Soultales In Parallel Universes...

The god of surprises did it again. But first, it was not an easy route. Life must really be tough, i thought. I was thinking about the old days. When inhabitants of these islands had to trek through thick forests and endless heights on foot. It felt like moving up was unstoppable. Gee, i thought, when it's easy to go up, it must not be difficult to fall down. Falling, after all, is an art, so they say. That thought was meant to comfort me. And it did. My mind wandered about, while my eyes rolled here and there. You seem to be looking for something, he asked. No, I'm observing, I snapped. I'm trying to look for a jacaranda tree. It's my kind of an uncommon tree. I was trained to be observant in my College days. A scientist, they say, should have a sensitive eye. And a sensing heart, I countered. As a people we love to concoct mixtures, dilute fluids, dream up recipes. It makes of our culture. See, halo-halo, kare-kare, pito-pito, and so on. I love to challenge my self with preparing a delicious blend of science, spirituality, economics, and arts. This is what makes up life. This is what I see around me. Particularly on this zigzag road to Nakar, Quezon. A road symbolic of a new path I am carving...

I never expected this was going to happen. I was invited to a team-building session of my new colleagues. I was extremely grateful, because I know by this gesture that I have been accepted by the group. Wonderful indeed. I prepared myself to savor a long list of structured activities, that should be rigidly followed. I was expecting to meet a Director who would give instructions on assigning people to do this and to do that. A bolt from the blue it was, and all expectations failed. Great. This is what leaves one in utter wonderment. I suppose nobody in the group noticed but I was truly relieved when I learned that there was no schedule and no structure at all. (You know how it feels? When before a class in Calculus your professor says, yes class no quiz today. Whew. I can continue reading my novel while he solves the problems of the world on the chalkboard.) But amazement comes in all shapes, colors, forms, and sizes. You know how it feels when you're new in a group, right? There is just no word in the dictionary for that. There were epiphanies and revelations. Humanity is celebrating in that moment in time. In that piece of space in this Universe nine human beings danced, sang, cooked, moved their beings to the extreme. It was not difficult for me to fit in to this hallowed space. This is Life rejoicing...

The Hut By The Sea was perfect. Rustic is perfection. To taste life at its best, I need to bow, bend, almost kiss the earth to touch its beauty. To savor its sweetness, I yield to Earth's call of madness. In the mundane things that being-ness offers, I receive with gladness. Every little encounter in the three days and two nights by the sea, was pregnant with meaning. Ready to give birth to newness. Nature's generosity was overwhelming...the breaking dawn...sunset beyond the Sierra Madre...sticks and stones...driftwood...toiling fisherfolk...the toad in the room...the lone egret...three hungry dogs...and a friendly cat...bounty from the sea...the fern salad...the starry, starry night (no wonder Van Gogh went mad)...I can go mad...this is madness for longing for wisdom hidden in the simple. For it is in the simple that the god of surprises dwells...

go gently through life...