CTALK By Cito Beltran
Monday, June 2, 2008
The current preaching series in our church is about the biblical character Jonah and this week’s service focused on being in the belly of the whale. In many ways Filipinos are like Jonah who perpetually run from the idea of doing what is right or getting involved. We often think that we have more important things to do or that most people don’t care or won’t change anyway.
In the same manner our levels of self-righteousness exceeds sanity to the point that we can justify being tax evaders or law-breakers because others do it especially those in government. Like Jonah we cannot even comprehend why we should be part of any attempt or any solution to bring change or lead by example.
This perhaps is one possible explanation how a country with so many churches and religious people can be one of the poorest and most corrupt country in the world. Those who are suppose to teach and mentor churchgoers spend more time making political pronouncement or commentaries and performing like monkeys dancing to the sick o’clock news.
They promote equality and fairness at other peoples’ expense, they show charity from the charity given by others, they vilify and attack the sins of the national government but are blind to the prostitution and whorehouses of their allies in local government. They give sermons on obedience but challenge government programs resulting in more poverty and greater disrespect for authority.
Come to think of it, once you really analyze the book of Jonah, it almost looks like the national business plan.We proudly wear our faith on our sleeves like Jonah who called himself a Hebrew who served the Living God, yet when called to serve and obey, he skipped town and sailed south.
We are either: Catholics who dislike Christians, Christians who distrust Muslims, or Muslims who despise both Catholics and Christians. In general our behavior would be an embarrassment when it comes to our driving, civic duties such as paying taxes, and the worst of it all is the foul language that comes from our mouths when we express our opinion about people in politics and government.
Everyday, there are a few thousand Filipinos who skip town. The pretext is to get a job, to get a higher paying job or to immigrate to the US , Canada , Australia or some civilized place. While the general motivation is economic, a large number will never admit that they simply want to get away from the reality, the responsibility and the challenge, the same challenge that many of us still face and often overcome.
The rest would rather be by themselves and just send money than deal with parenting, parents and their spouse. They simply want to get away from it all. They want to chase the dream or cash in on the promise.Unfortunately we are either in the boat or in the belly of the whale.While I have spent many days at sea or by the sea, one thing I don’t enjoy and never like to be in is a boat in the middle of a storm. That in part is what and where the Philippines is. A boat in the middle of a storm, while those who have the shared responsibility of sailing to safe harbor sleep deeply, undisturbed and indifferent: Government officials, Religious leaders, Opinion makers, business personalities, passport carrying Filipinos and the FAITHFUL below deck, unseen and unaffected.
But for how long? Worldwide monarchies, dictatorships and established systems are being disrupted, challenged or overthrown. Nature has made a mockery of mankind and each day makes “the boat” sink a little deeper. All because no one cared, dared, or obeyed to do the work.
Unfortunately Filipinos are the world’s greatest at self-deception. We deceive ourselves with the idea that things are still normal through our installment mentality, sachet economics, and by bending our knees so we can fit in our security blankets that we have long outgrown.Po Bronson an American author in his book “what should I do with my life” commented that people in general don’t respond to situations unless they become a personal matter. We may have an opinion about certain situations but we don’t really do anything about the situation unless it directly concerns our personal circumstance.
Unfortunately, even when things have affected us at a personal level Filipinos still look for the silver lining, the ray of hope instead of facing the problem or the situation and doing something about it.
You can read all the news, listen to all the commentaries and analysis but unless you start by admitting that the fault begins with you, you will never be able to do anything more than find fault in yourself or in others. The minute you begin to take responsibility and realize that your actions can harm others is when you stop being selfish. Jonah came to terms with his self-deception and went as far as willing to be thrown over board so that God would not sink the boat and kill the innocent on board.
No matter how high or low you are in society we all contribute to the storm. We are all part of the dead weight that lowers the boat deeper into water. The goal is to lighten the load, to be productive, to be of use and not to be the cause of the problem.
For many years people have associated being in the belly of the whale as God’s way of punishing Jonah. On the Contrary it was God saving Jonah and preparing him to have the right mind set to do what needed to be done.I have been “in the belly of the whale” on numerous occasions. Once I spent two years in a mind-numbing job on a construction site where I was everybody’s foot -rest and Gopher as in “Go for this and Go for that”. How was I to know that God was preparing me for my next big ticket: constructing a major resort in Palawan called “Club Paradise” which contributes to tourism and gives jobs to many.
That was followed by seven years on another island that’s reminded me of a whale. It was the beginning of what has been a 17-year journey growing up as a Christian and sharing hope and God. Perhaps the ultimate belly of the whale experience was close to five years spent as a glorified corporate GRO (Guest Relation Officer), the necessary training to becoming an effective Talk Show host.
Sometimes all we need to do is jump in the water and allow God to take us where we become our best and serve others.
