My First European Polish Christmas

The Christmas celebration is fairly done globally, but not in the Philippines yet. I recall seeing homes, shopping malls, companies and establishments with christmas lights and decors already up around of October in the Philippines. Filipinos are overly enthusiastic and in love of this season maybe because of the strong influenced by (the) Catholicism and other Christian denominations.
Personally, I view christmas as the celebration of Christ born in this planet though December wasn't the accurately exact date of Christ birthdate. However, I find it such a great celebrations that promotes happiness & unity among Filipino people.
This has been my second lonely christmas abroad, firstly was in Thailand. I'd say it was the saddest season I had since Thailand doesn't celebrate christmas because it's a buddhist country. Long before I could think of another christmas away from home, my fate has just brought me to a farthest country that for sure celebrated my favorite season of the year.
Poland is in eastern part of Europe, a cold country filled with history, but I won't tell stories about it though. I always dream of a white and snowy christmas and Poland is the perfect country that fits to my dream. Sadly, christmas has just over ,yet, the weather isn't fair this time which it supposed to be snowy early of December.
I spent most of Christmas day facing my laptop and listening to various christmas songs that took me to different places and different times of my life. Clouds of emotions filled my chest and gone up, eventually watered my eyes. Memories started to flash back and soon fell down and enveloped my mind. Every tune of the christmas songs that played had taken my emotions to be more dramatically sensitive that tickled me to rekindle the sweet memories, reminiscing the beautiful moments in my life while I was with my family and friends back in the Philippines.
When this season comes that's when I miss my parents the most. I am this longingness in my heart that one day soon that I'll be with my parents together in one home celebrating christmas.
It is honestly so hard celebrating christmas with few people around me especially in the absence of my parents. The more I could feel the sadness when Polish people doesn't much seriously celebrated different to the environment that I've known.
I didn't even see the full view of how they celebrate it as a catholic nation. Better yet, I spent my christmas just as it was and partially observed how the Polish family did it. Thanks to my Pinay friend and her extended Polish family forcing me to stay and celebrate with them till noche buena hour came. Without them, I might have my first lone christmas in Europe. The food that was served was fantastic and traditionally Polish.

The Way that He Loves

Been blog absent for a while, I failed to update here due to some unavoidable circumstances. These past few weeks were truly toxic. I've been stressed and is still recuperating for now, the cause that I couldn't even make a few dash in here nor think of any words to write or gather any thoughts in mind.
I miss blogging and since I started to have one, this blogsite of mine has been my rendezvous and a shock absorber of sort, everytime I want to cry out and unload my burden. Speaking of burden, I came across of an old song or let say a hymn that I used to hear when I was a kid. It flashed back in my mind the days that I was still a new converted Christian. Thanks to a new pal, who just sang it by chance. Sometimes, songs or music are good remedies to cure the brokenness in us.
The song that I am talking about is a religious song, of course, an old Christan song that slowly heals the damage done by stressful errands. It tells that the Love of God never fails and it's everlasting.
It will always be in my memories believing the way that God loves is like a sweet rose that provided beauty and aroma.



THE WAY THAT HE LOVES

The way that He loves is as fair as the day
That blesses my way with love
The way that He loves is as soft as the breeze
Carressing the trees at night

VERSE 2
So tender and precious is He
Contented with Jesus I’ll be
The way that He loves is so thrilling because
His love reaches even me

VERSE 3
The way that He loves is as deep as the sea
His spirit shall be my stay
The way that He loves is as pure as a rose
Much sweeter He grows each day

VERSE 4
His peace hovers near like a dove
I know there’s a heaven above
To Jesus I’ll cling, life’s a wonderful thing
Because of the way He loves

The Paradox of Our Age

I read this poem a long time ago that touched me and moved me in some way everytime I read it. It touches my soul and sometimes it gives me some sort of insight and different thoughts to ponder. With this poem, I've been able to stop and realize just how small I have donely good in life and how I should I try that much harder to be happy, understanding and tolerant. This moving piece has been an inspiration for me to be more appreciative for all that I have every day in life.
The essay appeared under the title "The Paradox of Our Age" in Words Aptly Spoken, Dr. Moorehead's 1995 collection of prayers, homilies, and monologues used in his sermons and radio broadcasts.



THE PARADOX OF OUR TIME IN HISTORY IS THAT ...
We have taller buildings ... but shorter tempers;
Wider freeways ... but narrower viewpoints.
We spend more ... but have less;
We buy more ... but enjoy it less.
We have bigger houses ... but smaller families;
More conveniences ... but less time;

We have more degrees ... but less sense;
More knowledge ... but less judgment;
More experts ... but more problems;
More medicine ... but less wellness.

We drink too much,
Smoke too much,
Spend too recklessly,
Laugh too little,
Drive too fast,
Get angry too quickly,
Stay up too late,
Get up too tired,
Read too seldom,
Watch TV too much,
And pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions ...
But reduced our values.
We talk too much, love too seldom ...
And hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living ...
But not a life.
We've added years to life ...
But not life to years.

We've been all the way to the moon and back ...
But have trouble crossing the street
To meet the new neighbor.

We've conquered outer space ...
But not inner space.
We've done larger things ...
But not better things.

We've cleaned up the air ...
But polluted the soul.
We've split the atom ...
But not our prejudice.

We write more ...
But learn less.
We plan more ...
But accomplish less.
We've learned to rush ...
But not to wait.

We have higher incomes ...
But lower morals.
We have more food ... but less appeasement;
More acquaintances ... but fewer friends;
More effort ... but less success.


We build more computers to hold more information,
To produce more copies than ever ...
But have less communication.
We've become long on quantity ...
But short on quality.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion;
Tall men, and short character;
Steep profits, and shallow relationships.

These are the times of world peace ...
But domestic warfare.
More leisure ... and less fun;
More kinds of food ... but less nutrition.
These are days of two incomes ... but more divorce;
Of fancier houses ... but broken homes.

These are days of quick trips,
Disposable diapers,
Throwaway morality,
One-night stands,
Overweight bodies,
And pills that do everything ...
From cheer ...
To quiet ...
To kill.

It is a time when there is much in the show window ...
And nothing in the stockroom.

Indeed it's all true.

Think about it ... read this again.

~ Dr. Bob Moorehead ~