The Thief of my Heart

In every soul, there exists a depth so deep and a yearning so infinite that it is easier for some of us to push it away. To pretend the deeper recesses of our own hearts do not exist. When our hearts disturb us, when our souls are restless, we turn to objects of this world to give us consolation. When nothing makes sense and no one understands. As if anything could quench this yearning which unceasingly persists. We therefore harbour the wraped idea that the more we possess- be it in wealth, health, possessions or humanly love- the closer we are to solving this unsettling feeling in our innermost being. It is such that we will never be truly satisfied in collecting our little trophies of life. And any man, honest to himself, would know what i'm talking about.

Well, thank God for this seemingly insatiable thirst. With it, comes the need to search. Funny, as Business students, we know with certainty that every successful enterprise process begins with identifying a need and then searching for the very solution to fulfill that need ($@#%$#^#%&@#$ hey 2 and 1/2 years of education finally put to use). And it would be base should such a desire exist in us, if there could be nothing to satisfy it. And by God, with some soul- searching, we could come to the understanding that in Him alone will our souls ever find rest.

I take this opportunity (while i still feel motivated to write) to wish you a very blessed Good Friday.

If you have longed for unfailing love in your life, Good Friday is for you. If you ever thought to yourself that there has to be something more to life, Good Friday is for you. If you have ever believed in or desired for goodness of any form, Good Friday is yours. If you understand that love comes with sacrfices, then Good Friday, the greatest demonstration of love, is for you.

Here's a little story of my life:)

You see, my soul has been restless from birth (come on, who wasn't restless? I saw you throwing your pacifier away and scream for the candy. okay, that was actually me). The point is, i continue to be restles and recently i have forgotten what it is like to be able to just sit, be still and know that there is something greater than me. In crude words, i've been so busy trying to be holy, i have no time to live my friendship with God and with others. Life has caught up. An excuse as old as the world itself. Rituals and routines have become stale.

Earlier, the Veneration of the Cross caused me much distress because when the hymn "Were You There?" was being sung, i searched my heart and knew that i was not there at all. I have been walking away from the gruesome and beautiful scene of the crucifixion my whole life. Believing in such infinite Goodness comes with too much pain and humility. And it seems that i've been walking away from everyone in my life too:/ And then the second truth also hits me..that i was not alone in thinking and doing so.

It breaks my heart and i can imagine it must break His ever more. And yet...The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. A readily made reason given for us. For me, it is only in knowing that my God will never give up on me that keeps me going. Having a God who never gives up no matter how far i've strayed. For whom no mistake is unearasable. No sin unforgivable. To be able to start over and over again. To be picked up from the dirt.

I cannot find words, so i let the following picture say it for me.



There can be no words good enough to describe the measure of His love.
St Augustine says “If you were the only person on earth, Christ would have still suffered and died for you."

Again, no words are quite enough.

But i say this much. That anyone who reads the story of the Passion of Christ- whether or not he allows himself to trust there exists such immeasurable compassion and whether he studies it as a believer or otherwise- cannot deny at least one thing; that this Christ who loves infinitely..well, He has got style;) Showing the world how wrong their perceived right was, over-turning tables before it was mainstream, willingly stooping low when He was supposed to stand tall according to worldly standards, predicting His own death, understanding the frailty of His friends, crying out to the Father, granting the promise of Paradise like a boss, and saying heart-breaking things like "My God, why have you deserted me?" and "It is accomplished." (which, by the way, makes me think He could've sued the widely used tagline Mission Accomplished for plagiarism 2000 years later).

And He will go to all lengths, as He has already proven (not only today) to win our hearts. One who loves infinitely, who understands, who consoles, who looks death right in the eye. I don't know about you, but i know with certainty today that i cannot ask for a cooler friend and God. I pray it be the same for you.

So i ask you to tread lightly, because i'm telling you the greatest love story which ever lived (yes, step aside Shakespeare) and I hope that in searching for the very thing which can quench your heart's desires, you find It in your own time. Allow God to steal your heart.

Keeping you in prayers, whoever and wherever you are. Have a Good Friday, everyday.