Apart from reading, I listen to the daily gospel podcasts every night before I sleep. By listening, I find myself to be more in the moment and in the time. It stretches my imagination beyond normal. Probably because I am more auditory than visual. My children will of course take this matter to the Supreme Court to challenge.

Then it got better. Recently, I’ve been watching 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑪𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒏 series on Youtube. Not your usual Bible movie or show. You see Jesus and His disciples walking and talking and laughing. You see and hear Him teach and heal and perform miracles presentled differently. One of my favorites is Jesus’ calling of Simon to be a 𝐹𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑀𝑒𝑛 scene -made my hair stand on end. That alone is already a miracle for me!

Many of the side scenes are not written in the Bible but for me, they remain true to the marrow of the message. I haven’t finished all the episodes yet but now when I listen to the podcasts, my imagination is stretched even further -I hear the voice tones in Dolby sound, I see the facial expressions and the setting in 5K resolution.

If you haven’t started watching, I reco you do. Worth a king’s ransom. Happy Pentecost Sunday.

Cheers! #MyCafeNotes

I’ve been reading and listening to #bosanchez covid ordeal and his narrow escape from death story. I am taking stock of my own life with the life lessons he got out of it. Read about it here: https://www.instagram.com/brotherbosanchez/

Like Bo, I was always in a hurry:

-I brush my teeth at 2x speed with an electric toothbrush so that I can…

-start early with my meetings so that I can…

-work out in a flash so that I can…

-take a shower hurriedly so that I can…

-eat quickly so that I can…

-watch Netflix at 1.5x speed so that…

-ad infinitum

I couldn’t wait for weekends to come (yep, even during pandemic) so that, what?

This is probably why I lost so much hair.

This is probably why I gained so much wrinkles on my face.

This is probably why I deserved a stent in my artery now.

Thanks Bo. The lessons you’ve learned are mine, too -but sans the covid. Like Jesus, you took the beatings for me and for all who benefited from your ordeal. I am "embracing the present" savoring this iced coffee.

Cheers! #MyCafeNotes

This morning, while washing my face, I took a good look at my reflection in the mirror. I saw an old man. Moles so many I can put up a shopping mole. The overhead warm light reflecting wildly on my extended forehead. White short stubs appearing inconsistently along the plane. Cheeks giving in to earth’s pull. I smiled at the image that I see in front of me to reveal more of the hallmarks of age: wrinkles, creases and grooves. Yep -I am old.

But I count my blessings. For every mole and line, I count a dozen blessings and favors from God. All the 61 years behind me, even if they were imperfect with grave miscalculations, under and oversights, made my bones tougher.

The person I see in the mirror I love. Because I am His child.

Cheers! #MyCafeNotes

Our family friend’s sickly patriarch was recently rushed to the hospital after being found slouched in his wheel chair one morning. Getting into a hospital these days is like winning a lottery. Getting a room in a hospital is like winning the lottery twice, with the same number combination.

While in the ICU, they were listed in the long waiting list to be admitted to a room which they were told were all occupied.

The daughters are known to me as women of strong faith and compassionate towards others. While storming heavens with prayers to get admission, they noticed that the guards were tired and looked hungry. So after taking a count, they ordered Jollibee meals for each one of them. And to every staff in the nurses’ station, coffee and pastries from Deli France.

Then, a miracle at 2am. Rooms became available, not only for their dad, but also for most of those in the list. With great faith, the impossible becomes possible when you involve God. A few days later, he’s back home, healthy.

If you want a miracle to happen, think and act like you need one.

Cheers! #MyCafeNotes

Lately, I’ve been playing my Christmas playlist in the morning and as my music when working out. You’d probably think that my nuts are roasting on an open fire this summer time but let me explain. Rocking along with Jingle Bell Rock and silently feeling holy with Silent Night give me that Christmas spirit that gets drowned away by shopping, traffic, gift-wrapping and last-minute shopping. Sure pressure, no less.

This time, I just rock around the imaginary Christmas tree, jingle my inner bells, dreaming of white Christmas -being good for goodness sake. Try it and thank me later.

Here’s to joy to the world. Cheers! #MyCafeNotes

I don’t know about you but after my mid-evening rush to the toilet, I find it hard to go back to sleep. I usually spend an hour or more looking at the inner wall of my eyelids. No, I don’t grab my cellphone. A total waste of time of not-doing. Until an inspiration came -that this may be a time of praying and interceding for people, for the present, for the future.

And so I think all from A-Z but not necessarily in that order. I mention to God the names that I can recall; those whose names I cannot recall, I don’t mention -I trust God knows them and their hearts' desires; readers of my blog and #mycoffeecupreflections (yes, as you read this, I am praying for you); our country; and, the Church. Sometimes, thinking of all these people give way to having them appear in my dreams. From praying to dreaming, seamlessly.

And just like that, I go back to sleep. Be in my dreams. Happy Sunday!

Cheers! #MyCafeNotes

Andre has been persuading me about buying a bike for months now. One morning, I finally asked him to check out the market for one. He chatted on his phone for several minutes. Made some contacts. By the afternoon, a road bike sits in the trunk of the car. We split the cost. I paid for the front wheel.

Honestly, like a little child, I, too, got excited. As soon as it came out of the car, I tried mounting my unpadded butt into it but my reflexes were on time delay, so big time fail. I realized that I haven’t been on one since "Thrilla in Manila."

It took some embarrassing and awkward while before I finally found my balance. Riding a bike, like driving, swimming and playing the guitar, is a skill that remains in you even if you’re vegetating.

I spent 45 minutes that day riding the wind, literally.

The following day, my buns were throbbing in pain. I didn’t mind. Hey, add to golf, I’ve got myself a new sports. A new hobby. Apart from it being another quick fix to mental health issue, it provides a wider range of gift ideas for those thinking of me on father’s day, my birthday and Christmas Day. Pedal that into your memory.

Cheers! #MyCafeNotes