Rose and I had just finished watching a movie tonight when I saw my friend's text - his son got mugged just as he was about to enter their front gate.
The muggers, three teenage boys - took the boy's bag which contained his dad's [my friend's] laptop [a Macbook]. His son had borrowed it from him to use in their class group's presentation.
I called my friend as soon as I could, we we finally got home. I asked about his son; then I asked him how he was. His son was better, he said. Poor kid, he was distraught about losing his dad's computer and was afraid he would get scolded.
"How can I scold you"", my friend said to his son. "You are worth more to me than things lost." My heart went out to the boy. And to my friend, a fellow-dad.
It's true, you see. Now that I am a father myself, I really know and believe that nothing is worth more that the life, safety and well-being of any member of my family.
The elders of my youth used to say, "Di bale nang manakawan ng sampung beses, wag lang masunugan ng isang beses."
To that I would add, "O mabawian ng isang buhay."
After having talked to my friend at length, and having satisfied myself that he and his son are doing fine, my thoughts immediately turned to my family.
I noted that it was past 10 and Jesi was not yet home. I rang her cellphone - no reply [turns out I hit my wife's speed dial number by force of habit]. Happily, I heard our daughter's voice chattering animatedly in our living room just a few minutes after my futile call.
I breathed a sigh of relief. Mentally, I shrugged off the heavy burden of anxiety.
I told my wife about my friend's text. "Oh my," she said. I assured her they were both fine.
She relaxed.
I had just plopped onto our bed and was about to conk out when the thought hit me - I should call for a short family meeting. So I did.
I was going to talk to them about the day's challenge. My sojourn to the Valley of Elah had not been as dramatic as I had foreseen it. Nonetheless, a giant was faced. And warned.
But my "harrowing plight" was nothing compared to what my friend surely had to endure - extreme anxiety, fear and worry all distilled in such a short moment of time - his travel time from work to home, where his son was still distraught.
My intent was to thank the Lord for our kids' safety and to remind them that our Journey, though enjoyable and blessing-filled, was still a warfare. And an enemy is still on the prowl.
In the middle of our talk my cellphone rang. It was my friend.
"He prepares a table for me in the presence of my enemies", he said, quoting a verse from the Shepherd's Psalm.
"Amen," I said.
"It just struck me," he continued. "At that point in the psalm, it shifts perspectives - from 'the shepherd's sheep' to 'the shepherd's guest'. As the host, the shepherd prepares a feast for his guest, whom he has welcomed into his tent."
"In the Bedouin custom of those times, for as long as a guest is in his host's tent, he not only enjoys his host's hospitality but also his protection. If anyone should try to harm the host's guest, he would have the host whole caravan to contend with," he said.
"I thank God that He had 'prepared a feast' for my son..."
"In the presence of his enemies," I thought.
I was amazed at my friend's fortitude. And comforted by his steadfast faith. I shared his thoughts to my family and we prayed.
---
Thank You, Lord!
You are our Shepherd. You alone are our strength and shield.
You are The One Who keeps us safe from the evil one.
Indeed, You prepare a table for us even in the presence of our enemies.
~ Selah.
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