Boston mayhem: Renewing one’s faith

THE AUTHOR and her husband Steve are long-time residents of Massachusetts. Photo by The FilAm

On April 15, my birthday, a pair of bombs battered the beautiful city of Boston. Everything I planned for that weekend went well. A prayer meeting Friday night, a dinner with my husband Steve and my in-laws on Saturday afternoon, followed by a party for a friend’s 65th birthday.

Sunday, we started heading to church for the 10:30 a.m. Mass followed by a luncheon meeting in a friend’s house for the Bayanihan Association of America, Inc. I am the president of this nonprofit organization, and was reelected for the third time.

On Monday, my husband and I woke up early to drive to Worcester, about an hour’s drive from Boston, to spend time with our son, Oliver, on this special day. I consider all birthdays special, not just my birthday. It’s both a blessing from above and a miracle.

The day was going great. I opened up birthday cards and a gift of Chromebook, then had lunch with Oliver and Steve. On our way home, with Steve on the wheel, I was awaken while drifting into sleep by the news on the radio. The explosions woke me up and alerted me. Listening attentively, I was scared for the hundreds of people watching, participating in the marathon or just there for the Red Sox game or just visiting friends. I got real scared when I realized that our guest student was in Boston spending a few days with another family who was hosting another student from China.

Hundreds of residents poured onto the streets to celebrate after the announcement earlier of the capture of the second Boston Marathon bombing suspect. Like the author, many residents told television reporters that the tragic deaths on April 15 brought out reflections of life and community. AFP

We tried calling but cellular phones could not be connected for a while. I learned later he was safe and inside the house. I reminded him a few times not to go out at all for safety reasons.

Say a little prayer

Now, whenever one of my family members, relatives or friends  ask me or my husband’s permission to go somewhere, I  say a prayer. That’s how I am, that’s my faith, and the one that guides me in my goals in life. It’s my religion and it’s my belief in God that makes me who I am.

How I live my life is based on my faith. One can be rich in material things, one can have all what one wants and do what one pleases, but all those things will pass and will not be carried beyond. People may or may not believe, or may or may not understand me, but as long as I know what I am doing and that I am doing something that will not bother people; as long as I am happy to be able to do something to help other people, then I am happy and contented with my life. Like what my son said, “It is the right thing to do” which is becoming my mantra, and I always keep it in mind whenever I am faced with some difficulties along the way.

So every April 15, this unexpected and horrible explosions in Boston, will be remembered. The FilAm