by: Norberto Betita
As the sun sets and hides its glory into the darkest night the day before to end a chapter of my life’s story, a new dawn sneaked imperceptibly; its silence broken every few seconds by the crowing cocks across the road, towards the morning break for a new episode. Then I felt a tender loving embrace from the weary hands of my eternal partner---my ever dearest Letty---as she expressed in a tone so mild and sweet that steal the hush of the breaking dawn, “I love you. Happy birthday.” The affectionate embrace may not have been as tight as it was before, with shoulders now frozen by age, but the warmth of love remains ever flaming from the bottom of the heart.
No matter my optimism and faith for a potent future, I found the present crisis to be a warning to the aged minority, who are most vulnerable to the virus, to prepare. The debate on the worldwide pandemic is far from over. Scientists and medical professionals; politics from right and left; mainstream media and social media; journalists and bloggers; conspiracy theorists and facts checkers; and even intelligence organization throughout the world write and broadcast loud conflicting voices and confusing undertones, and contending views for such a long time, even before this pandemic strikes. Yet, there still seems to be no clear and solid ground to stand on. They are only sensationalizing, politicizing and commercializing the issue.
Since the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic until the emergence and evolution of viral varieties in the late 1960’s and on to this day of a dreaded plague, they labelled as new coronavirus---COVID-19, the only truth I found that really make sense is that, as in the popular song of Michael Jackson, “there are people dying” not only through direct exposure and infection to the dreaded diseases, but also by the underlying difficult circumstances that arise as a result of the effects of every surge of a pandemic. Then to paraphrase the words from the same song, we might ask, “…[did we] care enough for the living?” (Heal the World by Michael Jackson).
In the depths of some of my soundest slumber each night during my five months of isolation, my sub-conscious mind, generate some feelings of contemplation whether the dawn will still provide the creeping light of day. But as always the dawning of each new day comes with luster and gleam. However, I know that one day, perhaps in a time shorter than the spell and season I lived in mortality, the promise of a beautiful genesis of a breaking day may no longer come.
Anytime, sooner or later, I will come to a point when I will be called upon to pack my bag with spiritual essentials and be ready, because tomorrow is no longer guaranteed. Therefore, I need to make sure that I am ready to cross the boundary of no return. The promise of the next life is either magnificently glorious or degradingly miserable in consequence of my personal choices while in this mortal probation. The works I do in this life will either usher me into a state of rest in the paradise of God or into the spirit prison, a despicable place between death and resurrection.
In some meditative reflections, especially with this threatening worldwide pandemic, which is now incorporated in my personal history, and upon which there is no guaranteed safety from this highly contagious and dreaded disease, afflicting millions and killing tens of thousands, I am most inspired to write my personal eulogy, for if it will be my time to slip into the other side of the veil, I might not even have the privilege of a decent burial as it happened to many who died from the deadly plague.
This personal eulogy may appear to be a self-serving tribute, but I am writing this as part of the epilogue of my personal history and journal.
In my introspective evaluation of the life I live in this probationary state of earthly existence in direct correlation to the spiritual requirements to qualify for eternal life, I found myself still short of worthiness according to my own personal judgment. Yet, I have been trying my very best to qualify for the redeeming love, grace and mercy which the Lord Jesus Christ offered His sinless life as a ransom for my sins.
Through the years, I have tried to be the kind of disciple that the Lord requires of me. I tried to be as faithful in obedience to God’s commandments. I keep myself qualified to receive all the necessary ordinances of salvation and have entered into sacred covenants with Him in the holy Temple, trying my best to honor such covenants. I lived my life in harmony with the two great commandments to love God and neighbor so as not to offend anybody whether they be friends or foes. I tried to minister to those in need even in my own deprivation. I served in righteousness and in truth and with dignity and honor in the church. I realized though that notwithstanding all my honest efforts and righteous preferences, I am still prune to the assaults of the evil one causing me to sin and be subjected to being racked and tormented as a consequence. Yet as always I found relief from the gift of repentance which the Lord offers for every sinner, towards perfection. I know that perfection is not in this life, but I am trying to move forward with greater faith, courage and hope that when this life is over, there is a better life waiting for me in the hereafter.
In my marital commitments, I have been loyal and honest in living the covenants I and my dearest Letty have entered into with Heavenly Father for us to live together not only in this life, but throughout all eternity. I have honored such covenant with total fidelity and affectionate devotion. The love and fondness that I hold dear deep in the chamber of my heart for my dearest Letty, even deepens my piety for her each and every day. She’s always been the best thing that ever happened to me. Through those long divinely bonded loving marital and parental partnership, she has always been an angel of devotion to spousal and motherly care. She becomes even more adorable and lovely to me as we now walk slowly on the lonely lane reserved for the weary and feeble, with the pains and sufferings of lingering illnesses ever sticking around. One day soon we will part ways, but I had always wished that I will not live in this life without her by my side.
I have tried to live a family centered, gospel oriented life, raising and rearing my children into becoming responsible adults. In partnership with my dearest Letty, we tried to teach them to be good citizens and to serve willingly and with real intent and actively participate in the affairs of the church and not stand as idle spectators. They also have their own imperfections, but we live together in love, unity, harmony and peace notwithstanding their inadequacies and failings. In the course of their individual eternal journey, they have the privilege of exercising their agency to choose for themselves right from wrong, good over evil. When the door of death will be opened for me to enter, they already know that I will be waiting for them in that grand and most glorious reunion with them in the hereafter, never to part again.
I am profoundly grateful to have the opportunity to see a few of my grandchildren and to have lived with them in the depths of my love and care. I have tried my very best to be the best grandfather that I could be to them. I always have the best feeling that my life will remain a beacon of light for them along the covenant path that they will have to walk through in their mortal journey. I am looking forward with the same faith and hope for my yet unborn posterity to live by the same pattern of family life that we tried to establish as a common spiritual ancestral tradition. When this frail existence will in due time be taken from me, I know they will miss the wonderful bond of love and devotion that we have for each other while yet in this life.
The love I have for my siblings remain ever strong as to encompass in me a desire for them to be a part of the eternal family unit and kingdom which I and our ancestors are now working on both sides of the veil. We are united in love and respect for each other in this life, although we are divided in our belief and faith. As I am now preparing to meet our ancestors on the other side of the veil, I have an overpowering hope that they will soon find the covenant path and the restored gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in its fullness, and work their way to receive the necessary ordinances for their families to be together forever, linked and connected to our dearly beloved ancestry.
To my friends I bear with solemn conviction and spiritual witness that life has an infinitely fantastic and eternally originated purpose. This life is a test, a probationary state. This is the time to prove our faith whether we still will abide by the same conviction of support to the Lord Jesus Christ of Heavenly Father’s approved great plan of happiness for us while we were yet in the premortal existence. “This life is the time for men to prepare to meet God” (Alma 34:32). We are gifted with the moral agency to choose which side we should be. The choice is between good or evil; between right and wrong. Surely, living a life in righteousness will be blessed with joy and gladness, while living in wickedness will have its own painful consequences. “Wickedness never was happiness” (Alma 41:10). While you might have believed of the doctrine of ‘original sin’ inherited from our first parents, Adam and Eve, however, I testify and, “…believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression” (Articles of Faith 2). The prophet Ezekiel even made it clear when he declares, “The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.” (Ezekiel 18:20). I know of the living reality of Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, the Holy Ghost testifying to me of all these truths. You can also know the same truths through the witness of the Holy Ghost. When this life is over, we will meet again, then you will know that what I said to you are true.
As the troubling times continue to haunt my remaining life in mortality, I still stand willing to accept the refiner’s fire to help me be sanctified as I prepare to cross the boundary line between this life and the hereafter. I consign my remaining time to live with deep gratitude to Heavenly Father for His blessings with faith and assurance of His promised glorious day. I know He loves me even in the darkest moments of my life. The light that continually radiates and illuminates my soul helped me have the strength to endure my immense battle with afflictions. However, all these trials and adversities that I have gone through and will still have to go through until this life is over will be worth it.
I believe in the couplet which Lorenzo Snow shared: “As man now is, God once was: As God now is, man may be.” In relation of which he explained: “Through a continual course of progression, our Heavenly Father has received exaltation and glory, and He points us out the same path; and inasmuch as He is clothed with power, authority, and glory, He says, ‘Walk ye up and come in possession of the same glory and happiness that I possess.’
“In the gospel, those things have been made manifest unto us; and we are perfectly assured that, inasmuch as we are faithful, we shall eventually come in possession of everything that the mind of man can conceive of—everything that heart can desire” (Lorenzo Snow, The Teachings of Lorenzo Snow, 3–4).
The apostle Peter explained, “…God is no respecter of persons: But…he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him” (Acts 10:34-35).
The Psalmist wrote: “I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.” (Psalms 82:6). In reply to the accusations of the Jews of Him claiming as a Son of God, quoting the same words from the Old Testament, “Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?” (John 10:33-34).
With such a clear eternal potential and destiny, therefore, I joined with the great King David, who, after having seriously committed a grievous sin, with a broken heart and contrite spirit and with a very repentant soul, most sincerely petitioned God:
“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
“Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
“For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
“Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
“Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
“Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit” (Psalm 51:1-3;9-12).
As I cross another meaningful lap of my earthly journey, I wish to enrich the spiritual lives of others by my undying testimony of the truths that are in the restored gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and service to His church and the sons and daughters of Heavenly Father. Up and far into Heavenly Father’s infinite throne of grace, “the glory of the Celestial, which excels in all things…, Before whose throne all things bow in humble reverence, and give him glory forever and ever” (D & C 76:92-93), I raise my petition as did the psalmist, “Cast me not off in the time of old age;…Forsake me not when my strength faileth.” (Ps. 71:9.)
With this personal eulogy as a self-serving tribute and epilogue for my personal journal, I borrow the words of Paul as he says: “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:6-7).
As I conclude this volume of my personal journal for a legacy of my children and my children’s children and on to my yet unborn posterity, and as “I walk through the valley of the shadow of death” (Psalm 23:4), I wanted to echo these very inspiring words from the theme of “Fiddler on the Roof,” which relates to my thoughts of them:
Sunrise, Sunset
Is this the little girl I carried,
Is this the little boy at play?
I don't remember growing older,
When did they?
When did she get to be a beauty,
When did he grow to be so tall?
Wasn't it yesterday when they were small?
Sunrise, sunset,
Swiftly flow the days.
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers,
Blossoming even as we gaze.
Sunrise, sunset,
Swiftly fly the years,
One season following another,
Laiden with happiness and tears.
What words of wisdom can I give them,
How can I help to ease their way?
Now they must learn from one another
Day by day
(Fiddler on the Roof, John Williams)
I celebrate my birthday today, August 25, 2020, while my only grandson who bears my family name---Rulon Asher Garcia Betita---will be admitted to the Surigao Doctors’ Hospital for a major surgery. My best and only birthday wish and most humble petition is for the the Almighty Hand of God and power from heaven to distill and help him overcome the early trials and challenges of his life towards a healthier and more progressive future. May Heavenly Father grant!
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