Teacher's teacher

You hear of someone's rise to fame
All laurels sometimes rest on one
Then we see the financially challenged
All the street children's lot unchanged.

One heaves a sigh for a life lost
All because the lawmakers fought
Society is shaken for the chaos caused
Who can be spared from this for naught?

Generations of new and old query
When do all these realities go wary
Wonder no more but be ready for sure
"Death makes every person accountable"

To you my fellow sojourner
Take a moment or so to ponder
Whoever you are and whatever state you are kept
"Death makes you and I indebted."

This was the poem Teacher's teacher came to compose as Angelo Reyes, a statesman, an achiever but basically human, a person like every citizen is, is now with the Maker because he was forced to take his life hopefully for a greater good.

Now that Teacher's teacher is a blogger who "Blogs at Sixty" time is a luxury to be treasured. Also, the realization is clearer that just as life is real so is death. There is no status that bars death from visiting anyone of us. All we can do is pray that our God takes care of us and decides when our time becomes up at a time when we too are ready.

Johnson products are noted for its wholesome ads: mother-child photo with the mom putting Johnson powder all over the baby's body as manifestation of tender loving care; family using Johnson products: shampoo, lotion,cotton and many more. Yet, the heir of Johnson & Johnson, Casey Johnson, the lady who has everything, dies at 30. While we do not have the power to judge Casey, we are left wondering why she had a history of drug problems and why even her relationship was that of another woman. . .

This is another human story which tells us very vividly that our aspirations are basically the same. One can be rich but the desire for belongingness and love are the same with someone who is financially challenged. Wealth or fame does not determine our happiness. Everything we possess should only be used as means never ends.

Thus, Casey may have everything financially speaking but perhaps she did not have the emotional and pychological support that come only with families who give quality time to family gathering and one-on-one follow-up. Just the same, Casey is a fellow pilgrim who needs our prayer and plea for her eternal repose with her God.