatomyoffame.
Stage#1:WhoisBoSanchez?
Thisisthestartingpointofeveryfame-hungryperson:
Youre a nobody. You have to make your frst appearance
on flm, even if your role is that of a costumed freakish
alienthatgetspulverizedbythestarattheopeningscene
of the movie. It might be diffcult to imagine now, but even
MadonnaandDemiMoreandJuliaRobertswentthrough
thestagewherepeopleasked,Whosshe?
Stage#2:GetBoSanchez
Thissecondlevelisintoxicating.Bysomestroke
ofluck,yougetrecognizedforyourthrillingtalentor
thrillingbody.Yournameisbandiedaroundinthestudios,
1
andasmallfansclubisformingnolongerorganizedby
yourmother.Yourpricetagisstillascending,soallmovie
outfts fght for the right to make your frst box-offce.
Asyouwalkinthemall,youcountthenumberoftimes
peopleaskforyourautograph.Whenyougettiredofthis,
youstartwearingshades.Ahhhh.Youhavearrived.
Stage#3:GetmeaBoSanchezlookalike
Thepeak!Yourfaceisseenonads,tabloids,billboards
andTVgossipprograms.Youreeverywhere!Onlythe
biggestproducerscanaffordyounow.Sosmallermedia
companieswillsettleforyoungartistswholooklikeyou.
Yourenowroyalty(e.g.concertqueen,kingofpop,box-
offce king, soap opera queen). Finally, you know youve
reachedthishighpointwhenyoucannolongerwalkin
amallwithoutahugecrowdfollowingyouhysterically
screaming,Aaaaaaaaaayyyyyyy!
Stage#4:GetmeayoungerBoSanchez
Butbeforeyouknowit,theinevitablehitsyou.You
hearyourdirectoraskforsomeonelikeyouwhosten
yearsyounger,tenyearssexier,tenyearsbolder.Youfeel
offendedwhenscriptwritersofferyoumotherlyroles.
Soon,however,nootherrolescomeexceptmotherlyroles.
Yourpricetaggetsslashed.Yournameshrinksinmovie
ads.Yourfansclubisreducedtoahandfulofloyalists,and
whentheycongregatearoundyou,youwonderifyourein
somehighschoolreunionofclass27.
YOURE ALWAYS A STAR
S
Stage#5:WhoisBoSanchez
Youmeetsometeenswalkingdownthestreetandthey
passyoubylikeyouwereatelephonepost.Ouch.Once
inawhile,agrandmotherpointstoyouandherfamily
looksatyouquizzically.Youfeellikeaprehistoricartifact
inamuseumbeingsurveyed.Andthentheywalkbyyou.
Doubleouch.
Andthenithitsyou:Youreanobody.
AndyourealizewasntIherebefore?
Nevergoafterfame.
IntheheartofGod,yourealwaysastar.
Alwayswere,alwayswillbe.
If we dont like our

jobs, if we dont
like the state of our
relationships, if we
dont like whats
happening to our
spiritual liveswe
have no one to blame
but ourselves.
YOU CREATE YOUR OWN

DESTI N Y
Letmetellyouastory.
Threeconstructionworkerswereontopoftheirhalf-
fnished skyscraper.
Rrrrrrrrrng!thelunchbellsounded,andthethree
mensatonasteelbeamofthe56
th
foor with their lunch
boxesinhand.
The frst guy opens his and groans in exasperation,
Tuyo!
1
ThereisnotadaythatIdontgettuyoforlunch!
Heturnstohisbuddiesandannounces,Markmywords.
IfIstillgettuyo tomorrow,Imgoingtothrowmyselffrom
thisbuilding.
Thesecondguyopenshislunchboxandmoans,
Tinapa. Everyday,Igetthisforlunch.Helooksathis
friendsanddeclares,BelievemewhenIsaythis.IfIget
tinapa tomorrow,Imgoingtojumpfromhereandkill
myself.
&
Thethirdguyopenshislunchboxanditwashisturn
todespair,Galunggong. AllIgetisgalunggong! Helooks
tohisco-workersandsays,Imtellingyou,ifIstillget
galunggong tomorrow,Imgoingtojumpfromthisbuilding
anddie.
Thenextday,thelunchbellringsandallthreemenare
againseatedonthe56
th
foor.
The frst guy opens his lunch box and starts crying,
Tuyoooooo! Andsoinfrontofhisshockedcompanions,
hejumpsoffthebuildingandcrashestotheground.
Thesecondguyopenshislunchboxandwailsloudly,
Tinapaaaaaa! Andbeforehisremainingfriend,hejumps
offthebuildingandhitsthegroundanddies.
Thethirdguyopenshislunchboxandscreams,
Galunggonggggg! Andsohetoojumpsoffthebuilding
anddies.
Dayslater,duringthefuneralofthethreemen,their
threewivesembraceandbegintoweeptogether.
The frst wife cries out, I didnt know my husband
didntliketuyoanymore!Whydidnthetellme?Ifonlyhe
hadtoldme,Iwouldhavepreparedsomethingelse!
Thesecondwifeechoedherstatement,Yes!IfonlyI
knew,Iwouldhavecookedsomethingelse,nottinapa!
Thethirdwife,betweensobs,spokeup,Idontknow
whymyhusbandkilledhimself.Thetwowiveslookedat
hercuriously.Why?
Shegoeson,Becausemyhusbandpreparedhis
ownluncheveryday.
YOU CREATE YOUR OWN DESTINY
7
Ilovethiscrazystorybecauseitpresentsavery
importanttruth:all of us prepare our own lunch. Ifwedont
likeourjobs,ifwedontlikethestateofourrelationships,
ifwedontlikewhatshappeningtoourspirituallives
wehavenoonetoblamebutourselves.
BecauseGodhasgivenusfreewill.
Hehasgivenusthepowertoprepareourownlunch.
Ifwewanttoputmorejoyinourmarriages,ifwewant
togrowinourrelationshipwithGod,ifwewanttoearn
moreandbefreefromdebtthengobacktoyourkitchen
andprepareyourselfanotherdish.
Becauseyoudesignyourownfuture.
Youcreateyourowndestiny.
Askyourself?Whatkindoffuturedoyouwantto
have?
Whatkindofmillennium?
Youdecide.
1
All the Filipino words here are common sh dishes
&J
As long as you
complicate your
life because of love,
then its glorious.
&I
COMPLI CATE YOUR LI FE
Mytitlesoundsshocking,especiallycomingfrom
someonewhosknownbyeveryoneasMr.Simpleaguy
whodoesntevencombhishairanddoesntwearawatch
and who dons a 70s outft not because its faddish but
becausehestrappedinthatera.
Butyousee,Idontbelievethatsimplicityisthe
greatestthingintheworld.
Takemylifeforexample.Ivedeliberatelycomplicated
itthesepastfewyears.
Irememberafewyearsback,Iwrotethesearticles
withnaryadistractionexceptperhapsforthefewstray
mosquitoesunderneathmycomputertable.
Today,themosquitoesdontbothermeatall.Its
theone-year-oldthiefindiapersunderneathmytable,
grabbingmycomputerkeyboardandtypingintongues.
WhenIwasasinglemansometimeago,Ididnt
evenknowwhatsavingsmeant.Today,Ihavetodeal
witheducationalplans,healthinsuranceandsound
investments.Andevenifthethief-in-diapersisstill
toothlessasofthiswriting,Imseriouslysavingforhis
teethbraces,whichIhear,costmorethanmycar.
&Z
Duringmysingledays,Irecallsaunteringoffbymyself
toalonelymountaintoprayforadayortwowhenever
Isodesired.Idbringaguitar,aBible,andatinypicnic
basket.Allbymyquietself.
Thatwillneverhappenagaininmypresentlife.
Becausenow,Idhavetobringaguitar,aBible,apicnic
basket,mywife,mybaby,hisdiaperbag,histoybag,his
foodbag,hisclothesbag,hisbottlebag,hiscarriage,his
carseat
Andonthatmountain,Icanonlyprayaslongas
thethief-in-diapersisnapping.AndthemomentIplay
theguitar,heinstantlywakesupandstrumsitforme
usheringtheendofmyquietprayertime,andsignaling
thestartofmydistracted,noisy,harassedprayertime.
Therearedayswhenathoughtcrossesmymind:Why
onearthdidIgetmarried?Whatinsanitycameoverme?
WhydidIcomplicatemyverysimple,happy,singlelife?
Butimmediately,theanswercomesforcefullywhen
Iseemylovingwifeplayingwithoursmilingbabyin
her arms. Peace overfows my heart as I realize that Ive
exchangedmyverysimple,happysinglelifeforavery
complicated,happymarriedlife.
WhyhaveIcomplicatedmylife?
BecauseIhavedecidedtolove.
AndheresthelessonIvelearned:As long as you
complicate your life because of love, then its glorious.
Congratulateyourself.
Becausesimplicityisntthegreatestthingintheworld,
butlove.
Letmegiveyoutwootherexamples:
COMPLICATE YOUR LIFE
&J
IfyouregoingtojoinaCatholicgroup,believeme
whenIsaythis:yourlifewillgetcomplicated.(Takeit
fromonewhosbeenpartofcommunityfor20years.)
Whycomplicateyourlifewithweeklymeetings,heavy
responsibilities,tiringministriesandqueerpersonalities?
Whygetintorelationshipsthatwilldisillusionyouinthe
end?Whyfollowleadersthatyouknowwilldisappoint
youoneday?
Amorebasicexample:
WhywillyoucommityourentirelifetoGod?Imean,
wontitbeeasierjusttobeanominalCatholic?Allyou
havetodoisgotoMassonSundaysandprestoyoure
guilt-free.Youcandowhatyouwanttodotherestofthe
week.YoudonthavetothinkaboutpleasingHimevery
momentofyourlife.YoudonthavetoloveHiminyour
everyword,thoughtanddeed.Thatsjusttoocomplicated!
Makeyourlifesimple.
Simplymeaningless.
&1
Because you
become the labels
you give yourself.
&S
USE TH E POWER OF LABELS
Thesepastmonths,Ivebeenbusybuildingmytiny
home.
Itssotiny,wheneverIopentherefrigeratordoor,
youdthinkIinstalledcentralizedair-conditioninginmy
house.
ButIdeterminedthatnomatterhowsmallitwas,
itwasgoingtobepretty.LikeIwantedthewallstobe
coveredwithredbrickstogivethemthatrustic,country
look.SoIaskedmycontractorifthatwaspossible.
Sure,hesaid,butheaskedme,Doyouwantnew
bricksoroldbricks?Thatonequestionintroducedmeto
aworldthatIdidntknowexisted.
Whatkindofcreaturesareoldbricks?Iinquired.
Theyre40-yearoldbricksthathavebeenusedinold
homes.Theseoldbricksarediscoloredanddeformedand
disfgured with age. In other words, theyre ugly.
Iftheyrecheaper,Illtakethem!
Mycontractorlaughed.Theoldbricksarethreetimes
moreexpensivethanthenewones.
&
Myjawdropped.Icouldntbelievemyears.
Heexplained.Thenewbricksaresoperfectand
uniform,theyreboring.Theoldanduglybricksonthe
otherhandhavecharmandcharacter.
Wow.ThelasttimeIheardthewordscharmand
character,theyweredescriptionsofboyfriendsand
girlfriends.
Needlesstosay,IwassointriguedbytheseoldbricksI
decidedtoblowmybudgetandsplurge.Alright,giveme
theoldbricks!Iannouncedtomycontractor.
Goodchoice!hesaid.Theycostonethousandpesos
persquaremeter.Howmanyshallyouorder?
Myjawdroppedagain.Ibegantocomputeonmy
calculator and told him my answer as confdently as I
couldsayit.Giveme12bricks.
Twelvesquaremeters?mycontractorasked.
Uhno12pieces.ThatsallIcanaffordrightnow.
Thefollowingweek,my12bricksarrived.
Theywereuglyallright.Discolored,misshapen,
broken, pock-marked, deformed and disfgured. One of
them even had graffti on it. But after the mason plastered
themonthewall,theywereexquisitelybeautiful.Charm
andcharacterwrittenallovermywall.
Whosaidthesebrickswereugly?
People.
Andwhosaidthesebrickswerebeautiful?
People.
Why?
Becauseofthepoweroflabels.
USE THE POWER OF LABELS
&
Becausebeautyisalwaysintheeyeofthebeholder.
Becauseyou and I have the power to impute beauty on
anything under the sun.
Sonexttimeyoulookataglossyfashionmagazine
thattellsyouthatyoureuglybecauseyoureyebrows
arent plucked, or your skin is crater-flled, or your waist
measurementismorethanyourIQdontbelieveit.
Because you become the labels you give yourself.
Ifyoudeclareyourebeautifulnotdespiteyour
imperfections, butbecauseofthemthenyouare.
Dontbelieveme?
Visitmybeautifultinyhomewiththetwelvebricks.
Illevenopentherefrigeratordoorforyou.

&&
Negative emotions are
the windows of our
souland they will
teach us about who we
are and what exactly
we need from God.
&7
FEEL YOUR FEELI N GS
AN D TH EN LET GO
Howareyou,Phillip?Iaskedafriendoneday.
Phillip retorted, Im fne. My son died in an accident,
myhouseburneddown,mywiferanawaywithanother
man,IlostmyjoblastweekandmydoctortoldmeIhave
lungcancer.Asidefromthat,Imokay.
Phillipisthemodelstoic.Iveexaggeratedhis
calamitiestogiveyouapictureofawrongwayof
handlingnegativeemotions:Todenythemandcoverup
ourpain.
ImnotsurprisedthatPhilliphascancer.Why?
Becauseanyinnerpainthatwedontallowourselvesto
feelwillmanifestitselfthroughtumors,hypertension,
heartdisease,musclepains,ulcers.Becauseofthis,Ihave
afascinatinghunch:IbetthatifIcanonlyhelppeople
acknowledgeandfeeltheirhiddenemotionsofanger,fear,
worryandgrief,Idprobablybeabletoremove50%of
theirphysicaldiseases.
Becauseourbodiesareblueprintsofouremotionallife.
SandraontheotherhandisPhillipsopposite.
7J
Howareyou,Sandra?Iaskedheroneday.
OhBo,shecrumpleddownonmyshoulder,Idont
knowwhattodowithmylife.Everyonehatesme.Noone
lovesme!
Do I cry with her? The frst time, yes. But the 86 time?
Ivegottenusedtoherdrama.BecauseeverytimeI
seeSandra,shealways breaksdownintoariveroftears.
Only to fnd out that her world was about to end because a
favoriteshirtgotdamagedinthewashingmachineorher
dogdidntwaghistailather!
ThegoodnewsisthatbetweenPhillipandSandra,
theresamiddlepath:Whenwerespectournegative
emotionsasfriends,notmonsters;asteachers,notmasters.
Negative emotions are the windows of our souland they will
teach us about who we are and what exactly we need from God.
Inaword,emotions need to be felt. Andthen,unlike
Sandra,youcanletgo.Because you cannot let go of what
you have not held!Therearenoshortcuts!Youcantgo
aroundthem,overthemorskipthem.Theonlywayis
through thenegativeemotion.
Mysuggestionissimple.
Wheneveryoufeelsadorlonelyordepressedor
angryorfearfuldontrunawayfromthefeeling,cover
itupwithbusynessorentertainment,orworse,silence
thenegativefeelingwithanaddiction.(Alladdictions,
whethertodrink,food,bulimia,shoppingorsex,are
anescapefromfeelingswedontwanttoface.)My
prescription:Wheneveryoufeelanegativeemotion,be
aloneinaroomandjustsitdownwithitandfeel it.Dont
FEEL YOUR FEELINGS AND THEN LET GO
7I
judgeit,criticizeit,intellectualizeit,explainitaway.Allow
yourselftofeelthepain.Itsokay.(Feelingsarenotsin.
CheckoutthePsalmsifyoudontbelieveme!)Accompany
itbreatheintoitandafterawhile,youllfeeltheanger
orfearorsadnessloseitsurgencyandpower.Allow God to
tenderly embrace you in your pain.
Andthen,attherighttime,youcanletgo.
Whenyougethealedof50%ofyourdiseases,Illbill
you.
7Z
Congratulations
because youre
human. Do you think
married women
dont get attracted to
men other than their
husbands?
7J
CON GRATULATE YOURSELF:
YOURE H UMAN
Helpme,Bo.Imfallinginlovewithmyboss.
IveknownLucyforsometimenowandhersilliness
betraysadeepspiritualmaturityinthismarriedwoman.
Tellmeaboutit,Isaidsolemnly.
OhBo,hesgorgeous.HesacuteAmericanandIget
redalloverwheneverIminfrontofhim.
PierceBrosnanlook-alike?
Hesgotalongnoseandyouknowmyhusbands
pango.
1
Letmeguess.YourhusbandsprobablyFilipino.
Andyoushouldhearmybosstalk.HespeaksEnglish
so fuently.
Hmm,Iwonderwhy
OhBo,whatshouldIdo?
Ismiledandsaid,Firstofall,congratulations.
Forwhat?Ifeeldirty.Sinful.Eviltothebone.Idont
likefeelingthisway.Bo,Imamarriedwoman!

9
at nose
71
Congratulationsbecauseyourehuman.Doyouthink
marriedwomendontgetattractedtomenotherthantheir
husbands?
Well,Ithoughtitwouldnthappentome.
Letmeaskyouafewquestions.First,doyouseeyour
bossinprivateplaces?
Ofcoursenot!Idontevendarerideinthesamecar
withhimevenifitsabusinesstrip.Ijustpopupwherever
themeetingis!
Goodgirl.Doyoufantasizeabouthim?
No.IdliketobutIvebeenabletogetridof
thoughtslikethatsofar.
Fantastic.Nextquestion:Whenyoudressupinthe
morning, do you fnd yourself dressing better, putting on
moremakeup,for Mr.PierceBrosnan?
Ohwhydoyouknowmytorments?
Itsmyjob.
Honestly,Igettemptedtodothat.WhenIopen
mycloset,Iwanttopickthesharpestdresswithagreat
matchingscarfwhenIknowIllbeinameetingwithhim.
ButIsimplysayno.
Lucy,canIcongratulateyourhusbandrightnow?
Hesoneluckychap.
Shesmiledandhuggedme.Thanks.Iknewyoudsay
that.
Okay,Ivegotafewrecommendations.
Imwritingitdownhere,shepointedtoherbrain.
DoyouhaveapictureofMr.Pangoonyourtable?
Yes.
CONGRATULATE YOURSELF: YOURE HUMAN
7S
Good. Enlarge it. About fve meters by nine meters.
Shelaughed.Next?
Canyourhusbandsometimespickyouupforlunch?
Ithinkhecansqueezethatin.
Whenhedoes,besurethatyoukisseachotherin
frontofeveryoneelseonthelipsfornotlessthan25
minutes.Telltheworldandyourbossthatyourea
happilymarriedwoman!
Lucylefthappythatday.AndsodidI.
Becauseofher,Iknewtherewashopeforhumanity.
7
Hes got the bubbling
joy that corporate
folks who work for
money and cars and
houses will never
know. Because hes
forgotten himself.
And loves God.
7
SMI LE MORE OFTEN
ImetGilbertlastweek.
Letmedescribehimtoyou.
Hesatotallyillogical,more-or-lessinsane,slightly
derangedguywhodistributesourinspirational
publicationsinthefarawayislandofMaasin,Leyte.
1) Hesgotthemakingsofamotorcrosschampion
Onhismotorbike,Gilbertwhizzesthroughtheislands
30barrios,distributingGodsWord,throughscorching
sun,torrentialrainsandmuddyroads.
2) HesgotthestrengthofanOlympianweightlifter
Hehand-carriesmorethanathousandKERYGMA
copies!Athousand!Infact,ifyouhappentoseeGilbert
zoomingbyonhisbike,youwontseehimatall.Youll
justseeamountainheapofmagazinespassby.
3) HesaloverofGod
Thisistheneurosispart.Becauseheisntpaidwith
salaries, perks, bonuses and benefts. Instead, his reward is
simplyan idea.The idea that hes being used by God to deliver
His love to hungry hearts.
7&
BecauseGilbertispermanentlysunburnedfromhis
missiontrips,histeethshineeverytimehesmileswhich
isabout99%ofthetime.(Itoldyouourvolunteershaveto
beslightlyderanged.)
Youknowwhat?Hes got the kind of smile Ive not seen
in a long time.Anditsnotbecauseofhistoothpaste,mind
you.Hes got the bubbling joy that people who sit on cushioned
chairs in front of giant TV sets will never know. Hes got the
bubbling joy that corporate folks who work for money and cars
and houses will never know.
Becausehesforgottenhimself.AndlovesGod.
Bytheway,Gilbertisntalone.Wehaveone-thousand
crazyvolunteerswhodosuchinsanethings,making
KERYGMAthemostwidely-readCatholicinspirational
magazineinAsia!
Butenoughofthegoodnews.
Ivegotbadnewsaswell.
Werebroke!(Thespiritiswillingbutthewalletis
weak.)Becausewevevirtuallygivenawayinspirational
magazinesmanytimesinour11-yearhistory,weve
drained our fnances dry. Unless help comes, we cant
continueproclaimingGodslovetothefarthestcornersof
thiscountry.
WhatdoIneednow?Peoplewhomaynotbethe
typewhohoponmotorbikesandspreadGodsWordina
remoteisland,butwho believe in our mission and are willing
to support this mission fnancially.
LikeGilbert,Iminvitingyoutoforgetyourself.
SMILE MORE OFTEN
77
BemyMISSIONPARTNER!Sharealovegiftevery
yeartotheLordforthesuprememissionofspreading
GodsWordtothespirituallythirsty.AndlikeGilbert,get
rewardedbytheideathat YOU are being used by God to
deliver His love to hungry hearts.
Andyoullbesurprised.
Smilingmoreoftenmaybeeasierthanyouthink.
P.S.FormoreinformationonhowtobemyMISSION
PARTNER,pleasecall/fax/emailShepherdsVoice
PublicationsatTel:(632)4117874to77,Fax:(632)7275615
orsubs@shepherdsvoice.com.ph
IJJ
I consider those times
my greatest moments.
Not my books.
Not my organizations.
Not my songs.
Not my preaching.
But my love.
IJI
DEFI N E YOUR GREATEST
ACH EI VEMEN TS
Myfavoritepastimeisspendingadayinabookstore.
Intellectually,itinvigoratesme.
Emotionally,itrefreshesme.
Spiritually,itinspiresme.
And fnancially, it saves me money! Because I dont
havetobuythebooksIread.Ijustreaditinthestore!
(Shhhhhh.Canwekeepthisourlittlesecret?)
SomewhereinthebookstoreistheBestsellersList.I
likelookingatthat,too,becauseitgivesmeanideaofthe
populartrendsinsociety,thethoughtsthatfuelpeoples
mindsandactions.
Butrecently,Icanembarrassed,tolook,atthislist.
Becausemynameregularlyappearsonit!
(Peoplemightcatchmelookingatthatlistandsay,
Gosh,Boisreallyvain.Helikesreadinghisnameup
there.)
Nowdontgetmewrong.Iconsideritanachievement
thatIhavewrittenbest-sellingbooks.Imnotashamed
IJZ
ofthat.InthesamewaythatIconsiderhavingmyarticle
publishedinReaders Digest anicefeatherinmycap.Or
beingabletopreachGodsWordalloverthisplanet.
OrwritingforthenumberoneCatholicinspirational
magazineinAsiaforthepast11years.Orhelpingstart
dynamicorganizationssuchasAnawim, andShepherds
Voice,andLightofJesusCommunityanditsCounseling
Center. Orcomposingworshipmusicthroughthepast22
years.
Theyreniceachievements,yes.
ButImsorry,theyrenotmygreatestachievements.
DoyouwanttoknowwhatImreally proudof?
Heretheyare:
WhenIvisitmy82-yearoldfather,andjustsitbeside
himandholdhishandtenderly.Andbecausehehaslost
mostofhislanguageskills,wedonttalkmuch.Instead,
wesmile,touch,laugh,embraceandenjoyeachother
presence.
That,myfriends,isoneofmygreatestachievements.
AndwhenImbeatingdeadlines,verybusywriting
articlesonmycomputerandthenseemylittlesonplaying
on the foor. And I decide to leave my chair and sit on the
foor with him. And I get a ball and roll it towards him. He
gigglesandrollsitbacktowardsDaddy.AndIrollitback
tohim.Andherollsitbacktome.Yougettheidea.Iwaste
35minutesofmypreciousexecutivetimeforsomething
thatotherswouldconsidercompletelyunproductive
DEFINE YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS
IJJ
Butthistooisoneofmygreatestachievements.
Andafteralongday,Icatchmywifeslumpedbythe
couch,tiredfromadayofhousechoresandIquietlystand
behindher,kissher,saythankyou,andgiveheraloving
shouldermassage
ThatwouldbehighupinMyGreatestAchievements
list.
AndwhenIvisitfriends,orevenjustcallthemby
phoneorwritethemletters.
Iconsiderthosetimesmygreatestmoments.
They defne who I am.
Notmybooks.
Notmyorganizations.
Notmysongs.
Notmypreaching.
Butmylove.
IJ1
Even when we
founder and fall and
stumble, Hell know
if we gave Him our
best struggle.
IJS
ALWAYS GI VE YOUR BEST
STRUGGLE
Ipreachinmyprayergroup.
And every time I preach, I always fnd three or four or
fve people in the audience who sleep through my talks.
Repeat:Everytime.ItdoesntmatterwhatIdo,whetherI
crackajoke,screamtillmylarynxdiesormurdersomeone
inthefrontrowitwillhavethesameeffectonthem:
Zzzzzzzzz...Thatsright,theysnore.Infourvoices,noless.
Becausetheyrethesamepeoplewhoalwaysnap,I
knowthemquitewell.
LikeIknowtheirpermanentseatingarrangementin
thegathering.
AndIknowexactlywheneachonewillfallasleep.With
clockworkprecision,oneguysleepsatmythirdsentence,
while the woman with the fowery blouse signs off on my
ffth. The rest doze off the moment I enter the stage. (I get
paranoidsometimes.DoIreallylookthatboring?)
Ialsoknowtheirfavoritesleepingpostures.
IJ
Thereareonlytwomajoronesreally.Themostpopular
iswhatIcalltheWet Look. Aftertheheadbobsupand
down for a while, it fnally tilts forward. Count ten seconds
and drool fows liberally from chin to lap or chin to
foor. Because of this, I limit my talks to 45 minutes, max.
Anythinglongerthanthatandtheentireaudiencewould
needknee-highbootstogohome.
Thesecondmostpopularsleepingposition,Icall
Hallelujah Forever.Thistime,theheadistiltedwayback,
andgloriouslythemouthiswideopen.Thesameway
amouthopenswhenaworld-classtenorissingingthe
fnal jah of Handels Hallelujah.Exceptthisonewont
stop. His orifce is so wide, I can tell you his entire dental
history from 20 feet away. Three molars flled, one root-
canalledandamildcaseofgingivitis.IfIgetanynearer,I
cangiveyouanendoscopyreport.
ButlestyouthinkImangryatthem,Iwanttosaythat
Ireallyadmiretheirstruggletocomedespitetheirobvious
exhaustion.Firstofall,theyrealoyalbunch.Theyre
presenteveryprayermeeting!(Physically,atleast.)God
knowstheyretiredandHehonorsthestruggletheyre
goingthroughtobethere.
BecausewhenImtired,Itoosometimesfallasleepin
mydailyprayers.Whenmywifecatchesme,Ijusttellher
thatIpracticeaverydeepkindofmeditationwhereI
restintheGodspresence.Shedoesntbuyit.
Butcuriously,IthinkmyGoddoes.BecauseHehasnt
thrownalightningrodinmydirectionyet.IbetHeeven
laughsatmyWet Look orHallelujah Forever posture. I
ALWAYS GIVE YOUR BEST STRUGGLE
IJ
guessHealsohonorsmystruggletopraydespitemy
exhaustionandthatstruggleofminereallypleasesHim.
WehaveafunnyGod.
WehaveaGodthatdemandsthatwegivethebest
toHim.Butifthebestwecangiveisfaultyandweak,
Heaccepts what we give to Him anyway and transforms it
to become the best. Even when we founder and fall and
stumble,HellknowifwegaveHimourbeststruggle.
Hellknow.
AndHelllaughwithyouandtellyoutostruggle
again.
P.S.Bytheway,Iveovercomemyparanoia.Thesepeople
sleepnotbecauseImboring.Theysleepbecause,like
MahatmaGandhi,Imaverypeacefulhumanbeing,and
consequently,haveastrangecalmingeffectonothers
Mwahahahaha
IJ&
If you dont learn how
to say no to all the
myriad of options life
offers you, youll not
be able to focus on His
specifc mission
for your life.
IJ7
LEARN TO SAY N O
SOMETI MES
Canyoubringatiny packagetomyfamilyinManila?
Noproblem!IsaidtothepetiteFilipinainfrontof
me.
Thishappenedmanyyearsagoonapreachingtrip
inEuropewhenIstilldidntknowabouttheBalikbayan
1

Phrase Dictionary.Init,thetermtinypackagemeans
anyobjectinthecreateduniversewhosesizerangeis
anywherebetweenapeanuttoaplanet.
WhenIarrivedattheairport,hertiny packagewas
waitingforme:asuitcasethatwasalittlebitsmallerthan
theairportitself.
SorryBo,shesaidsheepishly,steppingoutofher
suitcasesshadow,Ithoughtitwastiny.Butitkept
growingbiggerandbiggerandbigger
Wow.Itsmiraculous.
Shethenhandedmeanenvelopejustincaseyou
haveexcessbaggageandleftmeasquicklyasawoman
1
refers to a Filipino migrant visiting his homeland
IIJ
runningawayfromarapist.Iopeneditanddiscovered
tendollarsinit.Iholleredbackather,Willthismultiply
miraculously,too?
WhenIcheckedinhersuitcase,trueenough,the
ticketingguytoldmeIneededtopayexcessbaggage.
Holding the ten dollars with trembling fngers, I
askedhowmuchitwouldcost.Whenheshowedthe
astronomical fgure to me, I had a paranormal experience
rightthereandthen:Ifeltmysoulleavemybodyforafew
seconds.
WhenIcameto,IinquiredascalmlyasIcould,Does
thispricealsoincludethepurchaseoftheplane?OrdoI
gettheplaneandownallthepilotsandstewardessesas
well?
TheguylaughedandaskedifIhadacreditcard.
ItoldhimIhadapricelesssoulandwonderedifI
couldsellthattohim.
Thatexperiencetaughtmeaveryimportantlessonin
life:Learntosaynosometimes.
Likeyesterday,Ireceivedteninvitationstopreach.
Theseinvitationscomedailythroughemailandsnailmail
andphonecalls.
Asmuchasthispainsme,Isaynoto90%ofthese
invitations.
OhhowIlovetopreach!Everyday,ifpossible.But
ifIsayyestoalloftheseinvitations,Iwontbeableto
seemywifeandchildanymore!OrIwontbeableto
writeforKERYGMA.OrvisitAnawim.Orteachmylittle
Community,Light of Jesus.
LEARN TO SAY NO SOMETIMES
III
Ilearnedaveryimportantprinciple:Saying no is
really saying a bigger yes to what God wants me to do.
Hey,therereamillionthingsyoucando.
ButwhatdoesGodwantforyourlife?Ifyoudont
learnhowtosaynotoallthemyriadofoptionslife
offersyou,youllnotbeabletofocusonHisspecifc mission
foryourlife.
Question:Doyouhaveexcess baggage inyourlife?
Becareful.Youmayenduppayingforitwithyour
pricelesssoul.
Learntosaynosometimes.
Youryesdependsonit.
IIZ
Dont hide.
Dont pretend.
Dont be someone else.
Be you.
IIJ
EN JOY WHO YOU ARE
Letmetellyouoneofthegreatestmysteriesofthe
worldwhenawomanputsonblush-on,mascara,
eyebrowpencil,eyeliner,eyeshadow,eyelashes,lipstick,
lipgloss,toner,powderandthenturnstoherhusband
andasks,Honey,doIlooknatural?
Nowtellme,howdoesahusbandanswerthatwithout
being hit on the head by inanimate fying objects?
Hey,Imnotagainstmakeup.
Ithinkitboilsdowntoinnerattitude:Byputting
makeup,areyoucoveringstuffthatyoureashamedof?Or
expressingthebeautythatyoubelieveisyou?
NowbeforeIgiveyouadviceoneyelinertechniques,
howtohighlightyourcheekbonesandwhatvarioushues
ofblush-onyoucanuseforyourskincolor,letmetellyou
aboutmysisterswedding.
Irememberstandinginfrontofthealtar,besidethe
groom eagerly waiting for his bride. When she fnally
appearedandstartedwalkingdowntheaisle,Inoticed
thatmywould-bebrother-in-lawsuddenlyenteredinto
acatatonicstate.Hiseyeshadthisblankstare,hismouth
II1
ajar, his body motionless, until I snapped my fnger in
frontofhisface.
Shakingofftheshock,heswallowedhardandasked
meaquestionIwishedIhadrecordedforhisfuture
childrenandgrandchildrentohear.
Hemumbled,Issheuhyoursister?
Ibitmylip.Idontknow.Shehassomuchpaint,er,
I mean, makeup on... I fnally shrugged and told him,
Whenshecomescloser,justaskhername.
YoumaybewonderingwhoamongmysistersIm
referring to since I have fve of them. For the sake of my
safety,thatinformationshallbekeptinasecretvaultthat
canonlybeopenedaftermydeath.
Iremembermyownwedding.
WhenIsawMaroweontheaisle,Ifellinlovewithher
evenmore.Becauseherbeautywasntdistortedbythe
makeup.Rather,itsimplyemphasizedthebeautythatwas
alreadythere,likeanexquisitepictureframethatdidnt
distractfromitsgorgeouspainting.
CanInowshiftgears?
Sorry,thisarticleisntaboutmakeup.(Illreservemy
eyelinerandblush-ontechniquesforanotherissue.)
Thisarticleisabout enjoyingwhoyouare.
AboutbeingyouandcelebratingGodsbeautiful
creation.
Sowhatifyouretoothin,toostout,tootall,tooshort,
tooround,toorectangular,toohexagonical?
ENJOY WHO YOU ARE
IIS
Whenmywifewasachild,shewasteasedas
headlightsbyherclassmatesbecauseofherhumongous
eyes.Andshewouldcrybucketsoftears,wonderingwhy
Godmadeherthatway.
Twenty years later, in my offce, a young woman came
in.Immediately,Inoticedherlovelyroundeyes.Iwas
smitten.ThankGodforheadlights.
Donthide.Dontpretend.Dontbesomeoneelse.
Beyou.Behappy.Live!
II
I know that on planet
earth, there are days
when God doesnt bless
us with what were
asking for. Because
He knows that those
very things will make
us sick.
II
SEE YOUR FATH ERS TEARS
My throat today feels like its on fre.
I guess I preached too muchmy voice fnally went on
indefnite strike.
Sothere.Imfeverishandcoughingthick,sticky,
yellow-greenishphlegm.(Myeditorcrossedout16other
adjectivesIwroteaboutthephlegm.)Management-labor
negotiationsarenowgoingonbetweenmyvoiceandI.Its
bargainingforlesserworkinghours.Andakinderboss.
Youknowwhat?Beingsickiscrummy.
Icantgooutofthehouse.
Icantindulgeinmyextremesports.(Youknowhow
athleticIam.Ilovesky-diving,rock-climbing,deep-sea
divingandbungeejumping.Youknow,aggressively
pressingtheremotecontrolandwatchingthesethingson
TV.)
ButtheresonethingthatIreeeeeallymisswhenIm
sick.
EmbracingthepeopleIlove.
Embracingmywife.
II&
Embracingmyson.
BecauseIdontwantthemtogetmygerms,Ijust
watchthemfromadistance.
Thathurts.
Alot.
Letmetellyouwhatmyalmosttwo-yearoldBenedict
didawhileago.
Iwasaheapofdisheveledmess,lyingdownonthe
living room foor (its much cooler here), when the tiny boy
sawme.Fromafar,helookedatmequizzically,hisround
eyes narrowing. He then poised his chubby pointer fnger
intheair,andhetoddler-sprintedtowardsme.
Mysonthenpointedtosomethingnewonmyface:
myfour-day-oldmoustache.Andhestartedgiggling!You
see,mymoustachedoesntgrowinthemiddlepart,but
onlyonthesides.EvenBenedictsawmyresemblanceto
GhengisKhan.
Believeme,everythinginmejustwantedtoembrace
thelovableelfinfrontofme.HowIwantedtojustlaugh
andwrapmyarmsaroundhim.
ButIcouldnt.
Ididntwanthim togetsick.
Sowithmuchpaininmyheart,Itoldhismothertoget
himawayfromme.
AndallIcoulddowasstareasBenedictwaswhisked
away, his eyes quickly flling with tears, pleading to me,
his tiny hand reaching for me, whimpering at frst, and
thensobbing,DadaDadaDada.Ifeltmyheart
wasbeingcrushedinside!Iwhisperedapromisetohim.
SEE YOUR FATHERS TEARS
II7
Benedict,adaywillcomewhenyoullhaveallofDada
youwant.Naturally,hedidntunderstandme.
Inmyanguish,ItalkedtoGod.Lord, is this how You feel
sometimes?
BecauseIknowthatonplanetearth,therearedays
whenGoddoesntblessuswithwhatwereaskingfor.
BecauseHeknowsthatthoseverythingswillmakeus
sick.Likewhenweaskforlotsofmoney,oranewjob,
or that we marry a specifc someone. Now and then, His
answerisNope,itwontbegoodforyou.Soinour
despair,wefeelHesabandonedus.Sowetoocryoutin
ourneed,DadaDadaDada!
OhifweonlycanseethetearswellingupinHiseyes.
AndHealsopromisesus,Adayineternityiscoming
whenyoucangetallofDadayouwant
Dearfriends,letuswaitforthisday.
IZJ
Dont be so
goal-oriented
and job-obsessed
you no longer open
yourself up to the rich
blessings that God
pours onto you
at every moment
of life!
IZI
LI VE YOUR LI FE WI TH
PRESEN TATI ON
Have you recently dined in a fve-star restaurant?
Letmerefreshyourmemory.
First,thewaitersweartuxedoesandtoupees.The
tableclothisimmaculateandtheorchidsinfrontofyouare
fresh.Theambianceisgorgeous.
Second, you arent on a frst name basis with the
dishes.
Youhavetousetheircompletenames,suchasArroz a
la Cubanna, andPaella de Barcelona. OrDrunkard Ducks Who
Failed the Twelve Steps Program and French Frogs Legs with
Manicured Toenails.(Okay,okay,soImadetheselasttwo
up.)
Andthemenudescribeseachdishsoverbosely,youd
thinkpoetswrotethem.Thelowlyburgerbecomes
Salisburysteakswathedinthickgravysauce,sprinkled
withroastedgarlic,withdelectablebuttonmushroomson
ahotplate.Servedwithcrisp,butteredvegetables,hi-land
riceandsweetJapanesecorn.
IZZ
Wow.Makesyouwanttoeatthemenu.
IimaginemyDrunkardDucksWhoFailedtheTwelve
StepsProgramtobedescribedaspedigreeduckswhose
ancestrycanbetracedbacktotheroyalfowlsservedto
KingPhillipXIIofNiceinthe18
th
century.Frombirth,
theducklingisinebriatedwiththebestFrenchwinesand
Germanbeers.Butonemonthbeforeroasting,thebird
drinksnothingelsebutprimeRussianVodka.Itisso
incurablyalcoholicthatwhenthechefstrikesamatchfrom
two feet away, the duck explodes into fames. Served crisp
inapoolofSaki.
MyFrenchFrogsLegswithManicuredToenailswill
bedescribedashand-pickedfemalefreckledfrogsfrom
themountainsofAvion.Inspecialbreedingfarms,toads
areborninpureEvianwaterandfedonlywithvegetarian
insects.Daily,theirlegsaremassagedShiatsustylewith
extra-virginoliveoilmixedwithArabianspices,their
toenailscleanedbydiamond-edgedcuticleremovers.
Servedrawandjuicy.
Why are they called fve-star restaurants?
Becauseofpresentation.Ambiance.Style.Design.
Atmosphere.
Ihaveasuggestionforyou.
Live your life with presentation.
Dontbecutanddried.Dontjustbefunctional.Dont
beaget-this-day-over-withperson.Dontbesogoal-
orientedandjob-obsessedyounolongeropenyourself
uptotherichblessingsthatGodpoursontoyouatevery
momentoflife!
LIVE YOUR LIFE WITH PRESENTATION
IZJ
Valueyourself!Putalittlegarnish.Havesomestyle.
Create ambiance in your life. Be fve-star!
No,Imnottalkingaboutluxury.(Thesethingssimply
burdenlife.)
Imtalkingaboutenjoyinglife.Aboutbreathingwith
passion.
Sing. Dance. Dream. Stop to smell the fowers. Listen
tothebirdsandwatchsunsets.Playlikeachild.Praylike
achild.Eatmoreicecream.Embracethepeoplethatyou
love.Takevacationsoften.Givemore.Smilemore.Worry
less.Saythankyouwithallyourheart.Havemorefun!
Dontbeordinary.
Becauseyourenot.
Youre like my duck: Youve got royalty fowing
throughyourveins.
Sobelikemyduck:BedrunkwiththeHolySpirit
everyday!
YoureHischild.
Livewithgusto!
P.S.Aboutthefrog?Sorry,noanalogieswithdeep
theologicalinsight.Justwantedtohavefun.Ipractice
whatIpreach.
IZ1
No matter how
I argued against
it, I couldnt stop
picturing my God
gazing at me with
the same warmth
of love that I had
for Benedict just a
few seconds before.
IZS
LI VE LI FE KN OWI N G YOU
ARE GAZED UPON
Oooh-la-lah
Thatwasallthemancouldsaywhenhesawthispretty
girlinamini-skirt.Butasheinspectedthesight,heheard
aboomingvoicefromtheheavenssay,Closeyoureyes,
myson.
Shocked,hecoveredhiseyesandwalkedon.
Afterafewminutes,hesawanotheryoungwoman
inatemptingmini-skirt.Ashecheckedouttheview,he
heardagainthereverberatingcommandfromabove,
Closeyoureyes,myson.
Takenaback,heshuthiseyesandmovedon.
Ashecontinuedtostroll,hesawagainanotherdamsel
wearingeithertheshortestmini-skirtintheworldorwas
itafatbeltandnothingelse?
Butbeforehecouldhearanythunderingvoicesfrom
above,themanlookedheavenwardandimplored,Lord,
thistime,canyoubetheonetocloseyoureyes?
ThestoryisasoldasIam.
IZ
ButwhatifGodindeedclosedHiseyes?
Wedbeinbigtrouble.Why?Ibelievethatif God stops
looking at us for even one moment, we will cease to exist.
Onemorning,Iwokeupearly.
Itwasstilldarkoutside.
Thegentlebreezemadethewhitecurtainssway.
AndthenIsawmyson,Benedict.
In his crib, surrounded by fuffy pillows and a smiling
WinniethePooh.
Warmthenvelopedmyheart.
Sorry,Ididntlook.Igazed.
Atmybaby.
Hewasbeautiful.
AndIlovedhim.
Myeyesgotwet.
Afterbaby-gazingforafewminutes,Isaidashort
prayerandwentbacktobed.
Thatwaswhenithitme.
Aspiritualthoughtthatgrippedmelikeawrestlers
armlock.
Iasked,God, are you also gazing at me now?
Thethoughtcausedatinyshudderthroughmybody.
No, you cant. Im no longer a baby.Im a grown-up man
with a receding hairline and the nose of a T-Rex. Im ugly in my
pajamas.
ButnomatterhowIarguedagainstit,Icouldntstop
picturingmyGodgazingatmewiththesamewarmthof
lovethatIhadforBenedictjustafewsecondsbefore.
Are you there Lord? Watching at me with eyes of
devotion?
LIVE YOUR LIFE KNOWING YOU ARE GAZED UPON
IZ
ThemoreIthoughtofit,themoreIrealizeditwastrue.
Hewasgazingatmewithlove.
Pure,unabashed,unadulterated,eternal,perfectlove.
Buttherewasadifference.
Lord, you never lift Your gaze off me, do you? You just keep
on gazing at me, 24 hours a day.
Yes,myDaddywasawake,gazingonme.
Ismiledandfellasleep.
Likeababyinacrib.
IZ&
I believe that praying
is essentially allowing
something to happen
to you.
IZ7
OPEN UP YOUR LI FE TO LOVE
Have you ever wondered if fsh drank water?
Iknowwhatyourethinking.
Onlyacrazyguylikemethinksofsuchlunacy.
Well, think of a tiny fsh right smack in the middle of
the Pacifc Ocean.
Nowtellme.Wouldntitbethefunniestthingin
the world if baby fsh said to mother fsh, Mommy, Im
thirsty.
Imean,helloooooo.
Canyouimaginewhathismotherwouldsay?
Geepers,kid!Haveyoubeendunkedinwasabe?Has
JawsIIIchewedoffyourhead?Hasagiantsquidsucked
outyourbrain?Haveyousteppeddowntheevolution
ladderanddevelopedonlyabrainstem?Howinthe
*@&*$%!!@#!couldyoubethirsty?(Note:Iapologize
fortheobscenelanguage.Themotherisnotspiritually
renewedandisfarfromthesavingknowledgeofJesus
Christ.)
WellIforgothowtodoit.Imonlyonedayold,
youknow.AndIamreallythirsty,thelittlesquirtsays,
pointing her fn at her mouth.
IJJ
Owalright,themotherspits,ifyouwanttodrink
water,allyouhavetodoisopenup.
Openup?
Yes,dummy.Youdonthavetogotothefridgeand
pouryourselfaglassofliquid.Youdonthavetogotoa
storeandbuyacanofCoke.Andyoudonthavetowait
forraindropstofalldowntheskyandopenyourmouth
whilebeltingout,ImsingingintherainAllyouhave
todoisopenup!Openyourmouthandopenyourthroat,
and the whole Pacifc Ocean will come rushing into you.
Oh
So the baby fsh opens up, and does a summersault as
itishitbyatorpedoofwatershootingthroughhersystem.
Yes,allwehavetodoisopenup!
Somepeoplehaveahardtimepraying.
Theythinkitsamatterofgoingtothefridgefora
glassorgoingtothestoretobuyacanofCoke
No,prayingisntyoudoingsomething.
Ibelievethatpraying is essentially allowing something to
happen to you.
Becauserightthisminute,youaresurroundedbythe
oceanofGodspresence.
Hesalloveryou,envelopingyou,immersingyou,
drenchingyouwithHislove.
YouneedHim?
Openup.
YouneedHispower?
Openup.
YouneedHisblessing?
Openup.
OPEN UP YOUR LIFE TO LOVE
IJI
Youneedanythingrightnow?
Openup.
Hellbecoming,running,rushingtowardsyouwith
Hislove.
IJZ
I advice married
people out there:
Have an affair with
your husband.
Have an affair with
your wife.
IJJ
YOU H AVE TH E POWER TO
CREATE LOVE
Ihaveaconfessiontomake.
Im having an affair.
Iminvolvedwithayoungwoman.
Itbecameasexualaffair.
Shebecamepregnant.
Shegavebirthtoourlovechild.
Itbeganinnocentlyenoughafewyearsago.
Today,thisloveaffairisahot,frothy,steamy,sticky
relationship.
Itsnowaheart-pounding,mind-blowing,blood-
rushing,hormone-explosiveaffair.
Bytheway,Iforgettotellyou,Ididsomethingbefore
theaffairbegan.
I married her.
Yes,Imhavinganaffairwithmywife.
Istillbringhertothemostromanticspotsonplanet
earth.
Eachweek,westillhavedinnerdates.
Istillwritesillylovenotestoher.
IJ1
Istillwhispersweetnothingsinherear.
AndwhenIthinknooneslooking,Istillstealkisses
fromherwhenwewerewalkinginamall.(Andshestill
slapsmeafterwards.)
Yousee,Ibelieveinoneveryimportanttruth:
IHAVETHEPOWERTOCREATELOVE.
Idontcomplain,Lovehasgoneoutofourmarriage.
Boo-hoo-hoo.
People talk about love like it was some kind of fckle-
minded, neurotic bird that fies in and out of their life, over
whichtheyhavenocontrol.
Thisisobviousintheirvocabulary:
Ivefalleninlove.
Ivefallenoutoflove.
Fallen?Whatsthat?Youtripped?Gotpushed?Washit
overthehead?
Thatmeansonlyonething:Youreahelplessvictimof
yourcircumstances.
Gosh.Letmetellyou,Imcompletelyallergictothe
wordvictim.
BecauseImnotavictimofmycircumstances.Imay
nothavetotalcontrolovermycircumstances,but I have
total control over my response towards them!
Listen.Idontwakeupeverymorningfeelinggreat
loveformywife.
Nordoesshewakeupeverysingledaythinkingthat
Imsuchacute,great,handsome,BradPittlook-alike.
(Infact,shehadthatfeelingonlyonceinherlifetime:
Whenshewasgivenverystrongpainkillersrightafterher
Caesareanoperation.)
YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CRETAE LOVE
IJS
ButIvedecidedtocreateloveinourmarriage,no
matterwhat.
SoIadvicemarriedpeopleoutthere:
Haveanaffairwithyourhusband.
Haveanaffairwithyourwife.
Youhavethepowertocreatelove.
IJ
Funny, its as though
Im taking communion!
Not because its holy or
consecrated or anything
like that. But because
like God, the old
blind woman is giving
everything she has
to me.
IJ
RECEI VE H I S LOVE I N TH E
MOST UN LI KELY PLACES
Blackishwaterreachesmyknees.Ismelltheputrid
stenchofstagnantcanalsburnmynostrils.Iwalkoncreak-
ingplanks,manyofthemrottenwithage.
Iwalkcarefully,notonlytoavoidbreakingthem,but
alsosothatIdontbumpintoratsthesizeofcats,squeak-
ing,darting,runningonthesesamedilapidatedboards.
Iaskmyself:Cananyplaceontheplanetbeworsethan
this?
Yousee,Iminashantytown,orwhatwecallasquat-
tersareainthePhilippines.
Intheshackthatwillbemyhomefortwoweeks,
theres no toilet. Instead, I share one muddy toilet with fve
otherfamiliesconsistingof40pluspersons.
Areyoufreakingout?Thenfreakoutsomemore,
becauseinthisdarkholeoftheuniverse,Ifelttheshining
andbrilliantloveofGodinawayIllneverforget.
Yousee,Icameheretopreach,toteach,toheal,togive
love!
Well,Iwaswrong.Overpoweringlovewasgoingtobe
giventome.
IJ&
Becauseonemorning,Iknockatthistinyshantythe
sizeofachestfreezer.
Anoldwomanopensthedoor.
Sheistotallyblind.
Behindheraretwoshykids,hidingbehindherdress,
both younger than fve.
Ilearnthatheronlysonabandonedhiskidstoher.I
alsolearnthathevisitsheronceaweektostealhermon-
eywhateverlittlemoneyshegetsfrombegging.
Becauseitislunchtime,sheinvitesme,Kain tayo.
1
Sheopensanoldtincanandbringsoutatinybowlof
lugao.
2
Isurveyitandamshocked.Thelugaohasmorewater
thanrice.
She also fshes out from the tin can a half piece of
bread,wrappedinanapkin.Inoticethatsheholdsitrever-
ently,asthoughshewasholdingpreciousgold.
Ialsonoticethatthereisnothingleftinthetincan.
Thetwoeagerkidswaitwithanticipation.Theirgrand-
motherplacesthelugaobeforethem,andsays,Ito ang sa
atin.
3

Quickly,theirtinydirtyhandsscoopitupintotheir
hungrymouths.Theoldwomanthengivesmethegoldin
herhandthemostprizedpossessionshehasthishalf-
pieceofbreadwrappedinawhitenapkin.
Idecline.Lola, huwag ninyo akong isipin. Kainin ninyo
na lang ito.
4
RECEIVE HIS LOVE IN THE MOST UNLIKELY PLACES
1
Lets eat.
2
Congee.
3
This is ours.
IJ7
Shegentlyprotests.Samahan mo kami. Kain ka rin.
5
Iseethehappinessinhersmile,andIknowshewillbe
hurtifIsayno.
SoItakethehalfpieceofoldbread.Itakeabite.
Itsdry.Itshard.Itstasteless.
Butatthismoment,thereisnothingmoredelicious.
Funny,itsasthoughImtakingcommunion!Notbecause
itsholyorconsecratedoranythinglikethat.Butbecause
likeGod,theoldblindwomanisgivingeverythingshehas
tome.
Myhostisblind.Shedoesnotseethetearsrolling
downmycheeks.
ShedoesnotseethatIwillneverbethesameperson
again.
4
Dont think of me anymore. Please eat this.
5
J oin us. Eat with us.
I1J
Never compare your
child with anyone else.
Not with other kids,
not with his brothers
and sisters, not even
with yourself when
you were a kid
I1I
YOUR PAST DOES N OT
DEFI N E YOUR FUTURE
Whereareyouhere,son?
I was fve years old. I had just showed Dad my
kindergartenclassphotoafree-for-allscenewherekids
wereelbowingeachotherformorephotoexposure.
WherewasI?Atthebackofthepack,peekingover
someonesshoulder.Youcouldonlyseeone-fourthofmy
face.
Ohyes,Iwassmall.Iwasthin.AndIwasalsoterribly
shy.
Sheepishly,Ipointedmyselfoutinthephoto.
Dadblurtedout,Bo, why dont you be like this boy here
in front?
Ouch.Ifelthiswordsslicethroughmylittleheart.
Hewasreferringtothismestizokidwhowasbigand
boisterous,hisarmswavingwildly,hisfaceseemingly
threeinchesfromthecamera.
Thatday,Irememberfeelingverysad.
Itoldmyself,YesBo,theresreallysomethingwrong
withyou.
I1Z
(Parents,ifyougetanythingfromthisstory,Ihopeits
this:Nevercompareyourchildwithanyoneelse.Notwith
otherkids,notwithhisbrothersandsisters,notevenwith
yourselfwhenyouwereakid)
InGrade2,mygradeswereplummeting.Iremember
getting73%inMath.Somymothergotatutortoteachme
twiceaweek.Becauseofthis,mygradesimproved:Igot
75%. Not because I fnally learned Math, but because the
tutorMomhiredwasmyownMathteacherinschool.
WhenIwasinGrade4,IdiscoveredIwasalsobadat
sports. My classmates held the basketball and few with it.
Iheldthebasketballandfellfromitsweight.
Ineverygame,myclassmateslaughedatme.Even
myteachersridiculedme.Atthestartofeverygame,my
classmateswouldaskme,Jointheotherteam!PleaseBo!
Noonewantedme.Becauseofthis,Ikepttomyself
mostofthetime.
Aftergradeschool,Itooktheentranceexamforthe
Ateneohighschool.
I funked the test. I was devastated. My parents had to
scroungeforanotherschoolformeatthelastminute.
IrememberAriel,agoodfriendofmine.Hewasthe
frst honor in class. He also was the schools basketball and
baseballstar.Oneday,Ithoughtabouthimandwondered,
Lord,whydidyougiveallthetalentstoothersandnone
tome?
Ifeltincrediblysadthatday.
YOUR PAST DOES NOT DEFINE YOUR FUTURE
I1J
Friends,Ithoughtallaboutthesethingsyesterday.
Becauseyesterday,Ihadtoemailfourcountries:
Australia,US,SingaporeandIndia.All of them wanted me to
speak at their conventions on the exact same weekend.
The same guy who funked tests. The same guy who
gotthelowestgrades.Thesameguywhowasunwanted
byeveryoneisnowdesiredbythenations.
And ten years after funking that entrance exam in
Ateneo,IneverimaginedthatIwouldonedaybehaving
lunchwiththeDeanoftheCollegeandhearhimsay,
Bo,howcanweconvinceyoutoteachTheologyinthe
Ateneo?
ItoldhimIdlovetoteach,butmyhandswerefull:
Foundingfourorganizations,writingbest-sellingbooks,
preachingaroundtheworld,publishingthemostwidely-
readCatholicliteratureinthecountry
Mymessage?
You can fulfll your dreams!
Because your past does not defne your future.
I11
AN I N VI TATI ON
TO KEEP ON GROWI N G
Should you wish to continue following the spiritual path
explained in this book, you can read any of the inspiring
publications of SHEPHERDS VOICE or listen to the power-packed
Teaching Tapes of Bo Sanchez and other speakers.
BOOKS BY BO SANCHEZ:
Thank God Hes Boss (First Collection)
You Can Make Your Life Beautiful (Second Collection)
Simplify and Live the Good Life
Simplify and Create Abundance
Embraced, Prayers That Nourish the Soul
Special Prayers for the Holy Rosary
PERIODICALS:
KERYGMA, a Catholic Inspirational Magazine
COMPANION, a Catholic Scripture Diary
SABBATH, Scripture Meditations for Daily Life
DIDACHE, a Daily Bible Refection Guide for Catholics
GABAY, Pang-araw-araw na Pagninilay para sa Katoliko
TEACHING TAPES by Bo Sanchez:
Deepen Your Love Life with God (5 tapes)
How to Love Yourself the way God Loves You (5 tapes)
Fill Your Life with Love (5 tapes)
How to Receive Financial Blessings (5 tapes)
Daily Discipleship (10 tapes)
Way of the Cross (1 tape)
Special Prayer for the Holy Rosary (2 tapes)
How to Love God When He Seems Far Away (3 tapes)
Secret of Sainthood (2 tapes)
I1S
Spiritual Warfare (3 tapes)
Bible Study for Catholics (10 tapes)
Nurture Your Spiritual Life(8 modules/3 talks per module)
TEACHING TAPES by Other Speakers:
Introduction to the Christian Family Life (3 tapes),
by Pio Espanol
God in the Dessert (1 tape), by Rosanne Romero
Being a Christian in a Modern World by Obet Cabrillas
Chosen and Sent by Arun Gogna
PrayerSurrendering to Gods Will by Alvin Barcelona
If you are interested in any of these products, contact us at the
address or numbers below. God bless you.
60 Chicago St, Quezon City, M.M., 1109 Philippines
Tel. No. (02) 4117874 to 77
Fax: 727-5615
e-mail: sale@shepherdsvoice.com.ph
www.shepherdsvoice.com.ph
I1
A CALL TO SERVE
We NEED your love more than ever.
I need to get this off my chest.
Its been tough.
And very expensive.
Publishing the most widely-read Catholic inspirational literature
in Asia for the past 15 years straight hasnt been easy. Were reaching
a pass-on readership of 450,000 loyal fans all over the countryand
beyond. (We woke up one day realizing that our circulation is higher
than most secular magazines!)
My consolation for paying off our skyrocketing bills each month?
When I read my mail. When a reader tells me that she has been touched
by a story in our magazines or in my books, that she is a better person
because of what she read, that she is flled with Gods love because of
that story. Ahh, my sweet rewards!
You know what?
Because I know how diffcult it is to make a mag, I suddenly pity
the people who work in other magazines whose most important
message is about this singer who doesnt wear a bra, and about that
macho basketball player whos really a queen and about this starlet
who sleeps naked. Gosh. Thats really deep. Life-changing. Makes you
want to cry.
I want to work hard. Really hard! But Ill do it only if I know that
its making this planet a little bit more like heaven.
But friends, I need your help. (Work hard with us?)
Despite increasing our prices, we still dont have enough money
for our soaring printing costs. And we cant keep on raising our cover
price, or you will suffer.
Dearest reader, let me say it again: We need your love more than
ever.
Be our faithful fanand our faithful friendthrough these
diffcult times.
And we promise that well fnd better things to write about than
the singer who doesnt wear a bra, or the macho basketball player
whos really a queen and the starlet who sleeps naked.
Id rather talk about Gods overwhelming love for you.
I1
Id rather talk about how you can make your life more beautiful,
each day.
And together, well make this a better world to live in.
If you want to be my MISSION PARTNER in this work of spreading
Gods love to as many people as possible through media, fll in the
application form below and send it to our offce right away. Or call
Tel. 4117874 to 77 for more information.
KEEP IN TOUCH!
response sheet
Neme.
Kir|lie.
/iire::.
Ielejlere rtm|er[:].
9e|e :er|.
|meil eiire::.
Be our Mission Partners!
Ie:, | wer| |e |e q e mi::ier jer|rer eri |eteme ere el |le jeltl
people who share Gods Word to others!
| em willirj |e jire q I,JJJ q mer|ll q ere |ime
q Z,JJJ
q J,JJJ
MISSION PARTNER
Send this form to:
ShepherdS Voice publicationS, inc.
60 Chicago Street, Cubao, Q.C.
Tel. 411-7874 to 75
Fax 727-5615
E-mail: sale@shepherdsvoice.com.ph
I1&
DearReader,
I pray that this book helped you create more love in your
life.Ipraythatthroughthesepages,Godspoketoyouand
nourishedyourheart.
Ifyouwishtogivemeamessage,mye-mailaddressis
bomail@shepherdsvoice.com.phBecauseoftheamountof
mailwereceive,Imaynotbeabletorespondtoyou.ButI
dopromisetoreadyourmessage.
Ihopetoseeyouinoneofourgatheringsandseminars.
Call up our offce for details: Tel. (632) 411-7874 to 77.
MayHislovevanquisheveryareaofyourlife!
Iremainyourfriend,
I17
ABOUT TH E AUTHOR
BoSanchezstartedpreaching
attheageof13andwrotehis
frst book at the age of 20. He is
thepublisherandmainwriter
oftheKERYGMA, thenumber
oneinspirationalmagazinein
thecountry.Today,hecontinues
topreachtomillionsworld-
wide.Andforyearsnow,his
inspirationalbookshavenever
leftthetoptenlistofbestselling
booksofthecountry.
Hefoundedmanyorganizations,suchasAnawim,
aspecialhomefortheabandonedelderly,andShep-
herdsVoice, amediaministrythatpublishesthe
widestreadCatholicliteratureinthecountry.Healso
founded LightofJesusCommunityandtheLightof
JesusCounselingCenter.
But above all these, Bo believes that his frst call
fromGodistobealovinghusbandtohiswifeMa-
roweandadevotedfathertohissonBenedict.They
liveinManila,Philippines.
Visithimatwww.bosanchez.phandsubscribeto
receiveafreeinspirationalemailmessagefromhim
eachweek.
ISJ
ISI
ISZ

You Have The Power To Create Love

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You Have The Power To Create Love

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This beautiful book about creating love is the third

collection of the Boss articles from KERYGMA. Here,

YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CREATE LOVE

FAI LURES ARE N ECESSARY TO

If we dont like our

YOU CREATE YOUR OWN

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