Divine Cruelty

 

A few hours before dawn she vomited and cried in pain.

In agony she prayed: confessing her sins, seeking forgiveness,

Expressing gratitude and supplicating for either relief or release.

In a tragic twist of faith

A few minutes after saying "amen,"

Spasms and chills accompany the high fever

As I lay down beside her I listened to her pray yet again

But I find it hard not to think that your timing was cruel

A few minutes after the petition was sealed with an amen

You sent down pain on her frail body

I find no meaning and purpose

Maybe it would've just been better if 

We could have been resolved

With a universe of no meaning

No divine cosmology

And life's tragedy was just 

The byproduct of oppressive systems

Borne of selfish human choices

And random coincidences

Amen

Happy 50th Greenpeace

Sharing this screenshot of the Greenpeace Southeast Asia page from November 2005. This was when I was doing digital campaign and editorial support for the Philippine leg of the Asia Clean Energy Tour of the Rainbow Warrior 2 the Philippines. I got this from WayBackMachine it was apparently not archived under the new website, which I think is a shame because this was during a historical moment for the organization where an unfortunate accident was turned around because of the rapid response work that saw the organization owe up to its responsibility and bring word of it as soon as possible to the public in the days before social media.

My first year working for Greenpeace was life-changing as it coincided with the time that the organization was faced with the biggest organizational ecological flashpoint moments ranging from oil and cyanide spills; to violent dispersals and arrests of our activists; to having our flagship run aground a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Over the years the organization has changed from the one that I joined, but such is the case in all things.

In spite of that, I'm happy that they are still around and fighting the good fight. Happy 50th Greenpeace.

Impunity

Sometimes God just likes to play god

He enjoys being beyond reproach.

He savors in His divine right to be unaccountable.

Unlike the rest of us. Languishing in the misery of His benevolent choices.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord". (Isiah 55:8)

Jusko.

cold and alone

 

Why do I even bother to share stories with someone who doesn't ask me how I am?

And in all of this, I've only been given explanations based on observations from afar

I'm finding it unfair that not once have I been approached by anyone to offer me anything

Only pleas for help, support, a listening ear, and advice for their personal crisis

I feel like a thread that's unraveling from its spool on its way to an inevitable end

And to the god in whom I find comfort in not existing.

Thanks but no thanks.