25th Heart Beat

A series of Unfortunate Events

Just how unfortunate is unfortunate?

I had a funny experience this week.

Tuesday morning. I went inside my room after my 5:30 mass in order to catch up some more sleep in compensation to my frequent insomnia attacks (drinking coffee during late afternoons could be the possible culprit!) but before I had finally lost myself into the oblivion, my instincts woke me up as I saw water outpouring from my toilet. I feebly jumped out of my bed and looked for alternatives that could possibly stop the unexpected flow. Good thing there was this rubber plumber, and I was grateful to the person who invented this minimal yet brilliant device that put an end to many household congestions. But just when I thought that everything will be fine by my seemingly endless “thrusting, pumping and siphoning”, the water grew in an unexplainable level that some of the things under my bed were soaking wet.After a struggle of whether to tell everyone about this or solving it by myself for the dread of embarrassment, I decided to ask help from Nong Hamot but there was no way for the water to be completely drained into the gutter. In a pathetic attempt to lessen the volume, I painstakingly scooped the overflow with my dipper as I filled the pail with murky water and yet, to no avail.

Helpless, I went down to look for other viable means of clearing up my mess, only to find out that the outflow has reached the Pastoral Secretariat Office and the Parish Hall, drenching the files, documents, PC Monitor and CPU. The parish staff had to dismantle everything and dry them under the sun in order to avoid short circuit or electrocution. There was a commotion that took place this day and I was deeply troubled to see them examining every parts of the computer, with apprehensions that those that were soaked might not be functioning anymore.

Verging on self-pity, I kept on blaming myself for the sad plight brought about by my stupid efforts of trying to get hold of everything. I really had a bad day and I just had to deal with it, as my ego tussled with my conscience for screwing up the surge of what seemed to be a normal, typical day for most. I don’t know whether I should laugh or be distressed for the consequences caused by a single, awkward event that took place in a life of struggling parochial vicar who wanted to make sense of his misfortunes and surrender everything to grace- hoping, wishing, and praying that tomorrow will be a better day. At the end of it all, I just gave myself a deep sigh as I reassured myself of that fervent belief in God’s Providence.

Indeed, it was beyond my limits. And it made me realize that I was more of a control freak.

The next day, I rouse up still having second thoughts whether things will be better or I should prepare myself for more misfortunes, but deep in my heart, the joy of having to learn life’s valuable lessons amidst adversities was something that remained constant and unchanging. I will not whine this time because I was given that vigour to continue believing in GRACE.

Misfortune is never mournful to the soul that accepts it; for such do always see that every cloud is an angel’s face. (Lydia M. Child)

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