Blog

Dear friends,

Typhoon Ompong (Mangkhut) left the country just this weekend but wreak havoc in northern Philippines. It was Signal 4 (about 205km/hr) in the eye of the storm, and it was Category 10 in Hongkong (the highest signal that they can give) when it slammed in their shores.

What can we learn from this typhoon?

First, it reminded us that even in this technologically-advanced world, there are so many things that we cannot control.

We are so enamored with the idea that every thing can be remote controlled, Googled, clicked by a mouse or can be tapped in an app. The typhoon reminds us that we have to surrender our lives to God who is the Creator of this world.

Second, it reminded us that we sometimes need a life-threatening event to be closer to God.

We sometimes forget God when everything is smooth sailing. Just like the disciples, we need a tempest to “force” us to come to Jesus, and declare that we need help. Why not declare that every day we need God in our lives. The reality is that we are always helpless without God.

Third, it reminded us on what is valuable.

We accumulate many things and think that our value is related to the things that we have. We work so hard to the detriment of our health, and we have less time for our family. When a typhoon strikes or when flood comes, we began to refocus and realize that our life is valuable, and the time spent with our family is priceless. As Jesus said in Matthew 6, “Life is more important than things.” As my late grandfather used to say, “The important things in life are not things.”

May God bless us all!

Sincerely,

Rev. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on

Director
Office of Communications
Central Philippine University