Just a meter away

He was there…and I am here…just a meter away.

He was tall and darkened by the heat of the sun from his daily trove in the fields of Tampakan just to earn the living for his family. Until, one day with no expectations he was arrested and led to where his house now – the South Cotabato Rehabilitation and Detention Center. He is one of the more than 800 boarders of the said center. His name was Mang amando. A grandfather to his grandaugther from his only son. He said he was boarded in the institution for not complying to a contract.

He was there…and I am here…just a meter away still. But, I just felt the presence of a father so alone, so weakened by days and weeks and months of longing for his loved ones. I felt the love of a friend from this stranger I just know. He confided me the things that is happening in the center as if I am that trustworthy to keep his little secrets. With these, I realized we are the same. He is still a man and not some mischievous monster ready to devour the flesh of mine which I adore as so pure and precious than theirs. How proud I am as I enter the center. But, how ashamed I am as I bid them farewell for they seem to be more human. For they pose true signs of hope in the Lord in which mine a hiprocrisy of stage plays.

Simply as our time to depart comes to a close, he gave me his little flower made of drinking straw. At no cost he gave me this little treasure in where he live up his life now. I in turn took it and appreciated it feeling ashamed for not doing my part of bringing something for him. I apologized for not bringing something but then he expressed himself consoling me:  “What is important my son is your presence and your visit.”

He was there…and I am here…just a meter away still…but I can feel my heart beating for the heart of this saint. This saint of conversion.

11 Fascinating Quotes from Elizabeth of the Trinity Everyone Should Read

Tap into the heart of our newest Carmelite saint, Elizabeth of the Trinity. Add more in our comment box below.

1. “Make my soul…Your cherished dwelling place, Your home of rest. Let me never leave You there alone, but keep me there all absorbed in You, in living faith, adoring You.”

2. “May my life be a continual prayer, a long act of love.”

3. “May nothing distract me from You, neither noise nor diversions. O my Master, I would so love to live with You in silence. But what I love above all is to do Your will, and since You want me still to remain in the world, I submit with all my heart for love of You. I offer you the cell of my heart; may it be Your little Bethany. Come rest there; I love you so…I would like to console You, and offer myself to You as a victim. O my Master, for You, with You.”

4. “It seems to me that I have found my heaven on earth, because my heaven is you, my God, and you are in my soul. You in me, and I in you – may this be my motto.”

5. “What a joyous mystery is your presence within me, in that intimate sanctuary of my soul where I can always find you, even when I do not feel your presence. Of what importance is feeling? Perhaps you are all the closer when I feel you less.”

6. “Make my soul…Your cherished dwelling place, Your home of rest. Let me never leave You there alone, but keep me there all absorbed in You, in living faith, adoring You.”

7. “Here in Carmel, there is nothing, nothing but God. He is all, He suffices, and one lives for Him alone and for His glory… this life of prayer and contemplation, interceding always for His people before the Face of God…”

8. “My mission in heaven will be to draw souls, helping them to go out of themselves to cling to God, with a spontaneous, love-filled action, and to keep them in that great interior silence which enables God to make his mark on them, to transform them into himself.”

9. “A soul united to Jesus is a living smile that radiates Him and gives Him.”

10. “I can’t find words to express my happiness. Here there is no longer anything but God. He is All; He suffices and we live by Him alone.”

11. “Believe that He loves you. He wants to help you Himself in the struggles which you must undergo. Believe in His Love, His exceeding Love.”