The Good Life Philippines: The End of the World: A Reflection

Today, I am not writing about the good life; I am writing about the supposed end of the world yesterday (May 21) that never was. I’ve not been aware of this prediction (I’ve been so self-absorbed lately), until I heard mass last week in Trinoma, where the officiating priest made a humorous comment that the number of people going to confession increased because of the prediction. Aside from the priest's remarks, the rumors of the impending doom became clearer to me after seeing news clips on television, as well as a network’s documentary about the subject. I never really believed that the world will end on May 21, but I’m surprised that even today, one day after the supposed rapture, the topic is still on television and still trending on the net. This aroused my curiosity and I found myself looking for secondary sources on the subject.

Apparently, the supposed end of the world was foretold by the group of Harold Camping who heads the Evangelical Network Family Radio in Oklahoma. Reports stated that Camping utilized a mathematical system to interpret the prophesies of the Bible. Sources pointed out that Camping predicted the same in 1994, but since it’s already 2011, we can conclude that the prediction did not happen.
http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/01/03/judgment-day-will-may-21-2011-be-the-end-of-the-world/

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5013/5450204062_378ba8905c.jpg

Amidst all of these, I started asking myself the implications of this pandemonium. What’s the big fuzz about the end of the world? The hype on the subject matter is so much that I can’t help asking myself—are we afraid to die? Perhaps, I need not ask, because the answer is glaring in front of my face.

Then it occurred to me that yes, the world has not ended, but to some it seemed like the world has crumbled and has come to an end:

--For the family of the 7-year old girl who was raped and whose body was dumped into the river;

--For the family of the race champ whose life was not spared due to the incompetency of some people;

--For families whose family members were brutally murdered and have not had a taste of justice;

--For the countless Juans whose source for the next meal is still unheard of.

It seems like the end of the world to some people, everyday. It’s easier to care about the end of the world, but sometimes, we forget to let the lives of people begin around us because of indifference (Don’t worry, I am also sometimes guilty of that!). It’s also kind of ironic that we care about the destruction of the Earth, which we have long been destructing and reconstructing at the same time.

On one hand, looking at the brighter side, perhaps, the rumors on rapture gave us the chance to rethink and re-evaluate our lives as a person, as a nation, as people of the Earth. After all, even during the homily, father mentioned something about the increase in the number of people going to confession (LOL!).

Even as a small girl, I've already heard predictions and stories of rapture, but I believe that like death, the day of reckoning will come like a "thief in the night", as in the "Parable of the Bridesmaids."
http://www.nscblog.com/miscellaneous/the-parable-of-the-wise-and-foolish-bridesmaids/

It pays to always be vigilant. More than that, I believe that God loves the world and everything in it and in His infinite mercy, there is still hope for us, for Mother Earth and that He will make all things beautiful, in His time.