Poem: My Covid-19 Experience

I received the result on Valentine’s day…“of all days…why today?!”
Very mild symptoms; still didn’t feel okay.
I had exams to face, I felt afraid.
I dare say, I felt betrayed.
“After I made sure to stay safe,
why was it me who’d fallen prey?”

But then I thought, “just appreciate what’s still there”.
So I sat quietly and became aware
of the many people I know, who really care.
As days passed by, everyone gave their share.

One delivered groceries;
another said rosaries;
one sent a courier with accessories!
I even had support from overseas…

I thought, “it’s true, I lost two senses – both taste and smell,
but I have friends and family, who truly wish me well”.
I could not get out to run, as I usually do,
but I appreciated my dwelling, all clean and brand new.

I was stuck inside, all alone in my flat;
this gave me time to use my pink mat.
I started to work out indoors, using bodyweight,
and from sixty-nine kilos, I turned sixty-eight!

If we focus on the good,
then we’d have understood
all that living life is all about.
It’s not about having it all
but about learning to rise after every fall;

Not about avoiding all the pain,
but about turning a loss into a gain;
not about having sunny days time and again,
but about learning to dance, even in the rain.

The virus was not good for my health
but a bleak situation showed me great wealth.

A Covid-19 Experience Poem

Read more from Sarah Borg:
– Deep Love Poem – What is Love?
– A Poem About Who Am I

The post My Covid-19 Experience Poem appeared first on Universe of Faith.

1. God Expects Something From Each One Of Us

“God expects something from you. Have you understood this? God expects something from you, God wants something from you. God hopes in you. God comes to break down all our fences. He comes to open the doors of our lives, our dreams, our ways of seeing things. God comes to break open everything that keeps you closed in. He is encouraging you to dream. He wants to make you see that, with you, the world can be different. For the fact is, unless you offer the best of yourselves, the world will never be different.  This is the challenge.”
Pope Francis, World Youth Day, Poland, 30th July 2016

2. Young People, Leave A Mark With Your Life

“It is very sad to pass through life without leaving a markCertainly, drugs are bad, but there are plenty of other socially acceptable drugs, that can end up enslaving us just the same.  One way or the other, they rob us of our greatest treasure: our freedom.

The times we live in require only active players on the field, and there is no room for those who sit on the bench.  Today’s world demands that you be a protagonist of history because life is always beautiful when we choose to live it fully, when we choose to leave a mark. As he did on Pentecost, the Lord wants to…turn your hands into signs of reconciliation, of communion, of creation.  He wants your hands to continue building the world of today.  And he wants to build that world with you.
Pope Francis, World Youth Day, Poland, 30th July, 2016

3. Sofa Happiness Does Not Exist

“Confusing happiness with a sofawhich makes us feel comfortable, calm, safe…that promises us hours of comfort so we can escape to the world of videogames and spend all kinds of time in front of a computer screen.  A sofa that keeps us safe from any kind of pain and fear.  A sofa that allows us to stay home without needing to work at, or worry about, anything.  “Sofa-happiness !  Little by little, without even realising it, we start to nod off, to grow drowsy and dull.”
Pope Francis, World Youth Day, Poland, 30th July, 2016

4. The Lord Wants To Enter And Enrich The Details Of Your Life

“The Lord…wants to enter your homes, to dwell in your daily lives: in your studies, your first years of work, your friendships and affections, your hopes and dreams.  How greatly he desires that you bring all this to him in prayer!  How much he hopes that, in all the “contacts and “chats of each day, pride of place be given to the golden thread of prayer!  How much he wants his word to be able to speak to you day after day, so that you can make his Gospel your own, so that it can serve as a compass for you on the highways of life!”
Pope Francis, World Youth Day, Poland, 31st July, 2016

These Pope Francis World Youth Day quotes were compiled by Sarah Borg, a participant in World Youth Day 2016.

Read more:
– Top Pope Francis’ Solidarity Quotes  
– Youth Arise International
– Malta Catholic Youth Network
– Resources for youth leaders. Kindly note material is at times in Maltese.

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I had completed the course in Teaching English to Foreign Learners. I had found a job teaching English with a renowned school in Malta. I was set to start teaching, very enthusiastic and fully determined to be well-prepared to give the best learning experience I can to my prospective students. Not so simple.

Teaching English to Europeans

I started realising that my good grades in the course, the fame of the school and my drive to be a dedicated teacher just weren’t enough. Most students, who hailed mostly from European and Northern countries, were not very keen on learning and cared very little about the long time I used to spend preparing a creative and fun lesson for them. I must admit that the discrepancy between my expectations and the reality in the classroom was very big, to say the least. But on and on I trodded, pushing my limits, driving myself forwards and untypically waiting for summer to end. I wanted this teaching experience to come to an end. Not all students were difficult to teach, but most of them were.

Teaching English to Refugees

After these three summers, I was qualified enough to use my language skills in another job. But seven years down the line, while I was working full-time in an administrative role, another opportunity for teaching English came up. It was a part-time post and I could juggle it alongside my full time job. But, teaching English again The only difference between the former teaching experience, and this one I was faced with, was mainly the originating country of the students and their status in Malta. The students were going to be refugees taken care of by the Jesuit Refugee Service. Some people warned me that it might be risky to teach students from such a different culture with a possible heavy psychological baggage. But being a person who is quite open to change and risk, I decided to take the plunge.

I’m very grateful that I did take the risk because I confirmed that my former experience in teaching English was far from the whole picture! In this new experience, the students were by and large more open to learn, much more polite, courteous and respectful. Teaching them was not only far from draining, but enriching on so many different levels. Not only didn’t they make it difficult for me to teach them, but they gave me more ideas on what they would like to improve upon; they enjoyed studying the spelling of words and being tested through a dictation during the following lesson. Whereas with the other students I was cautious about being humorous because I would be taken lightly, these students made it easy for me to joke in class because they knew how to have a good laugh then get back to work. Their participation in class, their level of motivation and visible effort, made the preparation of lessons a much more pleasurable process. I could see a marked improvement.

Beyond lessons , getting to know the students 

The class consisted of two mothers and three siblings. Eventually the two mothers found a job which clashed with my lessons, so I ended up teaching just the three siblings: Yasmine, the eldest daughter, is shy and quite reserved, very good at dictations, artistic and very courteous. Shiar, the middle son, is very bright, enthusiastic and sometimes hides his shyness behind a cute smile. Sheren, the youngest daughter is very talkative, kind, altruistic and caring. When she grows up she would like to become a lawyer “because I want to help people, people like us. Because people like us need a lot of help! .

Our bond grew so much that they told me to start having the lessons in the room they lived in since they were the only students in class. Here I got to meet the siblings’ parents who were both very kind and caring. On one particular day I ate with them a delicious meal prepared by the mother. It was such a great experience! Even though they only have one room in which to reside, they were always very generous with me. During the class, the mother would put a glass of water and the father often asked me to stay for coffee with the family after class. I used to go home energised and looking forward to the next class. I started loving these three teenagers and the family as a whole. I gave them books to read and keep. Yes, I taught them a lot, but they gave me much more than I gave them. Their politeness, generosity, genuine love and care touched my heart in unparalleled ways.

Read more:
– Finding God In Literature
– Overcoming Fear – “Do Not Be Afraid”

The post Teaching English as a Foreign Language – a Touching Experience appeared first on Universe of Faith.

I’ve always approached my past relationships, both friendships but mostly romantic relationships, in very much the same manner I would approach an interview. I want to show the other person on the other side of the table sipping coffee that I am capable, competent, worth being in a relationship with, that the person would be lucky to have me on board. I guess trying to gain the other’s approval in the beginning of a relationship is quite a natural thing to do.

But my tendency is to prolong this game ad infinitum, constantly trying to prove myself, leaving no room for the other to know my weaknesses, my fears, my insecurities, which is crucial in maintaining a successful relationship. I play the game of trying to implicitly make the point that he might easily lose me, giving out the message that he’d better be alert and perform well, or else I might just say goodbye.

Being raised in a family where we were encouraged to be our best, I interpreted this outlook as the need to always be the best. I’m noticing I’ve carried this attitude in approaching relationships. I never address real issues with the other person, lest they might see me as weak or inferior which might lead to them not feeling the need to be with me anymore, and then – God forbid!, rejecting me. Oh what I do, how many miles I walk just for the sake of not being rejected. I have an insatiable thirst to be loved and approved of by everybody.

As my perspective is slowly widening, I’m starting to think ‘Man, this is not it!’ We are talking about relationships here, not about competitions. This is a learning curve which we travel through while holding hands, not a rat race which you sprint through while stealthily checking if the other person is ahead of you.

If I am with a guy, I want to be in a relationship with him, not in a playful tug of war. I want to be known by a person for who I really am. If the person really loves me, I want him to fall in love with the truth of who I am, not with a false image, a mask behind which I constantly hide. For, in truth, if a person falls in love with my mask, he wouldn’t be falling in love with me. But what a beautiful thing it would be if I show the true multi-layered me, with its good and bad, and be truly loved for that, for all of what makes me me. I don’t need to be loved by the whole world. But if I am going to invest in some close intimate relationships, I want to be who I am.

I need to become more aware of my patterns, the underlying truths behind my behaviour. This way, I would be better able to communicate them with the persons who I’m investing in. Because if I wouldn’t really know myself well, it would be much difficult for the other persons to understand me.

I want to live in the truth. Yes, the truth can be hard to digest sometimes. But I’d rather go through the hardship and pain in order to obtain and give out something real, rather than remain on the surface with the glitter and the shine and obtain absolutely nothing, also giving out nothing.

Read more:
– Overcoming Fear – “Do Not Be Afraid”
– Catholic Prayers For Strength

The post Being True to Oneself – Sarah’s Experience appeared first on Universe of Faith.

This poem about deep love describes how multifaceted love is. It describes both love between people and love as a feeling and experience.

Love cannot be described or explained in words.
A person can experience love and know it is love;
one can give love and feel s/he has given it to someone.
But love is too multifaceted to be contained in a singular definition.

Love is alive
Love gives life.
It protects from danger.
Love saves,
drives, ignites,
provides energy, motivation.
Love sparks into action,
brings awareness, awakens.
Love raises from death.

Love overcomes every obstacle,
every physical disability
every mental limitation,
every emotional hurt,
every spiritual aridity,
every natural law.

Love is a verb
Love gives, provides,
serves, feeds,
feels, expresses.
Love explains.
Love cares.
It seeks, finds and shares.
Love heals, restores,
touches, hugs,
brings joy.
Love sees beauty,
and love gives hope.

Love is that candle in the dark,
that caring tap on the shoulder,
that tear trickling down your face,
a child’s hug.
Love is a gift and a grace.
Love is abundant.

Love is intelligent
It observes,
associates,
listens, believes,
convinces.
Love is capable, competent.
Love knows.

Love is creative
It invents, creates, solves.
It searches, builds bridges, connects, joins.
Love can be random and spontaneous.
It converts, transforms,
moulds gently and slowly gives shape.

Love is not
Love is not segregation but unison;
not competition but collaboration;
not exclusion but inclusion;
not a relief but a cure;
not superficial but very intimate, touching the core,
not shallow but deep;
not a hierarchy but relationship;
not a feeling but a decision, a choice.
Love does not judge but listens, learns and understands;
Love does not take advantage or abuse;
It does not feel superior or try to inferiorise.
Love does not destroy.

Love can be paradoxical
Love can provide meaning,
but it can leave you questioning its mystery.
Love can be cruel,
to be kind.
Love shelters, protects,
but exposes to the elements too.
Love teaches slowly
but sometimes teaches you the hard way.
Love does not only have affinity with the beautiful;
but it does finds beauty in everything it loves.
Love can do miracles but demands hard work too.
Love is patient but can be furious.
It can give you energy but it can tire you out.
Love offers but does not impose.
Love prays but does not beg.
Love remembers and it forgets.
Love is innocent but very wise.
Love is brave but can make itself small.
Love is humble but has its own pride.
It praises but does not puff up falsely.
Love is selfless but soulful.
Love is passion but still present in the ordinary and mundane.
It is permanent but it changes everything.
It gives everything but can withold some.
Love tames and wildens.
Love is simple but difficult to practise.
Love holds on but knows how to let go.
Love can give flavour but it can have a sour taste.
Love is quality but renders quantity.
Love creates meaning from chaos,
and sees logic in mess.
Love unites broken fragments but can allow fragments to remain separate, broken, but whole.
Love can be silent but strong.
Love is holy but not self-righteous.
Love is raw but can be refined.
Love does not prevent pain.

Love is pure
Love is transparent.
It is genuine, truthful,
authentic and never false.
Love gives autonomy.
It  does not seek approval.
Love seeks truth
and does not fear.
Love is intentionally generous,
wholly meaningful,
and totally unbounded.

Love remains
Love is not always sweet, not always spicy.
But Love remains.
Love starts and completes.
Love never dies.
Love is presence,
commitment,
loyalty, fidelity,
sacrifice,
responsibility.
You can count on true love.
Love gives sustainable security and peace of mind.
Love tries. Love keeps on trying, and trying and puts more effort into trying again and again.
Love waits and keeps waiting with full of hope.
Love keeps hoping and
tries once again and again ad nauseum.
Love always sees possibility, keeps believing
and keeps seeing potential.
Love appreciates.
Love is never defeated but carries on
and pushes itself to keep moving forward.
Love endures all things.

Love is hospitable
It invites,
includes,
greets, welcomes, warms,
Love makes time.
It treats well, sometimes pampers.
Love surprises.
It is tolerant.
Love accepts.
It is gentle,
sweet,
considerate,
respectful,
sensitive,
kind.

Love changes
everything,
everyone.
With love, nothing stays the same.
It changes me, you, him, her.
Love conquers the heart
and true love changes us all.

Love is Divine
Love is sacred.
Love is almighty, infinite;
a spirit,
a force, a power,
with no end.
Love overflows with abundance.
It goes beyond space, time, cultures, beliefs.
Love has no limitations,
no boundaries whatsoever.
Love is supernatural, extraordinary.
Love is truth
and love is the way.
Love gives peace
and those who choose the way of love
are always winners in the end.

Love is all
If you have love, you have everything.
If you do not have love, you have nothing.

Deep love poem
What is love poem

Read more:
– Top Popes’ Quotes About Love

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In this poem the poet describes negative thoughts she has about herself and for each thought she finds a positive answer.

I feel like a failure: pathetic and inadequate.
Shh! I am very emotionally literate.

I know I can be socially awkward: easily intimidated and shy.
Shh! People compliment me on my blue eyes.

Not much of a logical or numerical thinker.
Shh! My friends tell me I can be a good singer.

At times I question the purpose of my existence:
Why did God create me? Wherefore did He send me?
Shh! Maybe I was sent to brighten others’ lives by being caring and friendly.

At times I am too much of an idealist.
Shh! At least I’m not a pessimist.

Too taken in by outside allure.
Shh! Facing difficulties made me mature.

Sometimes my mind is in the clouds, even when focus would be imperative.
Shh! I am very intuitive and sometimes creative.

I can be a quick quitter: I easily give up.
Shh! At least I know how to shut the bad thoughts up.

Cause that’s what I’ve been doing all along:
sing a positive verse when I don’t like the song.

The negative adjectives are so real and they make me so blue.
But that doesn’t stop the positive adjectives from also being true.

Although at times I make myself mad,
Negative thinking will only make me more sad.

I am what I am: all the good and the bad.
I deserve love from myself; no one can love me as much as I can.

Read more:
– How Can I Heal The Shame I Feel?
– A Prayer To Help Me Lose Weight

The post A Poem About Who Am I appeared first on Universe of Faith.

“I found myself trapped within the same circle of prayer”

Unfortunately, however, I found myself trapped within the same circle of prayer: the same ideas, the same vocabulary, the same line of thought. Thanking Jesus became a ritualistic formality instead of a heartfelt prayer of gratitude. Therefore, lately I was praying about how to pray. I told God that I am running out of ideas about how I should pray. I was afraid that prayer was becoming another task in my To Do List which I had to check out to make sure that the deeds of my day would be accomplished.

God hears our prayer. After a week of praying to pray better, the session of the spiritual community I attend to was about ‘My Prayer Life’. We all voiced our concerns regarding our prayer time.  A friend within the community disclosed my same concern about praying for the same things in the same way. She suggested the following site which guides your prayer time through a short reflection, an extract from the Scripture and other resources which help your prayer be more meaningful and fruitful. I found it useful.

http://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-spiritual-exercises/an-ignatian-prayer-adventure

“from working my prayers to letting myself be worked upon.”

During the mentioned session of our spiritual community, a point which came out was our general concern about not praying well, our need to give Jesus a good prayer daily. The following reflection (which I found in the abovementioned link) put me in the proper frame of mind:

Prayer has far more to do with what God wants to do in us than with our trying to “reach or “realize, still less “entertain, God in prayer. This truth eliminates anxiety and concern as to the success or non-success of our prayer, for we can be quite certain that, if we want to pray and give the time to prayer, God is always successful and that is what matters. . . . What we think of as our search for God is, in reality, a response to the divine Lover drawing us to himself. There is never a moment when divine Love is not at work. . . . our part is to let ourselves be loved, let ourselves be given to, let ourselves be worked upon by this great God and made capable of total union with Him.

 Happy Prayer Time! =)

Sarah

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