Inferno

Date: 20 Aug, 2001



I don't know if it made international news, i think i saw it being reported on BBC, but here in the Philippines, another tragedy broke out, that of the Manor Hotel catching fire and that 72 people died. Most of these people were Christians from far flung places and they flew in from manila to attend a Christian conference. Ironically, the conference was entitled "Destiny Conference"... some destiny.

Three of my friends were involved in this accident. Unfortunately, all three died. Died. Dead. Kaput. No more.... Oh God, i don't know what to say. It all seems surreal that i should hear their names in every news channel. They weren't bad people, they were very nice people... in fact they were here to know more about God, what happened??!! I know they say that there is a purpose in everything and i really believe that, but right now, it is as if there is just one big smokescreen. Like the biblical character Job, you want to ask God why. Why them? Why that tragedy? They could have died in a less dramatic fashion, but why like that? Question after question... All i know is, God is in control...

I felt helpless watching their loved ones cry over them, how could i comfort them? I can't. They need to wallow in that state of despair. They need to feel the grief and cry all of their tears. They need to be humans. I can't say if this experience would make them stronger or wiser... i really have no idea.

This made me think that there are, like the dalmatians, 101 ways to die, and that you really do not know when your time would come to an end. So let us just live life without regrets for we really do not know what tomorrow brings.