Wednesday, April 8, 2009

It's Lent... Time for a Slow Dance



Do you still remember the FavefolksYahooGroup Forum I posted about in My Close Encounter with the Vampire!? Yes, that was the post where the clandestine club of Edward-and-Bella fans had been exposed. But there should be more to that and there should be a sequel to that post. But my busy schedule and appointments with the shrimps and the camels here wouldn't give me the chance to sit in front of my laptop and think about the storyline.

Poi (our linguist-educator based in HK) encouraged me to write the Twi-book-out of the bag anecdote of Datzie (she's a UN attache in NY) when she was in DC attending the World Bank/UN Conference. Another one that will take some paragraphs in the post would be the snail-pace reading of Geng (a hotelier in Northern Philippines)... Imagine, she wants to have a perfect ambiance when reading the Twi-books... she wants perfect peace and quiet with cool breeze ruffling the curtains every now and then...Whew!

After the Twi discussions, the traffic in the cyber forum has even increased when it shifted gear to Books, Recommended Readings, Gizmos, Gadget, Rearing Up the Kids, Travels, etc. All those non "fangatics" started cruising the space once again.

However, the sound of silence is deafening in the cyber-forum lately. I guess everyone started to have their early holidays. Some could have traveled abroad... some could have boarded their yacht and hopped into a nearby island... some could have gone to the provinces.. some could have trooped to their summer houses and getaways. Yeeesssss! Everyone deserve the break!

But there was one soul who broke the silence. Geng, I know, wouldn't leave her hotel because business is at its peak during the holidays and she has the time to sit in front of her laptop.

Here's what she said which I really feel I truly deserve to have. "It's Holy Week and try to give yourselves a break! Take time to rest your tired bodies and cluttered minds, refresh your weary souls and nourish your flagging spirits. I read this poem in Ricky Lo's column at the Philippine Star and thought of sharing with all of you. Read... Reflect... and Learn!"

Slow Dance
"A poem by a cancer-stricken kid. In the spirit of the season, I am reprinting the poem Slow Dance supposedly written by a child while dying of cancer at a New York Hospital a few years ago. The poem was sent to me by a Funfare reader who who didn't give his/her name." - Ricky Lo

Photo Credit - UK Ballet Company


Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?

You better slow down,
Don't dance too fast.
Time is short,
The music won't last.

Do you run through each day
Or do you fly?
When you ask "How are you?"
Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done
Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
Running through your head?

You'd better slow down,
Don't dance too fast.
Time is short,
The music won't last.

Ever told a child,
"We'll do it tomorrow?"
And in your haste,
Not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die?
Cause you never had time
To call and say, "Hi!"

You'd better slow down,
Don't dance too fast.
Time is short,
The music won't last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere,
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift...
Thrown away.
Life is not a race,
Do take it slower.
Hear the music
Before the song is over.

Thanks Geng. I now have a Lenten post.

13 comments:

  1. Hello, I've read that poem in my email from a friend a few weeks ago. Very nice. I know you are going on vacation...enjoy there! Wala lang ako masyado masabi, semana santa man gud, reflect sa daw 'ko, mao sad diay imong post. nagrenew sad ko pagkabisaya nako hehehe (katawa ko pero gamay ra kay semana santa lagi)

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  2. Hi Kenj, Thanks for dropping by. After so many years of spending semana santa in the desert, I forgot that old tradition of not laughing out loud during the season. Hahaha, you just made me to recall the memory of my granny. She used to tell us to be sober and quiet kay "patay" daw ang Diyos. Well, we all know that more than 2000 years ago, Jesus died and rose again so that we might inherit that abundant life.

    Have a blessed lenten season in the desert.

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  3. A beautiful poem which reminds us that time is really short, just like my recent post says:

    Make use of all the time you have. Once lost you will never get it again.

    A blessed Holy Week, a Happy Easter and Happy Holidays to you my friend NJ.

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  4. Yes Pope, I've read all your inspiring posts lately but was sooo busy to leave comments. Keep it up!

    Yes time is short... Carpe diem!

    A blessed Lent to you and your family! I'll reserve my Easter greetings later...hehehe!

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  5. Yup..like what they said..time is short..so enjoy it!!!

    Have a blessed and great Holy Week!

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  6. hayyyy im lo vin life again thanks for posting the poem para sakin buhay sa disyerto lagi semana santa lol dami kasi bawal hay makakalaya na ako next week sa kaharian ni kuya lol

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  7. Hi Sherwin, enjoy every moment of your life. Have time to hear the chirping of the birds and the tapping of the rain... feel the gentle breeze... see the ebbing of the tide... etc.

    God bless you and may you have a blessed Lent!

    I really like your recent post on the Awesomeness of God! Very timely!

    Cheers!

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  8. Mighty Dacz, enjoy your life in the desert... enjoy the sandblasting sound in your car when you travel...hahaha.

    ??? Bakit san ka pupunta? Bakasyon, lipat o tuloy-tuloy na?

    Have a blessed Lent bro!

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  9. sir NJ: u know what?..i actually commented a while ago too, but it didnt showed up, hehe.

    anyway, i was equally touched by the Slow Dance poem of this alleged cancer-stricken child. yeah, i heared about her likewise. there was some sort of controversy pa nga.

    ganunpaman, veri inspiring ung reminder nya about life..its like an art in every dance, di minadali, and in food nilalasahan dapat maigi.

    life is short, and its fleeting. lets seize and savor every moment as possible.

    how u gonna spend ur lenten, btw.?

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  10. Oh Bro AJ... it's Easter! You've risen from slumber...ahahaha. I've been in the bloggers' sepulcre too. Charge it to our busy sched...

    I totally agree with you. This poem is actually meant for me because I've been dancing sooo fast, forgetting even to listen to the beat of the music... kaya minsan na a-out of step na. Tsk tsk tsk...

    The poem is so simple...very child-like yet sends a strong message to all of us to pause for a while and see the beauty of God's handiwork.

    By the way, I'm so blessed with your post. The message of the cross brings forth a powerful anointing even through the blogs.

    Have a blessed Lent!

    Pahabol - d mo pa kino-connect ung FB request ko ah... hehehe

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  11. It's great to see people still commemorates the lenten season despite some barriers such as culture and even calendars. At least di kayo nawawala kung anong araw na sa pinas jijijijiji... commend your dedication...

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  12. hehehe! yup emo kid talaga ko paminsan minsan.

    Past is past ika nga, but sometimes eh its like a ghost na nagpaparamdam, Nwei thanks sa nice very insightful comment.

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  13. Xpro
    Ika nga kung nakagisnan mo nang e-celebrate, kahit saang dako ka ng mundo you will still be commemorating it in your own little way. Thanks for taking your time out to drop by in the desert.

    Desert Prince
    Emo talaga ang dating ng post mo... ahahaha. I'll see more of your emo sa FB.
    Thanks for hopping from your desert to my desert here.

    Have a Good Friday commemorating the Lord's Passion to all of you!

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