Icthus
My latest medical check-up revealed quite depressing results. Illnesses that I have never thought of because either they are not in our heredity or simply not felt before have started to surface.
But as humans age, coupled with the kind of lifestyle, we start to consider some ways to bring back, but not perfectly, the once old hale and hearty days.
The cliché "we are what we eat" needs re-evaluation and contemplation. And especially for this solemn religious observance of Lent in the liturgical calendar that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends approximately six weeks later, we once again have to revisit our very own staple food, fish, with which we are abundant as an archipelagic country.
Marine fishing in the Philippines in more than an industry; it is a way of life. With 7,100 islands, the Philippines has the world's longest discontinuous coastline. Over a million Filipinos are engaged in marine fishing.
In religious literatures, a fish is a Lenten symbol for the obligation to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday and to abstain from all flesh meat on every Friday in Lent. Fish in the Christian religion is symbolic. In fact, the Christian fish symbol means two things: the crossed tail represents the crucifixion of Christ, and also baptism, water and spiritual immersion. Early Christians who were persecuted used the fish symbol to identify one another.
Fish plays a huge role in the Lenten diet. And what first came to mind was one of the miracles Jesus performed: the feeding of the five thousand with a few loaves of bread and five fishes, and the other story of the disciples who had a meal of fish after the resurrection. In ancient Greek, the word for fish is Ichthys. The first five initials also coincide with Iesous Christos Theou Yios Soter, which translates to Jesus Christ, Son of God.
In today's world, because of this high demand for fish, businesses that are into this product would experience increase of patronage, and therefore a shoot of sales. This leads also for other businesses to find ways to realign a bit to grab this opportunity created by such huge demand.
Eating fish reminds me of the simple life in the province where flesh meat is generally considered a luxury food. Meat could only be eaten during fiestas and special occasions.
Simple living is free from undue hassles of life. On the contrary, a stress-filled life is generally brought about by one's unhealthy lifestyle, convoluted relationships and eating habits–which could shorten one's life.
It is in the simplicity of life that we learn to appreciate what we have and because it is usually in lavishness that man's wanting for more becomes inexorable. But on the other hand, it is in contentment that will teach us to be generous to others.
Since a fish is at home in the water, it is always in association with renewal. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer's faith to the Creator. It is a new or renewed life that brings about changed perspective. Such new outlook would bring goodness not only to oneself but to others as well.
Just like what our Creator did for thousands of His followers. The bounty of love and concern for others symbolized by the fish, hopefully, will be miraculously multiplied in our hearts.
- Latest
