A new trip ‘round the sun

Last Tuesday, I began a fresh orbit around the sun, and it excites me, because, with God’s grace, it means 365 new sunrises, 365 fresh starts, 365 additional chances to live right, to do good, and to savor life.

Actually, the sun never sets. Somewhere on the spinning globe we live in, it’s sunrise.

And so on the first few days of my new orbit, reflections from the many gentle sunrises, blazing sunsets and star-lit nights of my life illumine my thoughts:

1. I have seen sunrises and I have seen sunsets, and I have been scorched by the noonday sun. But even in sunsets I see magic, and I have come to realize that even when people say goodbye and a favorite story ends, our lives don’t have to fade away. After all, when the big sun seemingly goes to sleep, it is replaced by a million diamonds in the sky. So fear not the seasons of life, nor the times of day. They each have their own magic. The soft kiss of the morning sun, or the romantic caress of the moonbeam?

2. In this era of instant social media posts, I’ve learned to choose the right spot for the better photo. My artistic colleagues tell me one should always turn towards the sun (just don’t stare at it!) so there will be no shadows on one’s face. Just as Helen Keller once said, “Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows. It’s what sunflowers do.”

3. During the homily of the Mass I heard on my birthday, the priest asked, “Have you ever seen a Muslim begging?” Not one of the people in the church could answer in the affirmative. According to the priest, it is because Muslims believe in alms-giving. And I thought to myself, if only the world’s “haves,” who comprise a minority, share generously with the world’s “have-nots,” who comprise the majority, there will be fewer beggars on our streets. Other than alms, we can also give others opportunities — to study, to earn a living, to excel.

4. I’ve felt grief, and I know that some of the pain will just be numbed through time, but will always be in a tender spot somewhere in the deepest corners of my heart.

I’ve just come from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land led by Fr. Dave Concepcion, president of Catholic Travel Inc., and he said during one of his soul-stirring homilies that, “Joys are whispers from God. Pain, shouts from God.”

My good friend Sandra Garcia, who just lost a beloved brother, recently posted this quote on social media: “Grief never ends…but it changes. It’s a passage, not a place to stay. Grief is not a sign of weakness, nor a lack of faith…It is the price of love.”

Father Dave told us, “Scars show the love of God.” After all, scars are deep wounds that heal.

The author with Tata Uy in a fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee.

5. For spring, Selfridges in London sent out this online campaign, “When in doubt, wear pink.” I bet you, no one has ever seen red when seeing pink. According to those who interpret color, “The color pink represents caring, compassion and love. The pink color stands for unconditional love and understanding, and is associated with giving and receiving care. In color psychology, pink is a sign of hope. It is a positive color that inspires warm and comforting feelings.” No wonder the saying, “in the pink of health!”

6. One of my most unforgettable experiences during this pilgrimage to the Holy Land (I first visited the Holy Land in 2000) was a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, in a fishing boat not unlike those Christ and his disciples took 2,000 years ago. We went in late February, and the Sea of Galilee was as calm as tap water in a drinking glass. Hard to imagine that it was here that, according to Matthew in the Gospel, “a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat.”  The terrified disciples awakened Jesus, who calmed the angry storm, leaving the disciples in awe about the man “even the waves obey.”

7. “You will not be spared the storms of life,” said Father Dave, “just adjust the sails of your boat.” Who knows, he asked, God may have put you in stormy seas because your enemies do not know how to swim.

8. My one favorite everyday lesson in life is this: “Don’t sweat the small stuff,” which is the title of a book written by Richard Carlson 20 years ago. Basically, it taught me not to lose sleep or grow a new strand of gray for things I cannot control. One of my favorite quotes from the book, which has sold over 25 million copies, is this: When in a fix, “Ask yourself the question, ‘Will this matter a year from now’?” Ninety-nine percent of the time, the answer is “no.”

I’m so looking forward to this new orbit I’m taking around the sun, older and definitely, wiser. I pray to God I will have many, many more orbits to come. You see, like the sunflower, I like to keep my face to the sun. *

(You may e-mail me at [email protected].  Follow me on Instagram @joanneraeramirez.)