Lenten Reflection: Missing the Wonderful
19 Feb 2024
In the late 80’s, a teen film titled “Some Kind of Wonderful” became well-liked and well-received by the generation that watched it. It’s a story of how Watts was secretly in love with her male best friend who was in turn, with her help, trying to win the affection of the most popular girl in school. This kind of story is usual but it never fails to tug at our hearts when we see someone like Watts pining for this person who never notices her and who misses the good and beautiful things, even sacrifices, that she does for the one she loves. The ‘wonderful’ happens when he finally comes to his senses and returns her affection.
Like Keith in that movie, we may be missing out on what’s just right in front of us – help that was extended which we took for granted, a quiet yet consoling presence we did not acknowledge, a good deed that we did not notice because we were busy rushing through our day. It is understandable that in the hustle and bustle of everything that’s going on around us, we may fail to pay attention. This Lenten Season, then, invites us to pause more, to look around, and to really gaze at what is there. Beauty, consolation and freedom are everywhere because of that Man who has made all these possible for us with His love.
What may you be missing and not seeing? How can you be more mindful of God’s presence? Where can you pay more attention to realize how beloved you are? The symbol of the cross is all around us. May we allow it to move us to deeper awareness and dependence on what is right in front of us: the Father who is pining over us when we choose others flashier and more popular than Him, the Lord who waits patiently as we ignore what he offers and even His sacrifice, the Lover who wishes all kinds of wonderful for us until His very last breath.
Noong 80’s, kinatuwaan at naibigan ng henerasyong nanood nito ang pangkabataang pelikula na “Some Kind of Wonderful”. Salaysay ito ng kung paano lihim na may pagtingin ang bidang babaeng si Watts sa kanyang kaibigang lalaki na abala namang makuha ang pansin ng mas sikat na kamag-aral nila gamit pa ang kanya mismong tulong. Pangkaraniwan naman ang ganitong istorya subalit laging may kurot sa ating puso habang pinapanood kung paanong nananabik ang mga tulad ni Watts dahil sa hindi napapansin ang mabubuting gawa at sakripisyo nila para sa kanilang minamahal. Nagaganap ang ‘wonderful’ o kamangha-mangha kapag natauhan na ang iniibig.
Gaya ni Keith sa pelikula, maaaring may mga hindi tayo napapansin bagamannasa harapan na mismo natin – tulong na ipinagkaloob na nabalewala,tahimik subalit nakapapanatag na presensya na hindi natin kinilala,isang mabuting gawa na hindi natin napansin sapagkat aligaga tayo saating araw. Kauna-unawa na sa kaguluhan ng lahat ng nangyayari saating paligid ay hindi natin mapuna. Kung kaya itong Panahon ngKuwaresma ay isang paanyaya na higit na huminto, tumingin, at tunayna tumitig sa kung anong naririto. Napapalibutan tayo ng kariktan,kapanatagan at kalayaan dahil sa Kanya na nagsakatuparan ng mga itobunga ng pag-ibig para sa atin.
Ano kaya ang maaaring di mo napapansin at nakikita? Paano ka higit namagiging malay sa presensya ng Diyos? Saan ka kinakailangang mastumuon upang mapagtanto kung gaano kang minamahal? Kaliwa’t kananang simbolo ng krus. Nawa tulutan nating mabunsod tayo nito sa masmalalim na pagmamalay at pagsandig sa nasa piling na natin: ang Amangnananabik sa atin kapag pinipili natin ang ibang mas makinang attanyag kaysa sa Kanya, ang Panginoon na matiyagang naghihintaysamantalang tinatalikuran natin ang Kanyang mga handog at maging angKanyang pagdurusa, ang Mangingibig na naghahangad para sa atin nglahat ng bagay na kamangha-mangha hanggang sa huli Niyang paghinga.
#aihlentenreflections #ateneoishome