by Rev. Dr. Mariano C. Apilado
In the continuing investigation on the tragic hostage incident at the Luneta in Manila last August 23, imagine the world as made of rolls and rolls of computer paper that go many times round and round in length and abundance. The question is: where and what is man in that pile and abundance of rolls and rolls of computer paper?
This is the question that the psalmist asked: “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are human beings. . .?” (Psalm 8: 3)
In the vastness, expanse and majesty of the world of creation, and in the aeons and aeons of time, what is man? In response, someone took a ball pen and put a dot on the rolls and rolls of computer paper, a dot so small that it could hardly be seen.
“That is what and where man is in the vastness, expanse and majesty of the world of creation, and in the aeons and aeons of time,” he exclaimed.
A dot, small and insignificant in size, that is what human beings are, but God is “mindful of them . . . and cares for them.” (Psalm 8: 4)
A dot, yes, small and insignificant dot, yes, but God is so mindful of human beings that He visits and cares for them, in that God sent His only Begotten Son to forgive them of their sin and save them in order to live in love with one another.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but shall have everlasting life.” (John 3: 16)
In mathematics, dots are also small and insignificant by themselves, but dots connected to each other make continuous lines. Each dot must be in place, and no other dot can take the place of another, else the line will be that incomplete.
John Naisbitt, author of the megatrends series of books, has made the often forgotten, but no less significant observation that the larger the organization, the more essential are the smallest parts.
In the intricate world of computers, a small, teeny weeny wire that is broken or is not working can cause the whole computer system to bog down.
In the world of banking and accounting, a small, insignificant centavo unaccounted for can cause the breakdown of the financial report.
In the world of e-mails, a dot that is missing or misplaced will be the daemon that would prevent the message from being sent.
There is finality of the end, the frailty and the limitations of humans marked by a dot; but at the same time, there is the inevitable joy of new beginning marked by a dot.
Alone and disconnected, human beings are small and insignificant; by the power of divine love and forgiveness, the insignificance has ended. Lavishly loved and connected in love, because God is mindful of them and cares for them, human beings can live in hope; by the power of divine love and reconciliation, this has begun.
“. . . even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Luke 12: 7)
No matter how small dots and sinful human beings are, “God has shown his love towards us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5: 8).
In the vastness, expanse and majesty of the world of creation, and in the aeons and aeons of time, what and where is man?
The investigations and fact-finding should go on in order to get to the bottom of what really happened. But we are tired of being exposed repeatedly to the often idiotic gory details.
But there are other details in our life that we can concentrate on, one of which is that small and insignificant human beings we may be living separately, God has so lavishly loved us Filipinos, that He had connected us to Himself and to one another by the power of divine love.
You and I, therefore, can and should live connected in love to God and to one another, move on, live, pursue and enjoy a world of love, peace and hope.
Yes, move on.
