Tommy

Rev. John Powell, a professor at Loyola University in Chicago writes about Tommy, a student in his Theology of Faith class.

Some twelve years ago, I stood watching my university students file into the classroom for our first session in the Theology of Faith.

That was the day I first saw Tommy.

My eyes and my mind both blinked.

He was combing his long flaxen hair, which hung six inches below his shoulders.

It was the first time I had ever seen a boy with hair that long.

I guess it was just coming into fashion then.

I know in my mind that it isn't what's on your head but what's in it that counts; but on that day, I was unprepared and my emotions flipped I immediately filed Tommy under "S" for strange... very strange.

Tommy turned out to be the "atheist in residence" in my Theology of Faith course.

He constantly objected to, smirked at, or whined about the possibility of an unconditionally loving Father/God.

We lived with each other in relative peace for one semester, although I admit he was for me at times a serious pain in the back pew.

When he came up at the end of the course to turn in his final exam, he asked in a cynical tone, "Do you think I'll ever find God?"

I decided instantly on a little shock therapy.

"No!" I said very emphatically.

"Why not?," he responded, "I thought that was the product you were pushing."

I let him get five steps from the classroom door and then called out, "Tommy! I don't think you'll ever find Him, but I am absolutely certain that He will find you!"

He shrugged a little and left my class and my life.

I felt slightly disappointed at the th ought that he had missed my clever line:

"He will find you!" At least I thought it was clever.

Later, I heard that Tommy had graduated and I was duly grateful.

Then a sad report came.

I heard that Tommy had terminal cancer.

Before I could search him out, he came to see me.

When he walked into my office, his body was very badly wasted and the long hair had all fallen out as a result of chemotherapy.

But his eyes were bright and his voice was firm, for the first time, I believe.

"Tommy, I've thought about you so often--I hear you are sick", I blurted out.

"Oh, yes, very sick. I have cancer in both lungs. It's a matter of weeks."

"Can you talk about it, Tom?", I asked.

"Sure, what would you like to know?", he replied.

"What's it like to be only twenty-four and dying?", I asked.

"Well, it could be worse.", he replied.

"Like what?", I asked.

"Well, like being fifty and having no values or ideals; like being fifty and thinking that booze, seducing women, and making money are the real biggies' in life", he replied.

I began to look through my mental file cabinet under 'S' where I had filed Tommy as strange.

(It seems as though everybody I try to reject by classification, God sends back into my life to educate me.)

"But what I really came to see you about", Tom said, "is something you said to me on the last day of class."

(He remembered!)

He continued, "I asked you if you thought I would ever find God and you said, 'No!' which surprised me.

Then you said, 'But He will find you.'

I thought about that a lot, even though my search for God was hardly intense at that time."

(My clever line. He thought about that a lot!)

"But when the doctors removed a lump from my groin and told me that it was malignant, that's when I got serious about locating God.

And when the malignancy spread into my vital organs, I really began banging bloody fists against the bronze doors of heaven.

But God did not come out. In fact, nothing happened. Did you ever try anything for a long time with great effort and with no success? You get psychologically glutted, fed up with trying. And then you quit."

"Well, one day I woke up, and instead of throwing a few more futile appeals over that high brick wall to a God who may be or may not be there, I just quit.. I decided that I didn't really care about God, about an after life, or anything like that. I decided to spend what time I had left doing something more profitable. I thought about you and your class and I remembered something else you had said:" "The essential sadness is to go through life without loving But it would be almost equally sad to go through life and leave this world without ever telling those you loved that you had loved them.'"

"So, I began with the hardest one, my Dad.

He was reading the newspaper when I approached him.

"Dad."

"Yes, what?", he asked without lowering the newspaper.

"Dad, I would like to talk with you."

"Well, talk."

"I mean... It's really important".

The newspaper came down three slow inches.

"What is it?"

"Dad, I love you--I just wanted you to know that."

Tom smiled at me and said it with obvious satisfaction, as though he felt a warm and secret joy flowing inside of him.

"The newspaper fluttered to the floor. Then my father did two things I could never remember him ever doing before. He cried and he hugged me. We talked all night, even though he had to go to work the next morning. It felt so good to be close to my father, to see his tears, to feel his hug, to hear him say that he loved me."

"It was easier with my mother and little brother. They cried with me, too, and we hugged each other, and started saying real nice things to each other. We shared the things we had been keeping secret for so many years. I was only sorry about one thing --- that I had waited so long. Here I was, just beginning to open up to all the people I had actually been close to."

"Then, one day I turned around and God was there. He didn't come to me when I pleaded with Him. I guess I was like an animal trainer holding out a hoop:" 'C'mon, jump through. C'mon, I'll give You three days, three weeks.'

"Apparently God does things in His own way and at His own hour. But the important thing is that He was there. He found me! You were right. He found me even after I stopped looking for Him."

"Tommy", I practically gasped: "I think you are saying something very important and much more universal than you realize. To me, at least, you are saying that the surest way to find God is not to make Him a private possession, a problem solver, or an instant consolation in time of need, but rather by opening to love. You know, the Apostle John said that. He said: 'God is love, and anyone who lives in love is living with God and God is living in him.'"

"Tom, could I ask you a favor? You know, when I had you in class you were a real pain. But (laughingly) you can make it all up to me now. Would you come into my present Theology of Faith course and tell them what you have just told me? If I told them the same thing it wouldn't be half as effective as if you were to tell it."

"Ooh I was ready for you, but I don't know if I'm ready for your class."

"Tom, think about it If and when you are ready, give me a call."

In a few days, Tom called, said he was ready for the class, that he wanted to do that for God and for me. So we scheduled a date. However, he never made it.

He had another appointment, far more important than the one with me and my class. Of course, his life was not really ended by his death, only changed. He made the great step from faith into vision. He found a life far more beautiful than the eye of man has ever seen or the ear of man has ever heard or the mind of man has ever imagined.

Before he died, we talked one last time. "I'm not going to make it to your class", he said. "I know, Tom."

"Will you tell them for me? Will you tell the whole world for me?"

"I will, Tom. I'll tell them. I'll do my best."

So, to all of you who have been kind enough to read this simple story about God's love, thank you for listening. And to you, Tommy, somewhere in the sunlit, verdant hills of heaven --- I told them, Tommy as best I could.


With thanks,

Rev. John Powell, Professor Loyola University in Chicago

Breakfast at McDonald's

I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college degree.

The last class I had to take was Sociology.

The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with.

Her last project of the term was called "Smile."

The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions.

I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway, so, I thought this would be a piece of cake, literally.

Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonald's one crisp March morning.

It was just our way of sharing special playtime with our son.

We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then even my husband did.

I did not move an inch... an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved.


As I turned around I smelled a horrible "dirty body" smell, and there standing behind me were two poor homeless men.

As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was "smiling."

His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God's Light as he searched for acceptance.

He said, "Good day" as he counted the few coins he had been clutching.

The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally challenged and the blue-eyed gentleman was his salvation.

I held my tears as I stood there with them.

The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted.

He said, "Coffee is all Miss" because that was all they could afford. (If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wanted to be warm).

Then I really felt it - the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes.

That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my every action.

I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray.

I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman's cold hand.

He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Thank you."

I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, "I did not do this for you. God is here working through me to give you hope."

I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son. When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, "That is why God gave you to me, Honey, to give me hope."

We held hands for a moment and at that time, we knew that only because of the Grace that we had been given were we able to give.

We are not church goers,
but we are believers!

That day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love.

I returned to college, on
he last evening of class,
with this story in hand.

I turned in "my project"
and the instructor read it.

Then she looked up at me and said, "Can I share this?"

I slowly nodded as she got
the attention of the class.

She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being part of God share this need to heal people
and to be healed.

In my own way I had touched
the people at McDonald's, my husband, son, instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college student.

I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would
ever learn:
UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE....

Much love and compassion is sent to each and every person who may read this and learn how to LOVE PEOPLE AND USE THINGS - NOT LOVE THINGS AND USE PEOPLE.

The LORD's Prayer

Rather cleverly done in two parts: 

The Prayer (in blue type) and GOD (in red type) in response.

**************************************************************************

Our Father Who Art In Heaven.
Yes? 
Don't interrupt me.  I'm praying.
But -- you called ME! 
Called you?
No, I didn't call you.
I'm praying.
Our Father who art in Heaven.
There -- you did it again!
Did what?
Called ME.
You said,
"Our Father who art in Heaven"
Well, here I am.
What's on your mind?
But I didn't mean anything by it.
I was, you know, just saying my prayers for the day.
I always say the Lord's Prayer.
It makes me feel good,
kind of like fulfilling a duty.
Tell, all right.
Go on.
Okay, Hallowed be thy name . . .
Hold it right there.
What do you mean by that?
By what?
By "Hallowed be thy name"?
It means, it means . . . good grief,
I don't know what it means.
How in the world should I know?
It's just a part of the prayer.
By the way, what does it mean?
It means honored, holy, wonderful.
Hey, that makes sense.
I never thought about what 'hallowed' meant before.
Thanks.
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in Heaven.
Do you really mean that?
Sure, why not?
What are you doing about it?
Doing?  Why, nothing, I guess.
I just think it would be kind of neat if you got control
of everything down here like you have up there.
We're kinda in a mess down here, you know.
Yes, I know;
but, have I got control of you?
Well, I go to church.
That isn't what I asked you.
What about your bad temper?
You've really got a problem there, you know.
And then there's the way you spend your money --
all on yourself.
And what about the kind of books you read?
Now hold on just a minute!
Stop picking on me!
I'm just as good as some of the rest of those people at church!
Excuse ME.
I thought you were praying
for my will to be done.
If that is to happen,
it will have to start with the ones
who are praying for it.
Like you, for example.
Oh, all right.  I guess I do have some hang-ups.
Now that you mention  it,
I could probably name some others.
So could I.
I haven't thought about it very much until now,
but I really would like to cut out some of those things.
I would like to, you know, be really free.
Good.
Now we're getting somewhere.  We'll work together -- You and ME.
I'm proud of you.
Look, Lord, if you don't mind,
I need to finish up here.
This is taking a lot longer than it usually does.
Give us this day, our daily bread.
You need to cut out the bread.
You're overweight as it is.
Hey, wait a minute!  What is this?
Here I was doing my religious duty
and all of a sudden you break in
and remind me of all my hang-ups.
Praying is a dangerous thing.
You just might get what you ask for.
Remember,
you called ME -- and here I am.
It's too late to stop now.
Keep praying.  ( . . pause . . )
Well, go on.
I'm scared to.
Scared?  Of what?
I know what you'll say.
Try ME.
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.
What about Ann?
See?  I knew it!
I knew you would bring her up!
Why, Lord, she's told lies about me and spread stories.
She never paid back the money she owes me.
I've sworn to get even with her!
But -- your prayer --
What about your prayer?
I didn't -- mean it.
Well, at least you're honest.
But, it's quite a load carrying around all that bitterness
and resentment isn't it?
Yes, but I'll feel better as soon as I get even with her.
Boy, have I got some plans for her.
She'll wish she had never been born.
No, you won't feel any better.
You'll feel worse.
Revenge isn't sweet.
You know how unhappy you are --
Well, I can change that.
You can?  How?
Forgive Ann.
Then, I'll forgive you;
And the hate and the sin,
will be Ann's problem -- not yours.
You will have settled the problem
as far as you are concerned.
Oh, You know, you're right.
You always are.
And more than I want revenge,
I want to be right with You . . . (sigh).
All right, all right.
I forgive her.
There now!
Wonderful!
How do you feel?
Hmmmm.  Well, not bad.
Not bad at all!
In fact, I feel pretty great!
You know, I don't think I'll go to bed uptight tonight.
I haven't been getting much rest, You know.
Yeah, I know.
But, you're not through with your prayer are you?  Go on.
Oh, all right.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Good!  Good!  I'll do that.
Just don't put yourself in a place
where you can be tempted.
What do You mean by that?
You know what I mean.
Yeah, I know.
Okay.
Go ahead.  Finish your prayer.
For Thine is the kingdom,
and the power,
and the glory forever.
Amen.
Do you know what would bring me glory --
What would really make me happy?
No, but I'd like to know.
I want to please You now.
I've really made a mess of things.
I want to truly follow You.
I can see now how great that would be.
So, tell me . . .
How do I make You happy?
YOU just did.

Friend ng Ex-BF

On the nightt of their wedding, the bride’s Ex-bf requested to dance with her.

Bride: bakit andito ka?

EX-BF: gusto ko lang itanong kung bakit nagpakasal ka? bakit di mo ako hinintay?

Bride: (crying) hinintay? Ilang taon akong naghintay, ni sulat wala kang paramdam, ni di ko alam kung tayo pa.

EX-BF: lagi kitang sinusulatan, at patunay yang singsing na suot mo ngayon! Pinabigay ko yan sa kaibigan ko dahil paguwi ko pakakasalan sana kita, bakit suot mo pa?

Bride: what? are you kidding? bigay to ng asawa ko.

EX-BF: alam ko, dahil sya ang kaibigan ko.

Inuman Session

Dalawang linggo na ang nakalipas nang ikasal sina Jon at Karen. 
Kahit mahal na mahal ni Jon ang kanyang misis, nasasabik din siyang 
makipag-inuman sa kanyang mga kumpare. 
Isang gabi, nagpaalam si Jon kay Karen, 
"Honey, babalik kaagad ako..." 
"Sweetheart, saan ka pupunta?" 
tanong ni Karen. 
"Sa bar, cutie pie. Iinom lang ako ng beer." >saad ni Jon. 
"Gusto mo ng beer, love? Eto..." hirit ni Karen sabay bukas ng 
refrigerator 
at ipinakita ang 25 na iba't ibang klase ng beer na puro imported. 
Hindi malaman ni Jon kung ano ang gagawin. Ang sabi na lang niya, 
"Oo, cutiepie,pero doon sa bar... alam mo na... iyung malamig na 
glass..." 
Hindi pa tapos magsalita si Jon, eh, buong lambing na nagsalita na si 
Karen, 
"Gusto mong malamig na glass, sweetheart? Eto..." 
Binuksan ni Karen ang freezer at naglabas s'ya ng isang malaki at 
malamig 
na glass, sobrang lamig at nangangatog pa siya sa pagkakahawak. 
Medyo namumutla na si Jon, na ang nasabi eh, 
"Oo nga cutie pie, Pero sa bar ang daming masasarap na pulutan... 
sandaling-sandali lang ako talaga. Babalik kaagad ako, okey?" 
"Gusto mo ng pulutan, sweetheart?" 
malambing pa ring usisa ni Karen, na binuksan ang oven at naglabas ng 15 
klase ng pulutan-sisig, chicken wings, sitsarong bulaklak, crispy pata, 
inihaw na bangus, camaron rebosado hotdog with onion, kaldereta at iba pa. 
"Pero cutie pie... sa bar... you know, merong konting biruan, 
bolahan,murahan. .. you know..." alumpihit na sabi ni Jon. 
Hindi na nakapagpigil si Karen, "Gusto mo ng murahan sweetheart? 
TANG-INA MO PALA EH! HETO, INUMIN MO ITONG PUTANG INANG BEER MO SA 
MALAMIG NA BWAKA NG INANG BASO NA 'TO, AT KAININ MO 'YANG PUKI NANG 
INANG PULUTAN NA 'YAN DAHIL HINDI KA LALABAS NG BAHAY! ULOL!" 'TANG INANG'TO 
==

Sabi ko nga SA BAHAY NA LANG AKO IINOM...hehehe! 

Jesus vs Satan

One day Satan and Jesus were having a conversation.  Satan went to visit Jesus in the Garden of Eden and Satan came all happy and boasting. (Lk 4: 1-12; Job 1: 6-12) 

"Yes, Lord, now I have everybody captive, (well nearly everybody down there). 

I set traps, I used the baits of temptation, I know well what each one of them can't resist.    I nearly caught them all!" (I Pet 5: 8-9; Eph 6: 10-17) 

   

"What are you going to do with them?"  Jesus asked.  He was praying to God the Father. 

  

Satan answered "Oh, I am going to have some fun with them!" 

I'll make them divorce after they have married so the foundation of humanity will never be able to be established "the family" (Mt 19: 4-6; Mal 2: 16) 

  

I will make them hate each other and abuse each other, make them fall into alcohol and drugs without control. (Rom 13: 12-14) 

I will teach them to make weapons and bombs, so they kill each other 

"I am really going to have fun!" 

"And when you are tired of playing with them, what will you do?" 

Jesus asked. And continued praying 

"Oh, I will kill them all and their souls will be mine forever" 

"Lord by all respect, it's their decision" (I Jn 3: 8-10) 

"How much do you want for all of them?" Jesus asked. 

"Oh, you can't want these people. They aren't anything good. 

Why do you want them if they neither follow you nor love you? 

Many hate you! I have seen many of them spitting on you, cursing you and even denying you." 

"What's more, they love me a lot" (Mt 24: 10-13) 

"You don't want these people!!" 

"How much?" Jesus asked again 

Satan looked at him with a nasty face 

"All your tears and all your blood, all the pain of the entire world, all together" (Is 53: 4-10; I Pet 2: 24) 

  

Jesus said..."DONE" 

"and He paid the price" (II Cor 5: 21) 

$100

SON: "Daddy, may I ask you a question?"
DAD: "Yeah sure, what is it?"
SON: "Daddy, how much do you make an hour?"
DAD: "That's none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?"
SON: "I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?"
DAD: "If you must know, I make $100 an hour."
SON: "Oh! (With his head down).
SON: "Daddy, may I please borrow $50?"
The father was furious.
DAD: "If the only reason you asked that is so you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why you are being so selfish. I work hard everyday for such this childish behavior."

The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door.
The man sat down and started to get even angrier about the little boy's questions. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money?
After about an hour or so, the man had calmed down, and started to think:
Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that $ 50 and he really didn't ask for money very often. The man went to the door of the little boy's room and opened the door.

DAD: "Are you asleep, son?"

SON: "No daddy, I'm awake".
DAD: "I've been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier. It's been a long day and I took out my aggravation on you. Here's the $50 you asked for."

The little boy sat straight up, smiling.
SON: "Oh, thank you daddy!"
Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled out some crumpled up bills. The man saw that the boy already had money, started to get angry again. The little boy slowly counted out his money, and then looked up at his father.

DAD: "Why do you want more money if you already have some?"

SON: "Because I didn't have enough, but now I do.

"Daddy, I have $100 now. Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to have dinner with you."
The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little son, and he begged for his forgiveness. 

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Life Lessons:

It's just a short reminder to all of you working so hard in life. We should not let time slip through our fingers without having spent some time with those who really matter to us, those close to our hearts. Do remember to share that $100 worth of your time with someone you love? If we die tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of days. But the family and friends we leave behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives. And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more into work than to our family.