Bible Roulette

I played Bible Roulette once. That double entendre of the phrase “Be careful of what you wished for” dawned on me.

Heavy laden with homesickness and burdened by culture shock, Rey, my co-worker at Arabian Bechtel Co. in Jubail, sympathized. 

“Go to the CR,”. He said, as I received my first letter from home. I poured out all my tears at the toilet bowl.    

I blamed myself for making a superb resume applying for a Secretarial job. Also, for coming out smart when Gene Chalmer, a Bechtel recruiter who interviewed me at (OEDB) Overseas Employment Development Board. Because of that, I filled the position as Secretary of Michael Bishop, Head of the Operation and Maintenance Dept. Later on, I rather wished ending up as Group Manager’s Secretary. 

That’s where my calvary started. Bishop terrorized me of his demanding demeanor. And his massive responsibilities. 

For one equipped of a week office practise at the Baliwag Municipal Court, which I learned nothing, I dreaded and panicked of the monumental task ahead of me.  “Be careful of what you wish for” had it’s full measure. 

Rey, the Secretary of the Health Group Division, gave me solace and comfort. He sensed I need a coping mechanism. 

He said, he opens his Bible and pokes his index finger on the open page. To which verse his finger landed, he reflected on it. And he found peace and tranquility of its revelation. 

Despair, I tried Rey’s method. I flipped my Bible and poke my index finger on the page. My finger pointed on Matthew 27:5 which says: “Then [Judas] went away and hanged himself”.  HUH!

Not satisfied, I did it again. Bible Roulette comes to mind. 

My finger dropped on Luke 10:27. It says “Go and do likewise”. 

My third try landed on John 13:37. “What you are about to do, do quickly”.
   

Three times the Bible wove dangerous theme. 

Another “Be careful…” ran through my brain. 

That experience, however, taught me to read the Bible in context. It encourages me to dig deeper: By reading Bible Commentaries and its corresponding historical background. 

I got excited of the new discovery and insights. So engrossed, my problems dissipated. My emotions nourished no more of negative vibes. 

“Being Careful…” turned beneficial. 

Subtle-Shrouded Racism

Subtle-shrouded Racism; an article I wrote in August 1992, paved the way for me to become one of the Filipino Journal’s Columnists under the banner of “Undertow Ripple”.

The Filipino Journal is a local newspaper here in Winnipeg. 

When “Black Lives Matter” pushed shock waves, backdropped by the covid 19 pandemic, it brought back the memory of my debut article. 

A stand up comedy show on Art & Entertainment TV injected me with this idea. 

A Black performer on stage toward his finale begs a White man from the audience sitting at the front to stand up. 

He asked: “What are you when you were born…? You’re pink? Right… When you grew up, you’re white. Right? Get sick, you’re green. Sunbathed, you’re red. Out in the cold, you’re blue. And when you die, you turned purple. 

He finger-pointed the White man.

“Listen, young man.  I am born black. Grew up black. Black, when I am sick. Even in the sun, I am black. When I die, I am sure I’ll be black. Still, you have the nerved calling me COLORED,”. 

The Black comedian bowed amidst the warm applause. 

His joke resourced from his own experience.  It’s subtle. If he didn’t perform it in public, it’s shrouded.

I observe people making racist comments. They’ll look around, assumed it’s safe, and let it fly. 

Subtle-shrouded racism is an attitude. It throbs on culture-clashing setup. It is difficult to attack. Comments. Drawings. Knee jerks outburst cannot be single out as an incident worthy of grievance.

Our world witnessed extreme cases of racism.  Adolf Hitler to perpetuate the purity of the master race gassed millions of Jew. Black and Whites segregated fifty years ago in the United States. In South Africa, Apartheid (apartness) spurred violence ashed in volcanic hatred. 

This racism mellowed now. There had been an acceptable improvement. 

What about Subtle-shrouded racism..?

Only if we recognize that people’s differences are for our togetherness. We differ to acknowledge the need of what we don’t have. That we depend on one another.