WARNING: This blog was written with occasional dancing and head-banging to Toby Mac's Ignition and Boomin' from his latest album Portable Sounds, hence the Taglish style.

   Lately I have been subscribed with a series of hurting blogs from people in my blog list. It made me worry a bit. Nakakabasa ako ng mga hinaing (mas-harsh: reklamo) mula sa mga naloko, nagoyo, walang pera, iniwan ng best friend, bumagsak sa exam, feeling empty, nagse-self-pity, nasaktan sa sinabi ng iba, na-offend, napikon, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. But I saw a common denominator among these hurting entries. Every entry that received a comment got the you-are-not-alone in the world. So that means, someone in the exact planet in which you reside, has had that same thing happening to his or her life. Hmm… It reminds me of a verse in the Bible which said something like… um… you are experiencing what is only common to man… or… your brothers (and sisters) somewhere else is also experiencing that same exact thing… something like that.

   Now the worry I felt made me smile a bit… ok… a lot. I just thought, if these have been occurring throughout the world since long time ago, then it should be an old thing… luma, ika nga sa Filipino. Oo nga nooo?! These lies, deception, temptation, and accusations are old, boring techniques from a being who has a friggin' lack of creativity. Laos, bulok at walang originality ang style ni satan. That's how stupid he is. Can't even think of new ways. Ehw.

   Being kids of the Almighty who coined stuff like water, stars, comets, gravity, color, seasons, friendship, love, passion, and other things yet to be seen and discovered… where was I? Oh yes. Being kids of the only God who coined creativity, we should be able to recognize something we are not. When we hear a lie, or an accusation, or deception, or feel temptation, please be reminded, of who you are. Feeling alone? The Bible says there is a friend who sticks closer than a brotha. Got no cash? You Father says "[I] have plans to prosper you" and "...Iam ready to throw open the floodgates of heaven... " Feel like it's the end for you? God has "come that you may breathe NEW life!" And He does all those in new and amazing, never imaginable ways every day, for every kind of His diverse kids scattered throughout the complex sphere of earth, wind, water, and fire, which by the way Siya din ang gumawa. Haha. Astig no? Kaya sa bawat pagkakataon na tingin mo, parang nasasabi mong, "Teka, nangyari na 'to sa akin (or sa kilala ko) dati ah!", sana mabatid mong hindi ka na puedeng maloko sa pagkakataong ito. Think creative. After all, you were extravagantly, creatively made like crazeh!

They were everybody's friends. Joey Tribbiani, Phoebe Buffay, Chandler Bing(!), Monica Geller, Ross Geller, and Rachel Greene. For ten seasons, they stormed the TV's of gazillions of viewers from all around the world. They set the standard in comedy. They set the standard in humor.  They were F.R.I.E.N.D.S. I don't know about you, but to some extent, they set a standard in me about friendship.

These people do a lot of silly stuff. They get into trouble for some petty thing. But one thing I observed which they did, and i (so far) rarely see among people around me, is that they have a solid and genuine committment to never let each other down. By down, I do not mean disappoint, offend or fail. In fact, they fail and offend each other big time for most of the time. By down, I mean left alone in a corner. They trust each other that if a friend fails the other, the failing ends there and then. Then the strengthening of a friendship begins...again.

Some find them ideal. Some find them mushy. But hey, I would rather have these people-of-a-kind who accept each other for their quirks, strengths, weaknesses, past and future, because of genuine concern and compassion, not and never a smidgen of malice. Then I ask myself, would I rather be with these people or would I rather be with a Christian like me? It's a tough choice. But wait! Isn't a Christian supposed to be like that? Then there isn't a choice after all.

I hope that the friendship Christians have and have to offer is the friendship that would also set standards in relationships. I hope that the friendship Christians have and have to offer is the kind that everyone will want to have and want to imitate. I hope that the friendship Christians have and have to offer is the kind of friendship that will not only last for ten seasons, but will last until their ultimate Best Friend returns.

Matthew 5:16 says "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (New King James Version)

Yeah.