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What Happens When American Idol Gives Back?

by rhodora bariuad  
10/25/2010 / Missions

Watching AI idol gives back made me feel better, more fortunate and blessed. We all know that if you want to feel good when you are down, just think of the handicapped, the poor, the homeless, the wayward, the brokenhearted, the sick. All the worse and the ugly you could think of. Before, i think this is silly. It's just a way of consoling yourself and convincing you are still good just to feel good. Or perhaps it could somehow makes us normal to think we are not alone feeling low, desperate. That though some people have all the luck, some are just like us or even worse than us. i thought it was an excuse. It's a make believe on a better world you're in. Also i thought it's stupid, an easy way to accept the worse so as not to worry & work for the best. If you wanna be the best and feel good why compare yourself to something or someone of lesser value.

And so nurturing these feelings made you feel bitter, rebellious, unbelieving. Not to mention the self-pity, insecurity and envy on top of everything. So you continue to want more, strive more as your standards get higher. And so the greater the gap between these standards and the realities, the greater the disappointments, unbelief and the creeping rebellion. Until you find yourself inconsolable, numb. And so what if the number of poor people are increasing, more famine, more sickness. I myself still have dreams to fulfill, i still have this emptiness. What will i have to give? When i cant even help my nearby neighbor and close relatives. You cannot give what u don't have...

There must be a reason why the wise people advise us to look on the less fortunate. As i watched American Idol Gives Back, it affected in some ways i know could somehow help. Like not wanting to have a longer eye lashes, not wishing for braces to fix my teeth, not worrying about my syringoma, stop thinking of ways to fix my ugly face. My big tummy to trim. Not to think of the beautiful dresses I've been wanting to buy from the window display. It made me become less materialistic, vain. First, i thought these could save me more money, the lesser i buy, the more money I'll save. Which is fine. cos the more money I have the more chances I'll have in helping my parents, my relatives, the needy. I believed, money was never a problem to me, I mean I have not worried so much about it. The only time I wished I have more was when I cant help the ones I love in times of financial crisis.


But that was on the materialistic and physical aspects. Another thing and I thought the most important lesson to embrace is to trust God. That God is good all the time and is fair. God sees, feels us. It's holding on to the faith & trust in the midst of hopelessness and impossibilities. And that rebellion is a sign of giving up and disbelief. It's like giving the devil the foothold in your life. Lastly, the sight of less fortunate make us really feel blessed and thankful for what we currently have. So they say count your blessings not your worries. Rolling stone sang u can't always have what you want, but if u try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need.


And so what are the things you need? I said it depends on the person. But as for me, I just needed my family alive & healthy, a work enabling me to support my love ones. The support, laughter and company of my friends and families. A deep and growing relationship with my one faithful, loyal God. And one thing more, of course, the hope that's keeping me alive and clinging to God.


So is there anything more I can feel, think when I look at those less fortunate? It makes me think that the soul is more lasting than the body. The beautiful soul should be sought after and not the physical body that covers it. That God looks into your soul and not in your outward appearance. So I thought then these malnourished children are to be praised for their innocence, simple joys and beautiful souls. The handicapped for their courage and unprecedented faith. Also, I remembered believing then that the most changed people are those with dark, sinful, unworthy past. They were the lost and were found by God. They realized that there is more to this life than fancy clothes, cars, big houses, unending happy happenings or merriment. That God forgives and forgives.


Watching AI victims of famine, aids and malaria of course does not stop me from wanting to have a child. However, if before I said to myself, if I will not have one from me ever. As in ever, I will either go insane or get lost. As in I will literally be lost because I will withdraw from my husband, family. I will die of self-pity. I will just make myself worthless. And so losing my sanity is the best option then. But now? I still don't know but at least I don't believe I wont ever have one. That's a good sign. This is still not the bottomline. I would like to share these verses from the Word of God. Before my understanding on this is very shallow, like a simple arithmetic. Maybe these verses will give meaning or sense on what I feel when I watch AI idol gives back.


THE EIGHT BEATITUDES OF JESUS


"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.


Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.


Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.


Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.


Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.


Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.


Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.


Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."


Gospel of St. Matthew 5:3-10


So is there a direct relation? Nope, God did not mention famine, only those who hunger for righteousness. Poor? Nope but poor "in spirit".


But I agree on St Augustine, he said, "Beatitude is a possession of all things held to be good, from which nothing is absent that a good desire may want. Perhaps the meaning of beatitude may become clearer to us if it is compared with its opposite. Now the opposite of beatitude is misery. Misery means being afflicted unwillingly with painful sufferings." Thus, St. Augustine called the Beatitudes the ideal for every Christian life!


So that's all folks. Til then, use your money wisely. Spend your timely on worthwhile things. Nourish not only your body but most especially your soul. For it's the one hardest to feed, for the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. In short, we wanted to be spiritually right but our human frailty and natural sin prevails. Also, we want to be spiritually grown but we don't like growing because growing hurts. It kills our temporal joy, it opens doors and windows to the trials, testing of faith and temptations. It may hurt, yes. thus, the verses of the beatitudes of Jesus.

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