DNA in Manila

Little Annoyances

Somebody forwarded me an email about how some people lived during the 9/11 attacks in the US because of little annoyances. There was this one person’s story about wearing new shoes to work that day. He got blisters on his foot that he had to stop at a drugstore to buy Band-Aid. That’s why he wasn’t in his office in the World TradeCenter when it collapsed.

I am in a “waiting” stage of my life. Waiting for one thing that will enable my family to move forward with our plans. But somehow little annoyances keep surfacing that delay our plans. It is frustrating and depressing! And it is incapacitating me.

I feel like my life is on hold. I feel like a sprint runner, in position, just waiting for the gun to go off. And in the meantime, I cannot do anything else but wait.

I don’t know what to think anymore. I just go on with my daily routine, mechanically doing things without really thinking, or feeling. I’ve even given up trying to understand why all these delays are happening. I’ve gone past the stage of sadness. I just don’t feel anything anymore. Period. It’s like I’ve stopped feeling, living...

So when I read that email, I tried to put myself in the same position. It says there to thank God for all of life’s little annoyances. There is a reason for everything.

I tried to comprehend what is the reason for my life’s little annoyances. But no matter how I much I wrack my brain for answer, nothing comes to mind.

Then it occurred to me that this is a perfect example of testing your faith. You just have to trust. A good friend of mine said faith should be our strongest when we are at our weakest. I couldn’t agree more.

Nobody knows all the answers to life’s mysteries. There is a reason for everything. We may not know the reason at the moment, or may never find out at all. But there is a reason. One just has to believe. And so that’s what I’ve been telling myself - have faith. Believe that everything that's happening now is all for the best. Anyway, God will never give one problems He knows one cannot bear.

And in the meantime, I have to do what I have to do. Take one day at a time. Occupy myself with enriching activities. Do productive things. Gain new experiences. Meet up with friends. Renew acquaintances. Appreciate the people around me and cherish every moment we share together. Go on with life. Just go on living…

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