FatherlYours.com

I have read somewhere only three things are permanent in this world.

1. Taxes
2. Death
3. Changes.

Whether we like it or not, we would have to pay our taxes, face death and adjust to changes.

This I realize when I was a kid growing up in Ongpin. There was this barbershop named “Ben’s Barber Shop”. A barber named

“Mang Tony” is my favorite because he has a lot of stories to tell. He is in early 60’s. Despite his age he is robustly built and had sharp eye. He could discuss anything under the sun (“perhaps including under the moon”-Joke). Nobody win’s discussing any subject when he is around. If not, they would say “If only Mang Ben is here, you could not say that to him.”

I make it a point to just hang around if I don’t have anything to do just to hear him and learned something.

He is also good at playing “Dama”. Whenever he is on the lead or on a winning position, you could receive a lot of insult and tease. You would end up with a red face in embarrassment. He seems to be a very happy man and can speak with authority.

One time, one customer made the mistake of discussing with him about Religion and Belief in particular. The man believes in “Natural Resources” as their God. The Air we breathe, the sun, the moon and the Stars. We were all laughing in our heart content and Mang Ben seems to be wining when he deliver the killer blow, “What about the wind coming from Electric Fan, and those coming from your ass, Is that God Too!”

Daily discussion of different topic had me questioning his intelligence. Is he really brilliant or only great in giving philosophical answer?

Then as years past, I saw him less maybe due to old age. People started talking about him. Then I realize that he is not really great. These people who always “loose” from their discussion actually wanted to stop to put an end to the topic. Not because they actually loose.

Then I realize that Mang Ben is actually stubborn and hardheaded and never listens to other people. He doesn’t believe that something in him should be change. That his attitude should be change. That for him he is and should always be right.

The year before I graduated from my elementary school, Mang Ben died. He died with his belief that he is genius and intelligent.

Saw this posted in one Book Store “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.”

Thanks Ivy, now I know!. The Serinity Parayer. “Googled” it and here I found.

http://www.cptryon.org/prayer/special/serenity.html

The Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.
–Reinhold Niebuhr