March 31, 2011

Oratio Imperata

just blog-hopped and started dreaming of summer back home, beaches and swimming frenzy...

but alas, my heart is troubled. eversince the tsunami that hit Japan, I could not stay still. i keep fearing of a time when a calamity will hit my country, especially where my family is, and I am not there with them. it is so hard to be away from our loved ones and even small news of bad things happening to people we know, or not know at all, is enough to keep us teetering on our toes fearful that the next one to meet such ill fate may be a loved one.

makes me long for home all the more.

may I offer the following prayer, lifted from my prayer book, Straight from the Heart,


The Oratio Imperata: A Prayer in Times of Calamities, Deluge and Pestilence.

Almighty Father,
we raise our hearts to you
in gratitude for the wonders of creation
of which we are part,
for your providence
in sustaining us in our needs,
and for your wisdom
that guides the course of the universe.

We acknowledge our sins
against you and the rest of creation.
We have not been good stewards of Nature.
We have confused your command
to subdue the earth.

The environment is made to suffer
by our wrongdoing,
and now we reap the harvest
of our abuse and indifference.

Global warming is upon us.
Typhoons, floods, volcanic eruption,
and other natural calamities occur
in increasing the number and intensity.

We turn to you, our loving Father,
and beg forgiveness for our sins.

We ask that we, our loved ones
and our hard earned possessions
be spared from the threat of calamities,
natural and man-made.

We beseech you to inspire us all
to grow into responsible stewards
of your creation, and generous neighbors
to those in need.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

March-ing Out

The month is Marching out already. Sandstorms are signs that the weather's a-changing. Kuwait is pretty much hit by serious sandstorms these past few days. But not here in Dubai. It's getting cold at sundown. And that's another of the tell-tale signs for changing weather. Soon the air is going to be hot at any time of day.

This is one of those times when i start dreaming of our Philippine beaches. Hooo...