9. Wala ka sa Lolo ko. Peace is elusive, in his case it's his name.


1 September 2020

Luke 24
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

Peace is so elusive.

Make peace not war.

Family is not an important thing. It's everything. - Michael J. Fox

If family is not at peace, then community is not at peace.

Family is the basic unit of society, be it small or large community, country, or the world as a whole.

Stronger families. Stronger societies.

Peace is indeed elusive.

Family feud, internal, is as old as humanity, Adam and Eve, Abel and Cain, Jacob and Esau, the list is endless.

The rational thing to do, have peace in the family, and world peace is just around the corner. Easier said than done.

A child will sleep soundly, in peace, assured of the care and protection of Dad and Mom.

Inay, my mother, would mention, I as a grader in a school in the city would commute in the early afternoon back home in the barrio, aslept in passenger jeepney and would be awakened by the driver when already at our frontyard. No cares, no worries. As I grew older, I started to worry about things wanting control over them. That's until I had no control at all, I was rock bottom.

How I wish when I suffered severe depression, as narrated in above-mentioned blog, that I would fall asleep like when I was a grade schooler. My mind was restless, did not have peace of mind, until I came to know that the Lord Jesus redeems the brokenhearted, and in time things fell into their proper place, my body healed and my mind was at peace. I left on a jet plane for a job in Kuwait.

Inexplicable. It just happened by God's grace. Amazing. Grace. How sweet the sound:
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

In peace I will lie down and sleep,
    for you alone, Lord,
    make me dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:8)

One day, my children's children will say, wala ka sa Lolo ko, peace is elusive, in his case it's his name. Pacifico is my first name.

Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan, in the employ of Spain, named Pacific Ocean in the 16th century. He called this body of water pacific, due to the calmness of the water at the time ('pacific' means peaceful).

That's, océano Pacífico.

Pacific, Pacífica (feminine), Pacífico (masculine).

Kidding aside, my name Pacifico added to my inferiority complex (having sweaty palms and lacking in height back in high school). Mabantot pakinggan. Name from the Roman Catholic calendar, for everyone of us siblings. Tradition stopped with my generation. I would not go for any of my children's children to have my name. Some other variation may be, like Paz, one college batchmate called me Paz.

The word "paz" comes from the Latin "pax," meaning "peace."

In Hebrew Baby Names the meaning of the name Paz is: Golden.

Note that as a blogger, I exchanged Pacifico for the name Christian, that's my identity starting about 16 years ago, and that idea came spontaneous when I started the blog.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)

Peace be with you. And also with you. Amen.
____________________

Luke 24
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 
38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 
39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

Philippians 4
Closing Appeal for Steadfastness and Unity
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 
5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

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