Tests after Easter

The day after the resurrection, I found myself onboard a boat to Dapitan. With so many people traveling at that time, the remaining space available when I bought my P246 ticket the day before was in the air-conditioned tourist room. We departed after the sun rose and the more-or-less 30 fellow travelers in the room began to settle down in our bunks for the 3-hour trip. Just as the cool room began to induce rest, the peace was pierced with the crying of a child.

Yet sleep came after the choice of ignoring the child's crying and grabbing the opportunity to get some more rest in anticipation of the planned activities that would start upon arrival. After an hour and half, the nap was broken with the realization that the child was still crying and was now causing much discomfort for the passengers. Looking at the mother hugging the child made me see the bunks beside them were now unoccupied. The crying was incessant and now was obviously a cry for help.

A fellow passenger advised the mother to bring the child out of the room, as the adviser believed that the air conditioning was causing the child more discomfort. Another supposed that the child had now "too much air in the stomach" and suggested that the mother get some warm water into the crying child. Still another opined that the child was probably hungry.

This scene reminded me of the pastor's message yesterday, which warned everyone of the harmful effect of Christianity just full of talk without any action. The mother was obviously physically tired after trying her best to bring comfort to the child. She just sat down and laid the child in the bunk. This elicited remarks from others how ignorant she was, how hard headed for not listening to advice to get the child out of the room or get some hot water. These developments further brought me back to church when everyone was warned of the harmful effect of viewing others who do not believe or have different beliefs as enemies.

Positively answering the question, "Are you a Christian?" poised by the pastor to end the message encouraged me to go to the mother and offer some menthol rub for her child and herself. I noticed that the child's feet was bare and asked if he had some socks which the mother produced. Placing the socks on the child's feet and touching him made me ask and learn that the 5-year-old boy's name was Daniel, the same as my son, and the mother was called Lucille by her friends. The one who previously advised that such be made offered a glass of warm water. She was Doria Abella from Ipil and was a public school teacher. And Mary Ann Panoy, a mid wife working in Dapitan, came forward to carry the child out of the room in the company of Lucille.

Shortly after, Mary Ann carrying Daniel who was now sleeping returned to the room. Lucille Nainque with a smile now on her face thanked everyone for the help extended. We learned they were returning to Dipolog after visiting her parents in Iloilo City. We also learned that action speaks much louder than words. The choice is ours.*