Writings In Spirit

By Hermie Climaco

Embark on a gripping literary adventure with this Catholic-inspired book, "Writings in Spirit: A Collection of Stories that Highlights the Spiritual Implications of Life's Experiences while on Sojourn in American Soil." 

 

"Writings in Spirit" explores human experiences with profound spiritual insights from the rich perspective of Catholic wisdom.

 

The stories serve as a beacon of light, illuminating the hidden meaning of life's seemingly ordinary moments and experiences. 

 

As you delve into the pages of Writings In Spirit you will discover a treasure trove of insightful narratives that highlights the essence and meaning of life and life's experiences. 

 

Author draws upon a combined palette of knowledge and Catholic teachings that would enrich your faith and life as a Catholic.

 

Whether you're a devout Catholic seeking to deepen your faith, a seeker of life's meaning and purpose, or a lover of insightful tales, this collection will resonate with you on a profound level. 

 

Writings in Spirit is a great companion for the spiritual explorer. Each story contains a lesson, and nuggets of wisdom, that can transform the way you perceive life in this world and the next.

 

With lyrical prose and an unwavering dedication to Catholic teachings, the Author invites you to explore the depth of human experience through the lens of faith.

 

Here's a testament to the enduring power of life's testimony to uplift, inspire, and illuminate the hidden connection of our lives to the divine existence.

Embark on a gripping literary adventure with this Catholic-inspired book, "Writings in Spirit: A Collection of Stories that Highlights the Spiritual Implications of Life's Experiences while on Sojourn in American Soil." 

 

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hermie Climaco
• Release date: Feb 1, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224852123

Book preview

Chapter 1 (Introduction)

GIVE YOUR TALENTS BACK TO GOD

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My husband Rey and I joined Couples for Christ (CFC), a Catholic lay community, in 1995.

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After becoming a CFC member, the knowledge I gained about our Christian faith grew enormously.

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But there was one thing that truly made an impact on me when I became a CFC member - the teaching of giving back to God the talents that He has given to us.

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In my case – writing!

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Once, during prayer time, the message of giving our talents back to God popped in my mind, and with it came a fleeting thought – the thought of writing a book!

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I shuddered as the idea of writing a book nestled in my mind.

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Never in my early writing days did the thought of embarking on such a gigantic task as authoring a book come to my mind.

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Obviously, only highly learned people deserve to immerse themselves in such enormous undertakings as writing a book and becoming an author.

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Nevertheless, from that day forward a desire was born (hesitantly) in my heart - the desire to become an author.

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I told myself that if ever I would write a book, or become an author, my first book is going to be for God and about God.

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In 2002, God blessed my family with the opportunity of coming to America.

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Shortly after arriving in America, I found myself contributing articles to Manila Mail, a Filipino American (Fil-Am) community newspaper based in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.

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That writing opportunity provided me the chance to offer my writing gift to God as I began to write about faith under my own column, Making A Difference.

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After over a year I moved to another Fil-Am newspaper, Pinoy Herald, and again wrote faith-related articles under the column, In His Praise.

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This book that you are holding in your hands right now is a collection of articles from those two previous newspaper columns: Making A Difference and In His Praise.

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I embarked on compiling some of those articles and turned them into this book to fulfill my commitment to God to honor Him first when I start my journey of becoming an author.

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Another significant teaching has also influenced my spiritual life following my membership of CFC. The teaching on discipleship has birthed in me the desire to take part in the task of evangelization, Jesus’s farewell command to His apostles and followers before He went back to heaven, which was to: Go and make disciples of all nations . . . 

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That was another significant reason I wrote faith-related articles in those two local newspapers in Washington, D.C; and this time, in publishing this faith-related book.

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I hope that this book can pass up as a vehicle in taking part in the work of evangelization that Jesus called us to do.

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I pray God would bless all of you who read this book and that you’d be enriched in faith through the stories and insights presented in this book.

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And may you all be encouraged to give back to God the gifts, or talents, that you receive from Him - our most loving and merciful Father in heaven – and be doubly blessed in doing so.

Chapter 2

WHEN YOU SAY I LOVE YOU LORD DO YOU SUPPORT IT WITH YOUR WITNESSING?

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For God did not give us a spirit of timidity . . . Do not be ashamed then of testifying to our Lord ...

2 Timothy 1:7-8

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After completing our 13-week Christian Life Program in Couples for Christ my husband and I found ourselves immersed in various activities such as weekly household prayer meetings, monthly chapter meetings and quarterly cluster assemblies.

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On several occasions in our monthly chapter meetings, which are held alternately in different churches, I couldn’t avoid noticing a sister in our household group who loves so much to go in front the assembly to give a testimony.

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One time as she again gave a testimony boldly and loudly shouting PRAISE THE LORD! I whispered to my husband how much I truly admired our sister in Christ’s courage in witnessing for the Lord and speaking in front the assembly but added, even if I am courageous, I’ll never dare go in front, or up the stage, to give a testimony, it’s so shameful.

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Months into the community, I learned that it is a must to testify for the Lord.

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God, Himself, had in fact convicted me about the comment I made concerning how shameful it was to go in front of the gathering to give a testimony.

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He said in one of my devotional readings, If you say, ‘I love You, Lord’ do you support it with your witnessing?

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I was sure God had just corrected me.

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From then on, I always wanted to share a testimony when there was an opportunity, even if I felt very nervous speaking in front of a large group.

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We cannot deprive God the honor that He deserves in proclaiming the great things that He has done in our life.

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As Christians, it is our obligation to testify for the Lord and make known the magnitude of the great things that He is doing in our life.

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Testifying for our Lord is a great opportunity to lead those who hear our testimony welcome God in their life and so also receive and enjoy God’s promises that are available to everyone who walks with Him in his or her daily life.

Chapter 3

THE AMERICAN DREAM IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE 9-11 TERRORIST ATTACK ON THE UNITED STATES

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In the wake of the harrowing 9/11 terroristic attack on the United States of America, many American dreams were vastly affected.

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Fear and anxiety took hold of many hearts and minds following the gruesome 9-11 terrorist attack on the United States.

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I was no exemption.

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In fact, I may have been more fearful than others because a few months after the 9-11 incident my husband received his military assignment abroad.

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The place of assignment: Washington, D.C. USA.

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His American Dream.

The Cost of a Fulfilled Dream

The biggest blessing to our family finally came.

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But it came with a cost.

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The cost of fear.

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Nevertheless, I cherished the day my husband announced his incoming projection.

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Something came up! Rey said when he called me at my workplace one afternoon.

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What was it? I asked.

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I will explain it to you later. I’ll meet you at Jollibee at six o’clock.

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I sighed.

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He should have told me right there on the phone.

Air Force Sergeant of the Armed Forces of the Philippines

Rey was an Air Force Staff Sergeant of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

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In 1991, he took and passed a six-month military course that qualified him for a three-year assignment abroad as Administrative Assistant to the Défense and Armed Forces Attaché.

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Where particularly abroad depends upon the deliberation board that meets every three years to select the most qualified personnel to replace those who are completing their three-year tour of duty in their respective country of assignment.

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But Rey’s turn for projection abroad took so long.

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Ten years.

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The many years that passed, and every time being bypassed by junior colleagues, frustrated him.

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He thought it wouldn’t happen anymore.

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But, by God’s grace, it happened.

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After ten long years.

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What was it? I immediately asked Rey as soon as I reached Jollibee at SM Megamall and claimed the empty chair across from him, from what looked like a newly vacated table.

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What do you want to hear first, the good news or the bad news?

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Whatever you want to tell me first. I said.

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The good news is I am finally included in the next round of projection, Rey said.

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I am going to Washington, D.C.! he added.

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I glared.

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It was a double accomplishment.

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At last, he is going to be projected abroad and he is going to America -  his dream country.

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He is finally going to fulfill his American dream.

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And the bad news?

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The bad news is Washington, D.C. is a hot spot, right now.

The al-Qaeda Attack

Rey’s successful inclusion in the list of projections abroad came at the height of the Al Qaeda attack on the United States that wiped out the World Trade Center tower in New York.

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Although many, including Rey, aspired to get projected to the Defense and Armed Forces Attaché Office in Washington, D.C., this time that aspiration turned sour among many of them.

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It was a scary time to go to America.