Musings of an Ordinary Christian (Part 3)

I must post this real quick after writing it before I begin to proofread--it might get sucked in the black hole of my incessant editing, being no authority on these topics and now claiming to be the most relatively apolitical in the circles I inhabit (Nothing to be proud of but nothing to be ashamed of either—that’s just me).

I Voted for God

Weeks before the elections, at the height of the campaign frenzy, I made an effort to pin down thoughts on my particular reason for voting: I need to have a stronger purpose than the mere exercise of suffrage to make it worth the 6-hour bus travel to my home province where I’m a registered voter. For those who ever spent a part of their lives in the provinces (i.e. country/rural areas), there is that noticeable sense of how hours seem to trickle more slowly than when they are in the fast-paced environs of cities, which are most often associated with the workplace. And May 14th was no exception. That day, even with the three o’clock closing of election precincts drawing near, I still felt that I had all the time in the world to catch up with my 91-year old lolo, pick and eat tree-ripened mangoes from our backyard. Plus, the much-needed respite from work makes it less appealing to trudge to the polling precincts. It was a muggy day, and it wasn’t difficult to think of better things to do than to jot down the names of people I hardly met or know, and be a hand in setting them up to either succor the common Filipino’s well-being or be among those who end up funneling the huge sum of taxes I and most employed Filipinos shell out regularly from our hard-earned pay into their already well-padded personal coffers.

But the main motivation to vote is condensed in this one question: Does my vote really matter? In other words, can a single ballot—a piece of paper specifying which political runners I cast my approval on—actually help change the course of our country’s economy? `There were, in fact, more blank lines than names written in my ballot, because I can’t bring myself to scribble names in it for reasons other than my conviction that they have the best abilities (note the relativistic term) to fulfill the responsibilities of their office and there honest and sincere motives to serve their fellow Filipinos.

Holding back prejudice and not succumbing to stereotypes, my thoughts transcend doubts and accede to the likelihood that there are still people who, out of good intentions, seek to be elected as public servant* to the other Filipinos. But just out of mere speculation, I can’t help but throw this query out in the air: Why don’t movie stars, actors (there’s a difference between the two: commercial vs. craft; but of course one can be both), athletes, and other celebrities—including the 15-minute famous—stick to show business, sports, or whatever gave them celebrity status in the first place? Surely the fame and money from these two trades are more than enough to satisfy ego, necessity and caprice. Do they think they make better political leaders than entertainers or athletes? Or is it because of the underlying pursuit of power? Isn’t power as intoxicating as money? For just like riches, power is a root of evil. And don’t political positions offer just that: power and prestige with money and fame?

While it ensures that the local media and entertainment mill keeps on churning, the issue of qualification, ability, morality, honesty, and authenticity of political candidates is merely a splinter of the yoke that burdens majority of Filipinos. Most recently, several incumbent officials are touting that, as a result of their hard work, the GDP and the Phil. Peso have gone up. Nonetheless, the prices of fossil fuel-based energy sources are also in an upswing. And then there are the escalated number of extrajudicial murders, politically related abductions (my heart simply goes out to the mother of an activist, whatever her son did for some people to think that he deserves to either die alive or live in death), the relentless accusations of election fraud, and the mainstays of the Philippine predicament: corruption, slothful law enforcement, the shoddy quality of education, and the mismanagement and abuse of natural resources.

This is the Filipino scenario. Like any regular Filipino and well-meaning human, I want to see a better snapshot of the Philippines. But focus your binoculars elsewhere and you get:
· The civil chaos in East Timor, which are signs of excruciating birth pangs and growing pains even five years after its birth as an independent nation.
· The blood-stained coals of China—the black gold of that country’s mining industry—being the more truthful and accurate witness to the life-for-profit barter that has been fueling the industrial metamorphosis of the Middle Kingdom, never mind the human rights and environmental ramifications.
· The diplomatic and political muddle that is the war in Iraq. (Can’t make that much comment since it’s become personal for us—an uncle and two cousins were there, recalled into active duty as an Army, a Marine, and an Airman respectively.)
· The heartbreaking saga of hostility and turmoil in Darfur and Sudan that is spilling over the neighboring state of Chad.
· The escalating ferocity of the internal conflict between the Sunnis and the Shi’ites (the two major factions within Islam) in the Middle East that has already undermined and defiantly thwarted the U.S. and its allies’ efforts to promote order (if not, the long sought for “peace”) in the region and has promptly bulldozed into shambles the hope of building a stable Iraq in the near future.
· The ‘universal’ environmental crisis popularly known as global warming.
· Poverty—arguably the silent plague of the 20th and 21st centuries. An estimated eight million die each year from hunger, meaning that people pass away just because they are too poor to eat, and this figure only pertains to the more or less documented ones.
(And other less known but equally significant events and dilemma of the human suffering)

Without undermining the enormity of these tribulations that beset many countries around the globe, the reality is that, as followers of Christ, these are not our foremost concerns. What I’m saying is that both nationality and (political/geographical) citizenship are only elements making up our identity. The fact that I’m Filipino is an element of my identity, just like my skintone, my inherent personality, my gifts, etc.—and wherever I go and find myself these will always be a part of me, of who I am. My core identity is that of the beloved of God (to paraphrase Henri Nouwen), redeemed by Yeshua Adonai and now His co-worker (by His grace), a citizen of heaven, among others. I didn’t have a choice where I’d be born or who my parents are. But I can choose to be grateful to God or to trust in Him for what He has given me and where He has placed me at this point in my life.

And here is another question: Which is easier to accomplish, winning a hardened heart for God or eradicating poverty and pollution? (sana parang ganon sa mga tanong ni Jesus sa mga taong nakasalamuha niya. Genius talaga si Jesus sa art of questioning at sa lahat ng bagay. Idol na idol ko Siya!) To humans, both are unattainable to say the least, as we desperately need the Holy Spirit to do anything of value, particularly those with eternal repercussions. (Of course some unbelievers are immensely talented and have achieved a lot. But isn’t God the One who made them and gave them these abilities?)

Bill Gates and Bono maybe right about poverty and AIDS, as well as Al Gore and Leo di Caprio on pollution and global warming—but only in part. (Hmm, a scientist-businessman and a rockstar/musician; a politician-author and a movie star/actor—pretty interesting tandems). Didn’t Jesus say that the poor will always be with us? Yet he also said to never turn down anyone who asks for relief and to show them His love by helping them. Perhaps the needy were made ubiquitous across eras and places to remind us of our own poverty—that people are essentially impoverished and lacking in every way (save for appearances) apart from Christ. Isn’t our God bigger than any of these seemingly enormous and insurmountable challenges that face mankind? Didn’t the Scriptures say:
“15 Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.
16 Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires, nor its animals enough for burnt offerings.
17 Before him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing. Isaiah 40:13-17, (NIV)

More relevant verses come to mind. Passages that pertain to the bigger truth about our citizenship, the prescribed way of living given the present dual nature of our ‘residency,’ and our current responsibilities to the political/geographical countries we have been placed in. (Mat 17:24-27, 22:15-21; Rom 13:1-7; 2 Tim 2:3-7; 1 Pe 2:11-20; Phil 3:17-20; Eph 2:19; 2 Pe 3:11, etc) They’ve always reminded me that my foremost allegiance is to my Liege and Lord God who is the President, King, Emperor, Tsar, Chancellor, Prince Regent, Prime Minister, etc. of the one enduring nation in heaven comprised of Christ’s church—us.

So which do we pour our attention and energies on? Not that one is more imperative than the other, just the proverbial two sides of a coin: when individuals die because of “preventable” hunger, more souls will probably miss out on the opportunity to hear the gospel (given that there are people willing to reach out to where the impoverished are). And when species of plants and animals become extinct, and the environment in general are neglected and exploited, we disregard our Creator’s mandate to be good stewards of the rest of His creation. (Hence, the integrative-holistic ministry of the Navs and its slogan)

We’re sure that Christ will emerge as the ultimate Victor in the ancient grand war with the enemy and evil. But right now, the battle is within and without. It’s up to each of us to choose to be part of it. I’ve just described a tiny portion of our external battlefield. A good example of the battle inside is Abby Sison’s account of how she overcame her initial unease (et al) to communicate the gospel to some strangers. This is reminiscent of the instances when I have to overcome my innate timidity to obey the Holy Spirit’s prodding to naturally interweave the gospel in my conversations with people I meet everyday. It’s also like choosing not to gripe against my (former) bosses when the rest are doing just that or to complain about my job situation. (And so goes the list...)

For me, casting my vote is within the concept of living out the gospel as a way of conveying it to those close to us and to those that we meet in the busy, lonely, arduous streets of life. Thus, I voted not because I’m one who is certain that my words or deeds can actually produce a considerable dent in the armor of evil and the enemy. I try to do things (in God’s strength) because it is aligned to the will of God and that we trust Him to do the impossible and change people’s hearts and bring them back to Him.

And voting is also a lot like Rebooked (halata na yata na under orders kami ni boss Roovin na kung ano man ang isulat o i-post namin, dapat ang lusot at labas ay Rebooked pa rin J Peace kapatid!) It may seem that endeavors like Rebooked by ordinary people like us are, well, a drop in the bucket. But a kid who picks up one important lesson from reading the books we delivered to them is a huge deal already.
There's a chorus of a song that somehow gives me a smile when a sense of futility threatens to intimidate:
“Like sand on a mountain,
Rain on a fountain,
Shade on a shadow,
A breeze in a tornado
Just do what you can
Clap with one hand
And shine all your light in the sun.”

And so I post this as a bigger reminder to myself. And it goes with saying: so help me God, so help us God.

* It’s ‘public servant’ not ‘public lord’ right? Ano kaya ang nasa isip ng nag-coin ng phrase na ito? Siguro hindi pa siya nakarating sa Pilipinas .