This webpage is dedicated to the non-Filipinos, who have adopted the Filipinos like their own. Inspiration came
from 2nd Lt. Thomas Bright Embry, my grandfather and many others like him. From time to time we will be posting inspiring
items as a way of returning the favor to this truly admirable individuals. The news item about Fr. Reuters was sent to us
by our Filipino community advocate Ms. Malou Mariano.
AT 3 a.m. (by James B. Reuter) 5/2009
HOPING WE WILL BE ONE, FOREVER
I am in Our lady of Peace Hospital,
on the Coastal Road, and it is really 3:00 A.M. The
planes coming and going from the airport are roaring over my head. Everything
is peaceful and quiet. Even the roaring planes add to the feeling of peace and
quiet. I am ten days away from my 93rd birthday. God has been kinder to me than
I deserve, giving me such a rich life, in such a beautiful country, among such gentle people.
He has blessed me with so many kind, affectionate, generous loving friends. I found that the best time for me to write
was 3:00 A.M. My mind is clearer, my heart is warmer, and I am overwhelmed with
the goodness of the people God sends to me. In this column I have always tried
to be positive presenting the goodness of people and the wisdom of God's Providence
as I saw it. I have tried to give .... to give the only thing I have to give ... Myself.
I have tried to share my thoughts, my feelings, the wonderful holiness that I see in the simple, gentle people that
God sends to me. As soon as I came to the Philippines
I realized that the Filipinos were the loveliest people in the world. It was
a gift of God, a special blessing, that He sent me here. I have been thanked for giving my life to the Philippines .... But whenever you give, you always get back
more than you have given. Thank you, for your gift of friendship through these
many long years for reading "At 3:00 A.M.." from the time I started writing my column for your reactions through letters and
phone calls when you liked or did not like what I wrote for sharing your stories which inspired me to write them so they could
inspire others for your love and concern*for your prayers which comfort me and which I need. I have tried to be a priest. A priest is a bridge ...a bridge between God and man .... a channel of God's love,
peace and joy. What I have found in the Philippines
is union .....union of hearts and minds ... It is marked by sharing .... The simple, gentle Filipino is willing to share all
he has, with everyone. That is holiness ... That is sanctity ... That is being like God. In heaven we will all be one - united
in heart and soul .... Loving each other. In this column written at 3:00 A.M. that was my only message ...give...give yourself....
love. And when I presented this, I discovered what it meant, myself. Being strong, sometimes, means being able to let go. I know that now is the time to " let go". I
have been up at 3:00 A.M. to write my column for many many years. It is now time
for me to stay in bed until the sun comes up and the birds start to sing. This is not goodbye.
Wherever I am, whatever I do, you are always in my heart and in my prayers. All
of you. God bless! The song is ended ... but the melody lingers on .. and on ... and on. I love those who have read this column...And
I hope that they love me.
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