Valentines Day

Yup, it’s that time of the month again.

I don’t know if you noticed this but every year the hype on Valentines Day goes nowhere but up. It’s being too sensationalized by the mainstream and social media where in fact as far as I can remember during the late 90’s to early 2000’s:

“Hindi naman ganito dati yung hype nung bata ako ah”

I don’t know, maybe it’s just me or probably when I was younger I was not really thinking about those kind of stuff. But now, It’s just that everywhere I go and look people are going above the ‘right amount of crazy’ when it comes to this day.

I get it. Everybody wants and deserves to be loved. I too want and need to be loved. Being loved and loving someone is one of the greatest things that one can have and do in his or her life.

BUT…

If at this moment you do not have a special someone, a wife, a fiance, a boyfriend, girlfriend… Or if you just feel unloved, remember:

1 John 3:16 NIV

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”

Jesus loves you. He loves you so much that He was willing to die for you and your sins. He loves you so much that even if you do not deserve it, he still did it. I pray that this Valentines day you will never feel unloved and I hope that this verse will not just be a lame excuse for you because you have no date or a significant other on this day.

Oh and by the way, check out the 2nd part of the verse. If you do not a date then as a suggestion why not try to do some ARK or Act of Random Kindness to other people who need to be loved as well? You can offer your time, give something or if you have an extra, donate some monetary support.

How? Check out this links:

http://www.obphil.com/v2/volunteer

http://www.facebook.com/obphil

OhMyGoshISuddenlyMissWritingMoreThanTheUsual*

Well, feature writing at least.

This is Ondoy’s fault.

It was during that time when I was given the opportunity to write articles for the NGO that I was working for, Operation Blessing Foundation Philippines. I kinda (?) know I had a knack for writing but it really didn’t crossed my mind that I can  make it a passion.

Man, I just realized that it has been over 4 months since I volunteered as a writer. My last article was way back last August telling about the bayanihan spirit after the habagat. It was a fun experience, the kind of experience that you cannot have on having am 8-5 schedule.

Anyway, I am writing this because I just really want to pass the time and my big head is overflowing with words, thoughts, creativity (?), and a lot of senselessness. Maybe you’re asking what are the benefits of being a volunteer, yup, not just as a writer but as a volunteer. Here are some of a few.

>> You get to meet new friends – Well, I’ll be the new new model for the Forever Alone meme if not for volunteering. Recently I tried to check my list of friends in Facebook (yes, I personally know them all) and I saw that most of them I met while volunteering or while they are volunteering when I became a regular staff on the NGO I mentioned above. Some of them I got really close with and we do fellowship from time to time. It’s awesome to have friends like these people whom you have a thing or two in common: Serving God by Serving other people.

>> You hone your skills and learn new ones – I started as a Livelihood project Coordinator then as a helper in the pharmacy area during medical missions, and lastly I was able to find what I love, writing. I also became a huge-event-coordinator-that-fed-5000-families, donation pick-upper (if there’s such a word) and many other things. Oh and you get to be called “doc” and “pastor” too, which I am both not. 

>> You get free advice and consultations – This one, I love. You know well that it’s quite expensive to get a medical/professional consultation. When you’re in a medical mission it’s a given that you’ll be surrounded by medical professionals and counselors, so why not grab the opportunity if  you’re feeling something in your body that’s not normal, go and ask the doctors! If you are having issues and personal problems, go ask the pastors/counselors! They won;t say no (as long as there is free time). Oh and you get to be prayed for as a bonus.

>> Your faith increases – Let me give  you an example to be simple. Doctors/Nurses are professionals, they get paid for their services/expertise. Now, ask them to volunteer for a week-long mission. They say yes, knowing that they have to sacrifice a week of earning money just to serve the people who some, do not have the capability of earning money. Seeing these people makes your faith increase, because they too have the faith to make time to do these things, knowing that whatever lack they’ll have will be replenished by God.

Still think volunteering sucks?

Check their website: http://www.obphil.com

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/obphil

*As of this writing, all of our tools/software are currently being updated is I thought I’ll use the spare time to write something.