I’m sitting in front of my computer tonight listening to the sound of the wind howling outside. It feels good to hear that sound again after many months of sweltering heat. It’s quite incredible to think that barely weeks ago, it was so hot here in Metro Manila that not even my air conditioning system was enough to cool my little room. It’s good to be reminded that after that heat, there are still days and nights when rain would pound on my roof and the wind would make that lovely sound as it bounces off my window.

Yes it’s already the rainy season here in the Philippines, and while my blogging friends from the US and other parts of the world are talking about summer over at Bridget Chumbley’s blog, I’m writing about the typhoon that’s about to hit Metro Manila in a few hours. Our local weather bureau just announced signal number 1 over Manila some hours ago while the other parts of the country are in signal numbers 2 and 3. Elementary and high school classes are suspended tomorrow. There might be floods in Manila if rain would pour even for an hour. We have the worst drainage in the world.

I think one definition of faith should be “trusting God in that span of time between the minute you realized you are in mortal danger until the time the miraculous rescue happens.”

God specifically told Moses to speak to the rock for the water to pour out. The command was explicit but the execution was a little faulty. Moses didn’t obey God. Instead of speaking to the rock, he verbally lashed out on the people and struck the rock with his staff.

The water gushed out all right but his disobedience cost him his ticket to the promised land. Moses died in the wilderness along with the rest of the stubborn Israelites. What a sad, sad conclusion for a great man’s ministry.