Kwentong MRT 1

Today, I did something off and I am ashamed of it. Just when I thought I have overcome my "katarayan" days, I realized I have not. Yeah, there is still some arrogance in me that I have not shaken off. My "impatience" has resurfaced. And the reason behind all these? Gifts. CHRISTmas gifts. How petty and ironic noh?

I decided to go to the Pasay terminal as I am confused with the new bus stops for provincial buses. (Saan ba talaga maaaring magbaba at magsakay ng pasahero, Mr. Bayani Fernando?) Of course, taking the MRT is always my first option. Kaka-reload lang yata ng KitKat card ko (kung sino man meron nito, ok lang yan pero I would still recommend the stored value card -- mathematically-wise, di ok ang KitKat card). I did notice the sign about gifts being inspected but I did not pay attention. Sa isip ko, no, ndi nila bubuksan ang gifts ko. Literally, I was bringing a bag full of gifts, all unopened. Manong Guard cum Inspector saw my gifts syempre and asked me to open them. I refused (tigas ng ulo noh?). Well, he sensed my hard-headedness, he referred me to a "higher-ranking" inspector. I told the inspector these gifts would not cause harm and a litany of alibis. I even told him I do not open my gifts till Dec 25 (which is true naman talaga). In the end, I was so pissed off, I was forced to open some of my gifts (good thing some gifts were under the dirty clothes, hehehe). The guard told me that they were just doing their duty but I refused to listen because I was very angry (as I was holding on to my ideal of not opening my gifts til the 25th) and they let me go (with the other gifts still unopened). As I was waiting for the train, I felt really guilty. In that instance, 6 days before the Saviour's birth, the real meaning of Christmas is still not in my heart I always tell my family to go to confessions before going on a Christmas shopping but it is I who needs purity of heart. When I got home (4.5 hours of travel!!!! because of traffic), I relayed my experience to my family and my sister told me, it's in the news that gifts at MRT are indeed being checked to safeguard people and to prevent untoward incident just like the tragic Dec LRT bombing years ago.

Sigh*** With this event, I realized that many times in our lives, God also asks us to do something and we refuse because we are proud, thinking that our plans are better than His. We do not see that there is a greater purpose why we had to undergo difficulties.

Here's my song and prayer:
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Create in Me (Psalm 51)

Refrain:
Create in me a clean heart
Put a new and right spirit within me
Cast me not away from Your presence
And take not Your Holy Spirit from me (to Verse)

Have mercy on me, O God, in Your goodness
In Your compassion, blot out all my sin
Thoroughly cleanse me from all of my guilt
Wash me till I'm whiter than snow
(Refrain)

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
Uphold me with a willing spirit
So I will teach transgressors Your ways
And sinners will return to You
(Refrain)

You are pleased with sincerity of heart
Not with sacrifices or with holocausts
My sacrifice is a broken spirit
For You will not refuse a humble heart
(Refrain)

Coda:
Create in me a clean heart
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I've learned my lesson. Next time, I won't ride the MRT if I have gifts with me but more importantly, I should learn to treat people with love. As they say, Christmas is all about Jesus' birth and Jesus is L-O-V-E.

Merry CHRISTmas!!!