Life is guided.
Who does the lead matters.
God claims purview over all our path.
All In
Christianity is not your regular religion.
It is all in.
Nothing out.
GPS
Me: Papa, don't worry about us. We are all good. God has favored us with lavish blessings. You may now rest.
Papa: (staring at me ... silently intimating a thought ...)
Me: You taught me all that I am now good at ... grammar, foresight, basketball, boxing, persevering ... now, please teach me the most important practice ... how to jump from here to the eternal arms of our Redeemer.
Papa: (one last heave ... a strong but gentle inhale of final oxygen without any further release ...)
Thank you my beloved mentor and friend.
You taught me well.
California Flight to His Eternal Mansion / 2010 / Tomas Trinidad Diwa Jr.
Soar
When wings are clipped, spirit dies.
When hearts are freed, soul rises.
Only in Christ can we fly.
Mother and Daughter at New World Trade Center NYC
Old School
The anchor of ancient wisdom holds.
Run to the fount!
Ad fontis.
Absolute
Full obedience requires unconditional surrender.
Joy comes from the absolute.
God never withholds favor toward His faithful ones.
Nicolo: Praying Warrior
Courage
Faith runs from a stream of bold humility.
It breaks away from the ignorance of discernment.
A single step is taken leading towards freedom.
Nika Diwa-Ihedigbo/ DiwaDoll
Scrutiny
Our hearts are bare naked from within.
God speaks through to shatter our pretensions.
No amount of caffeine halts this.
Restitution
Forgiveness gives the sinner the voucher of reparation.
Bitterness rolls away with the sweet tide of reimbursement.
Ask for mercy and then quickly return whatever was taken.
Photography: Ces Evangelista
Pursuit
The element of pursuit is directly proportional to its motivation.
Race to win.
Beat the wind for Christ's acclaim.
Bro
The wealth of fellowship is deep.
Strangers become brothers.
Twined by the blood of the Lamb.
David, Tom & Co.
Thrust
All work thrives from a push.
When the True Narrator is excluded from the conversation, boredom settles.
The inverse is true: Christ rocks every trust.
Sip / Bianca Diwa @ Maman Tribeca
Establish
When we see our work in light of God's purpose, we recognize that we are merely fingers of His divine care for the common good.
It is from this perspective that we are called to excel not for ourselves or for others but to sow careful craft in His behalf.
All mind, heart, and tool come freely from this divine labor.
Engage
The land you live in is a gift from God.
Engage its opulent wonders.
Work well.
Train
Every push towards the goal is measured by heart rate.
The finish happens when the will yields to a point.
Imago Dei.
I Shall Tri.
Undercover
Work done in secret for Christ's glory receives the applause of heaven.
Walking through streets of gold while revealing true worth.
Wonder begins when all we do speaks of God.
CLOTHED / Nika Diwa-Ihedigbo / photography: Maddie Widder
Speed
When a man zips through the age barrier and soars, one wonders how eternity feels like.
At age 65, this kid breaks with a sick crossover, springs for a quick jumper and ends the game with a smile.
Thank you for prompting me to hoop again.
Until
In this present darkness, we are caught in a frenzy of cosmetic change.
Filtered machinations abound to cover our pain.
We hide in languish.
Until ...
We enter the sanctuary of God
and ...
Embrace the nearness of Christ.
ACRYLIC / David Talaguit
Breakaway
Stuff happens.
It pulls our allegiance towards the inanimate.
I must fight to live among the dead.
Reveal
Growth is always preceded by a willingness to unravel one's hidden foibles.
Once the mask is traded for scrutiny, a most unusual profundity ensues.
One finds himself.
