Final farewells Part 1: The catch of 153

I may be writing the final few entries for this multiply account. I may have to move to a different online home. To those who notice my desktop stickies (among other things they notice) is that I have lots of pending writing, and hopefully I get to finish them all before I commit cybersuicide and abandon theateneoedge.multiply.com ... (although I fear losing my contacts here).

To those who've known me enough, I like to end my day by reading from the Wisdom of Ages. Here's a story that is relevant this Easter season. I have also been using this for self-reflection. More after the piece (from John 21:1-14):

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Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. "I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?"

"No," they answered.

He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught."

Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

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Also, a lot of people may know by now that I'm also pretty much influenced by media. One of my favorite artists is the country praise singer Steven Curtis Chapman. I've placed teachers on a very high pedestal that I now think was too high. Let's begin with a song first:

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FOR THE SAKE OF THE CALL
(forgive me if the words seem to be off... I'm working on memory)

Nobody stood and appluaded them so they knew from the start that this road would not lead to fame. All they really knew for sure was Jesus had called to them. He said, "Come follow me," and they came. With reckless abandon, they came.

Empty nets lying there at the water's edge told a story that few could believe and none could explain how some crazy fishermen agreed to go where Jesus led with no thought for what they would gain for Jesus had called them by name. And they answered...

"We will abandon it all for the sake of the call. No other reason at all but the sake of the call. Wholly devoted to live and to die for the sake of the call."

Drawn like the rivers are drawn to the sea, there's no turning back for the water cannot help but flow. Once we hear the Savior's call, we'll follow wherever he leads because of the love He has shown and because He has called us to go. We will answer...

"We will abandon it all for the sake of the call. No other reason at all but the sake of the call. Wholly devoted to live and to die..."

Not for the sake of a creed or a cause. Not for a dream or a promise. Simply because it is Jesus who calls. If we believe, we'll obey.

We will abandon it all for the sake of the call. No other reason at all but the sake of the call. Wholly devoted to live and to die for the sake of the call.

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Again, I stress the reason for choosing to have taught at the Ateneo: the school's mission statement echoed mine. My own mission statement that I had never before put into words, I saw it there at the lobby hanging meters from Ma'am Jenny. How the world is really hostile to the values of Christ? How the mission takes on that challenge? How the youth can be the transforming difference? How one's actions to the "least of my brethren" is done unto Him? I never wrote these down and surprised to see it all hanging on the wall.

I have since detailed my own philosophy of education. I've likened how some teachers respond to a call when they can do much better elsewhere (financially and professionally) and honor a lot of them for being those who form young men and women to become movers and shakers.

I now look back and check whether I have caught 153 fish after changing where I cast my net...

To be continued...