In an article by Henri J.M. Nouwen, a Catholic priest, he describes his impressions after he saw Christ on a Donkey: "As Christ with a long slender face with a high forehead, inward-looking eyes, long hair and a small forked beard that expresses the mystery of his suffering in a way that holds me spellbound. He appeared to be concentrated on something else..... There is melancholy, but also peaceful acceptance. There is insight into the fickleness of the human heart but also immense compassion. There is a deep awareness of the unspeakable pain to be suffered but also strong determination to do God's will. Above all there is love, an endless, deep, far reaching love from an unbreakable intimacy with God and reaching out to all people, wherever they are or will be. There is nothing that he does not fully know. There is nobody whom he does not fully love. Every time I look at this Christ on the Donkey, I am reminded again that I am seen by him with all my sins, guilt, and shame and loved with all his forgiveness, mercy and compassion." The profound thoughts of Fr. Nouwen encapsulate the message of "A Touch of Heaven - Journey of Faith." His words, "I am seen by him with all my sins, guilt, and shame and loved with all his forgiveness, mercy and compassion," are repeated, again and again in the pages of this book. It is such grace that every time I sit down to write, the angels of the Lord seem hovered about me, waiting eagerly to feed my subconscious with the words God has intended, guiding my fingers to fashion them precisely. They surround me and clasp me in their wings, as they must have done with my grandson Diego, who poured out his heart in response to my request to write his thoughts on the theme - as carefully and as honestly as he could. I can only wonder that the Holy Spirit gives us the courage and openness to be forthright, and not allow our inner darkness to come between us and God. I felt an urgent need to describe what I experienced in the 12 hours I was on the operating table, where I sensed Jesus' pervasive presence, drawing me close to a blinding light which appeared to be a threshold to something infinitely more glorious. I wondered: had I entered into a realm where, at the instance of God, the process to purify my soul was to begin? There was a growing realization which began vaguely, that it would be just a stop to my final journey.... beyond forever. Somewhere in this narrative is the struggle of a young man, my grandson to find out who God is, by looking at the dark side of life; but finally coming to the inescapable conclusion and acceptance that there is only one reason he is alive - and that reason is God, "I saw the big effigy of Jesus Christ at our church, I noticed how every Sunday we go to church, and I noticed how I keep a rosary in my pocket for some strange reason. Then it clicked. I remembered that God and the Lady were always there. They never left me like the story of the footprints in the sand, only I was walking a step ahead of them." It is good news to know that Kuya Hesus, I have always looked at him as my elder brother, in spite of all the roadblocks we place on His path, accomplishes His divine task, passionately espousing oneness in the world. We pray you will uncover the underlying message of faith, hope, and love as you turn the pages of this book. And hopefully that will start you on a journey to find your own tipping point.
About the Author: DR. RODOLFO de GUZMAN IBANEZ is the recipient of the 2008 Jaime Cardinal Sin Best Book Award in Family Life during the prestigious Catholic Mass Media Award for his work, Memories to Remember - The Class of '55, the 2011 Best Book Award in Spirituality for The Road to Emmaus, and the 2013 Best Book Award in Family Life for A Love That Never Says Goodbye. Rudy, as he is fondly called, was once Executive Vice President and General Manager of United Laboratories Inc., a leading Philippine pharmaceutical company, and President of Southville Foreign University where he continuously serves in its Board. He is one of the Mentor-Coaches of Entrepreneurial Management course at the University of Asia and the Pacific. He received his PhD in Business Administration from Washington International University and Honorary Physician from the Manila Medical Society. He owns the distinction of being cited twice in Marquiz Who's Who in the World. He is also a recipient of "Knight of the Year" of the Greenmeadows Council 12461 Leth, his wife, is his lifelong inspiration. They have four children and nine grandkids. The co-author, Jericho Ibanez Yumul, is a graduate from Ateneo de Manila University, Bachelor of Science Management Information Systems. He is currently working in an insurance firm based in Dallas, Texas. Concurrently, he is also an aspiring musician, developing new expressive percussion ensembles.