Passport

I just got home from a busy day. Doing and rushing errands in processing travel documents. And wow, I never thought that it is this difficult. There are so many requirements you need to meet and pass in order to get what you need. For example, I wanted to avail my passport. I thought, by visiting their website would make it easier for me for at least, know what they need and what to bring. And so it says there, you need your birth certificate be authenticated by National Statistics Office. Your latest NBI clearance for abroad, 3 passport size ID pictures with royal blue background and that's it. And other valid IDs. And so before going there, I already have those documents ready. Went there, and guess what? They changed their system. Instead of standing in a very long line to have your papers verified,they give you appointed date which is a week long. So there's nothing i can do but wait. Only to find out that they don't honor my company ID. Whatta!!! The guy in the counter asked me to get my E1 form from Social Security System because my ID was lost due to my snatched wallet by some scumbags back then. Then, he also asked me to get my voter's records, registration and certificate. I went straight to COMELEC (Commission on Elections) and filled up forms to get my voter's documents. It is so frustrating why can't they say in your first visit what they want? Why do you have to wait for a week only to be told your papers are not enough?It's ridiculous! So the next day, i went to SSS, stand in line for two hours and was told i can only get my E1 form after 7 days. Aaaarrrggghhh!!! Then the face of that guy in DFA surfaced in my mind. Grrr!!!! He's really making it hard for me.
Then came the next day, I got my voter's records. I thought I'd go back to DFA and take my chances.Why not, i said to myself. Even if I still don't have my E1 form, I will take a chance to have my voter's records pass the verification. And so I went to a different window. This time I chose this amiable looking woman and have my papers verified. My heart beating so fast, mumbling prayers in my mind, hoping she'd accept my documents.....and so she did!!!! She even joked and said I was lucky for choosing her. Well, yeah! And so i went to wait in line again for payment. But it's okay to wait in line as long as you know that it's a sure ball already. And for me not to get bored waiting in line, I talk to people. Since we all have the same purpose of going there, we get to talk in the same interest. What strucked me is how you see so many Filipinos all painstakingly waiting in line just to get a passport. Everyday you will see thousands and thousands of Filipinos all wanting to get out of the country and look for a greener pasture anywhere but home. Bottomline is, there's no hope in our poor country. All are struggling to get out. Different destinations, even to warzone countries. People will risk their lives just to earn money. In hopes of making their family's lives get better.
And from there, I get to share with them what I learned from the Bible. As a Jehovah's witness, it is a natural obligation of us to share the hope we have. And that is the hope of everlasting life under God's Kingdom. That if we have knowledge about God's word, this gives us hope and set us free.Free from the world's worries. And even though there's no exception to the rule, all of us suffer from Satan's wicked system. There's a lot of questions raised in everyone's mind. Like, why do we suffer, if God is love, how can He allow such wickedness and injustices? And thru knowledge from the Bible, this sets us free. Free from being hopeless. And when you talk about this to people, they were amazed and you will see that bottomline is, all are in hopes of a better life....in a better world..under a better government. And sad to say, we cannot find it here.It all boils down to the kingdom of God as the sole answer to humankind's sufferings. A place where the only "passport" we need is the accurate knowledge from God's word. Sad to say, most don't give attention and some even mock God to His face. Just like in the days of Noah. When they were warned by Noah, for the coming of deluge. But instead of listening, they laughed and taunt him. And when the great anger of God came, it is too late for them to enter into the ark, that serves as the refuge.And just like in this "last days" ....Witnesses all over the world continued to preach the good news of the Kingdom telling and helping people to acquire accurate knowledge. And we ourselves are doing our best to meet God's standards. And it's nice that God is so good that even though we're not perfect, He accepts us and sees what's in our hearts. It is just up to us how to show appreciation for his kindness.