Spirituality Guide

A friendship that stems out of necessity seems to establish the strongest bond. In the midst of the struggle for a sense of identity, empathy, and a common language, the tie seems to grow stronger, if the friendship weather the storms.

At the start, the friendship is based on a common need to be understood. And due to the common plight, an instantaneous and silent bond formed between two souls.

A bond out of need not out of luxury eventually forms. Two people need each other’s help in order to direct their path to the right direction. It is a relationship established based on their desire to find themselves.

They can instantly empathize with each other because their experiences teach them to look beyond the façade. They could understand what the other is going through without being told.

The language that binds them is the language of the heart which does not really require much expression. A sense of understanding between them suffices.

Every society adheres to the long-held view that marriage is and always will be a sacred institution. To go against this view - to commit adultery - is to suffer condemnation even to the point of alienation.

Adultery is not a private sin that is confined within the walls of the home. It affects the emotions of people and the way they relate to society. Often, affected family members react in a negative way. Moral degradation becomes apparent in their conduct. As a consequence they become problems of the society. Illicit affairs often lead to disastrous end too. Because of the adulterous couple’s decadent ways, it is not surprising to read reports about crimes of passion in the papers. Adultery definitely affects society unfavorably.

If society tolerates adultery then it gives out a strong signal that it is okay to commit it. This, of course, will lead to further moral degradation. Children of those adulterous couples will possibly have no qualms following the example set by their parents. Deceit is a foregone conclusion since the illicit affair needs to be kept a secret at all cost.

Adultery also leads to decadence since it becomes a paramount concern that drowns all others. Eventually it destroys relationships and lives. Adultery is akin to taking poison in small doses – it sips out the life out of the person little by little. It doesn’t kill instantly but it kills eventually. It may not be death in physical sense. But it could possibly be far worse - moral, mental and emotional deterioration of a person.

Marriage is a mutual decision of two persons to commit themselves to each other for life. Love is the very foundation of marriage. But as time passes, love sometimes goes stale. Some couples want to recapture the magic of first love. If they cannot, they turn to other people to find what they need. But marriage is not based on feelings. Feelings come. Feelings go. Emotions can sometimes be misleading. It is the decision to stay together that remains, just as it is the decision to commit adultery that makes it easy. Everything starts and ends with the decision. Will over emotions. Mind over matter.

It is important for society to make a strong stand against adultery before it destroys the very moral fiber which holds the community together. Upholding what is right and virtuous often leads to peace and harmony. Adultery, even if it’s true love, is simply unacceptable. A problem cannot be solved by creating another problem. If all else fails, there is always a legal recourse open to the parties involve. All they need is to come up with a decision and be ready for the consequences.

I decided to become a published author at the tender age of 10.
I made the vow after I read Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice.

It never occur to me that years later, my childish dream would become a pulsating reality.

January 1999, I began writing my book. For five long years I labored constantly. Often in the middle of the night to be able to go to work early the next day.

I submitted the first three chapters of my manuscript to different publishers worldwide for a the whole span of five years. It was rejected more than a hundred times.

But I was not about to give up. The writer in me was just too stubborn to surrender to the fight.

January 2004 when I first clinched a publishing deal. But the publisher got ill and had to stop doing business.

With my book orphaned by the sudden turn of events, I was forced to look for another publisher that would take me in its wings.

My book found a perfect home in an award-winning publisher Double Dragon Publishing.

November 29, 2006 when I was informed by the publisher that my book is finally out!

In hindisght now, I can say that I would probably not persisted this long had it not been for the miracle-working powers of prayers.

Prayers alone got me through the difficult times. Prayers and persistence provides strength to the spirit to be able to triumph over any trial.

A friend posed this interesting question to me.

“Which would you rather have? To be trusted or to be loved?”

I ponder on this interesting question for a while. This indeed posed a dilemma to me because I’d rather have both.

But choosing one -

I think to be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved.

Because love is given freely. We love the person for no reason at all. The heart has its reasons which reason could not fathom. We don’t choose the ones we love. Love chooses us.

Trust, on the other hand, needs a reason. It is based on free will. It is a choice we make over and over again. It is something that we earn. It conveys character. An undeniable proof of strength of the person within.

Love is indeed the greatest gift we should all aspire to receive and bestow. But it is Trust that keeps the love in our lives continue burning, long after the emotion is gone.

My book is finally out in the market just today. Please click here to see the site. or, this link.

It all seems so surreal to me. I’m still digesting everything that is happening today. This is truly a dream come true. A dream that I have nurtured since a little girl.

I hope this serves as a living testament that dreams do come true. So to all the dreamers out there like me, continue dreaming and achieving!