The main theme of today’s gospel, Mark 4:35-41, is faith. It recounts Jesus and his disciples setting off across the lake in a boat, accompanied by other boats. As they sailed, a fierce storm arose, causing waves to fill the boat with water. Despite the chaos, Jesus was asleep in the stern. The disciples, fearing for their lives, woke him, questioning his concern for their safety. Jesus calmed the storm with a command, then questioned their fear and lack of faith, leaving them in awe of his power over nature.
I used to have lots of worries, causing much anxiety, and I believe many others experience this too. This is why the priest’s homily resonated with me. He said, “We worry more than we work.” To me, this means we must act, to keep on doing, forcing ourselves to do something rather than drown ourselves in anxiety. Somehow, my anxiety and worry dropped as I kept reminding myself of Einstein’s quote, “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving,” and that Jesus will always sustain us.
After Mass, we checked out Bridgetown, but there was no place for a family lunch that we liked, so we followed Jaime’s suggestion and went to Parqal. The drive was quick, less than an hour. There are more visitors to the area now compared to last time we were there in February.
Gianetto was disappointing. During the pandemic, we used to order pizza from them. While the pizza was still good, their pasta Jaime ordered was average, with cut noodles. An Italian will surely make a scene if he received an order like that. The chicken Iuri ordered was tough. Even the complimentary bread, larger than croutons, was heated in the microwave. At 600 to 700 pesos per head, the price seemed overrated for the quality of food.
For dessert, we stopped by Dunkin’ because I was craving their coffee. The coffee was decent, but the ambiance was disappointing due to a K-Pop party on the second floor where fans were making a birthday greeting video for one of the members of Enhypen. The store was filled with loud cheers and shouts, and some customers seemed annoyed. However, it appeared to be good for business as turnover was much faster.
The day ended well because my Lumix LX5 battery and charger arrived today, bringing my 13-year-old camera back to life. It was the last nice compact camera I bought and used for contest entries. I plan to use it as an everyday carry and capture some moments. My last memories with it were in Intramuros and Binondo.
Today was a day centered around faith, family, and the camera, reminding us to view family through the lens of Catholic faith to nurture deeper connections, appreciate moments of joy and unity, and embrace the values that guide us in love, compassion, and faithfulness.
Panorama 