I have
a couple of questions for you.
Can you
imagine yourself taking a bath only once a month?
You’ll
freak out, right? But let’s say there’s a water shortage and a
presidential decree was issued that showers can only be taken every thirty
days—with a maximum of two gallons of water for each Filipino per bath.
(Out of our ingrained hospitality, foreigners are allowed to use two-and-a-half
gallons.)
Entering into an air-conditioned
room or bus will be a nightmare, as various toxic odors will hang so thickly in
the air, it may coagulate into gel form.
Prayer meetings will prohibit the
lifting of hands.
The basketball ring will be
lowered to four feet.
And I presume that an accidental
spark in a crowded elevator will be fatal, as the fumes of a sweating humanity
will be flammable by that time.
Too
gross for you? Let’s change the topic.
What would
it be like if you brushed your teeth only once a year?
Let’s
say some loony scientist discovered that the up and down motion of brushing
teeth has a direct impact to the thinning of the ozone layer. (Who
knows?) So brushing of teeth has been banned by legislative decree number
9002—except on New Year’s eve. That is the only day you can brush your
teeth.
Imagine
how thick your mouth will feel by November.
Think
with me. Let’s say you’re out on a romantic date on December. Not
much kissing will take place, believe me. And as you look at your
beautiful damsel, you notice a bit of green lettuce jutting between her teeth.
So
you tell her, “I know what you had for lunch this morning.”
“What pre-tell?” she teases
you.
“Lettuce!” you grin.
She chuckles, “You’re
wrong! That’s what I ate last March!”
Ah, these situations will
be quite normal.
My
message?
That you
and I do more deranged things than bathing monthly and brushing teeth annually.
For
example, when we do not forgive others everyday.
Our bodies need regular washing because we get dirty everyday. But so do
our hearts! Because each day, people hurt us, offend us, forget us, snub
us, step on us, reject us. But if we choose to forgive everyone everyday,
we cleanse our hearts! We wake up the next morning refreshed and pure and
lovely!
Some people however will not wash
themselves from the hurts of each day but rather accumulate them week after
week, month after month, year after year. Perhaps in some annual Holy
Week retreat, they decide to forgive all their enemies. Perhaps when
someone close to them dies, they remember to cancel debts and live for
something more noble—rather than collecting bitterness.
But without these rare
events, they just become filthier each day.
Their spirits begin to
smell.
And their stench becomes
flammable.
For these people, hell
begins now.
Do for your soul what you
do for your body.
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