...His Hand has Calmed my Troubled Heart and I Believe

Good Friday. By this afternoon, we'll hear a service about the Lord's seven last words. It's gonna be a long and dragging service. But it's okay, though. We only observe what they call "Siete Palabra" once a year. Do we really observe the Holy Week because of what it should be for- repentance and thanksgiving?

I admit I still eat meat during the days when I shouldn't (as the Catholic faith dictates). I'm a Protestant, like my Papa, but my Mama was born and raised in Catholicism. It has never been a problem with us, however. But sacrificing what you're eating isn't the only way of showing repentance.

When I was in still in high school, at the height of the cellphone fever- it was torture not to have your cellphone for a day- what more for a week? My Papa would keep my cell phone from me and I'd be worried sick for days. I didn't have to sacrifice anything else, he said, I just had to give up something that I'm used to.

Yesterday, when I realized it was Maunday Thursday, I went online and immediately deactivated my Facebook account. I drove my Mama to the market for some items and when I went back home, I had messages on my YM. Friends wondered why they couldn't find me over at the social networking site. I simply said, "I deactivated my account for the Holy Week". Though it's something new to me, I'm okay with it. I'm not dying to go back- yet. It's nice to have a break from the public. It's a new experience, not having to log in to your account and spy on others' lives. When I checked my e-mail, no notifications. It's a weird feeling, though. I'm not saying I won't get back and activate my account. Actually, I will. By tomorrow.

The reason behind the deactivation is as simple as what my Papa said- sacrifice something that you're used to. Not the conventional one of not eating meat, not going out and be silent the whole day. We do Holy Week the other way around- eat meat, loud music, laugh. We don't pretend to be sad because Jesus Christ died. We're happy because He has given His life for us, and He has saved us from our sea of sins. Because we know for a fact that He will rise again. :) If anyone of you thinks it's just plain wrong, you better keep it to yourself. Just respect how we do it, because I never said anything bad about how you observe the Holy Week.