TO MAKE SOMEBODY SMILE

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Sharing valuable information and public service from the No. 1 regional newspaper in Western Visayas. https://lnk.bio/panaynews

WHEN was the last time you made somebody smile, my dear reader?

Perhaps you think this is hardly the time to do so. That would be understandable, considering today’s troubling global and national situation.

Yet making somebody smile does not require much. Give a compliment. Notice something nice about a person’s outfit, effort, or smile, and say it aloud.

Share a laugh by sending a funny meme, video, or lighthearted joke to a friend. Show simple kindness: hold a door open, thank a service worker, or simply offer a warm, friendly smile to a stranger. Send someone a quick note out of the blue to say you appreciate them or are thinking of them.

Remember: simple acts of kindness have the power to brighten someone’s day.

Honestly, when we look around, it sometimes seems as though we have neither the time nor the reason to laugh. Perhaps laughter can wait until tomorrow — or, better yet, until the day after tomorrow. After all, anticipation can sometimes be better.

Our enemies may laugh up their sleeves, while we often fail to recognize the good fortune that is still smiling upon us. But hold on: he who laughs last laughs longest. Remember?

American neurologist Henri Rubenstein has said that laughter can lower high blood pressure while aiding digestion and promoting sleep. Well, give me even a simple smile and consider what experts have long suggested: good humor can help even the gravely or terminally ill cope with their ordeal.

Of course, when we look at the world around us these days, we may not exactly roar with laughter or split our sides laughing. And sometimes laughter can even go too far!

Have you heard the story of a spectator who reportedly died of a heart attack while watching the comedy “A Fish Called Wanda” starring John Cleese of Britain’s legendary Monty Python comedy troupe?

A heart attack, of course, is no laughing matter. Still, I continue to enjoy watching this movie.

Even when we think we have no reason to laugh, we should still try to express joy spontaneously and allow ourselves to be cheerful. We still have reasons to begin with the softest form of laughter — the simple smile.

This is something I have learned and experienced since I first traveled through Asia in 1978 and later settled permanently in the Philippines in 1999. Keep smiling, even when you are burdened by enormous problems.

Experts also say that good humor works because it helps put people at ease. French psychotherapist Sylvie Tenenbaum has observed that, among her patients, laughter often signals the beginning of a healthy awakening to reality. Gallows humor may seem questionable to others, but sometimes we need an emotional release. Sing out loud. Cry if you must. But do not forget to laugh.

As a devout Christian, I love reading the Bible. Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 reminds us: “There is a time for everything…a time to be born and a time to die…a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh!”

And, very importantly, the Psalms always help. They are cries from the heart — songs of sorrow as well as joy. For almost every emotion and mood, one can find a psalm that speaks to it. They wrestle with the deepest sorrow, yet their voices remain refreshingly spontaneous and profoundly human.

***

Email: doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), or LinkedIn. You may also visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com./PN

SONG OF SONGS

 

By Klaus Döring

The phrase "Song of Songs" means the greatest, finest, or most supreme song of all.

The Song of Songs (or Canticle of Canticles) is an exquisite collection of love lyrics, arranged to tell a dramatic tale of mutual desire and courtship. It presents an inspired portrayal of ideal human love, a resounding affirmation of the goodness of human sexuality that is applicable to the sacredness and the depth of married union.

US musician and author Ted Gioia argues in his excellent book Music: A Subversive History (2019): "At every stage in human history, music has been a catalyst for change, challenging conventions and conveying coded messages – or, not infrequently, delivering blunt, unambiguous ones. It has given voice to individuals and groups denied access to other platforms for expression. Pop music has often been dismissed as "lightweight" given its young audience, simple snappiness and mainstream status, but those elements are really where its strength is concealed. Pop songs don't originate themes of mental wellbeing, equality, liberty, activism – but they do transmit them to the broadest platforms possible".

Snap the radio on, zip to any station, and what are you likely to hear? Love songs. Songs of new love, songs of disappointed love, songs of grateful love, songs of crazy love. I still remember my time as a radio host in Davao City several years ago playing the Hits of the 60's, 70's and 80's. Nothing has changed. Times change, but through history the flow of love songs is a constant.

Plenty of people are surprised or even shocked to find an explicit love song in the bible - complete with erotic lyrics. But "Song of Songs" is exactly that. It shows no embarrassment about lovers. Consequently, intermittent attempts have been made  to rule "Song of Songs" out of the bible. It's like making it "for adults only". Imagine, my dear reader, in 16th century Spain for instance, professor Fray Luis de Leon was dragged out of his classroom and taken to jail for four years. His crime? He translated "Song of Songs" into Spanish.

If you start reading "Song of Songs", you will find out that this book conveys a very different atmosphere from most modern love songs and pop music. Since love songs are always popular, many people approach "Song of Songs" with great expectations. However, readers often find the book much different from what they had expected. One is the poetic imagery. Second: "Song of Songs" is hard to follow. One part  doesn't seem connected to the next.

Try to explore the "Song of Songs". One thing is for sure. You'll learn a lot about the love between God and His people.

+++

Email: doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me on Facebook or LinkedIn  or visit my www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com .

BE STILL AND KNOW

 

By

 Klaus Döring

 -

Thursday, September 17, 2026

WHAT DOES “Be still and know that I am God” mean in Psalm 46:10?

Psalm 46 is a beloved passage in which the psalmist declares that, no matter what is happening around him, God is his refuge and strength. Safe in the assurance that He is God, we can wait on Him even amid chaos. He is still on His throne.

Like many Bible verses, however, this one is often taken out of context and used to convey something that may not have been intended in the passage itself. Well-meaning Christians may use it as consolation in times of worry and frustration — as if God were simply saying, “Relax, I’ve got this.”

In other words: Be still. Stop running to and fro. Slow down. Slow down long enough to listen.

The phrase “Be still and know that I am God” calls us to pause and reflect. It reminds us that God remains in control, no matter what happens in our lives. By being still and reconnecting with our faith, we can find peace even amid the chaos of life.

Why is it important to be still?

Being still is like replenishing our reserves. It gives us the time and space to reflect, gather our thoughts, and actually listen to what is going on within us.

Yes, we are living in a noisy and hectic world. And many times, we ourselves become noisy and hectic. We hardly find time to rewind, slow down, and shut out the daily din and racket. We can become noisy people and even troublemakers ourselves. Have you noticed it?

Making time for moments of stillness can have powerful benefits for our mental and emotional well-being.

Today, however, stillness can be difficult to find. There is simply so much going on — so much noise both inside and outside our minds, so many tasks on our to-do lists, and usually several screens within reach.

According to the Oxford Dictionary, stillness is “the quality of being quiet and not moving.”

Yet moments of stillness are possible even on the busiest of days. They are within our reach whenever we need them. We only have to make room for them.

So many times, our relationships with our partners, friends, relatives, workmates, and neighbors become strained because we are too busy, too distracted, or too overwhelmed to stop, listen, and understand.

Be still and know. Slow down long enough to hear God’s voice, too. There is indeed so much of God to discover if only we would slow down long enough to hear His voice. Yet we can become so overwhelmed by our earthly desires that all we think about is ourselves: “Yes, God, I want You to do this for me — and I want it now!”

What a fatal attraction that impatience can become! Learn instead to wait quietly on Him. When you begin to grasp something of our Lord’s true greatness, you will be truly amazed.

Be still and know.

***

Email: doringklaus@gmail.com, or follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, or X (Twitter), or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com./PN

Sharing valuable information and public service from the No. 1 regional newspaper in Western Visayas. https://lnk.bio/panaynews

THE COLORS OF MY LIFE

SOME people view life as a complex mixture of every human feeling, while others reduce it to simple dualities. Violet stands for joy, indigo for knowledge, blue for peace, green for love, yellow for tranquility, orange for sanctity, and red for strength. The union of all these rays creates energy within human beings and guides us through life with seven precious qualities from God.

The Ups and Downs of Our Life. We all live our lives through the prism of our experiences and emotions. And, naturally, we all want to live a happy life.

Therefore, the colors of life that we discover throughout our journey on Earth represent the different ways in which we see and interpret the world around us.

I have always been fascinated by Celine Dion’s song “The Colour of My Love”: “I’ll paint my mood in shades of blue; paint my soul to be with you…” and “I’ll paint the truth, show how I feel…” The colors of love are also the colors of life.

Passion and ignorance — our intense emotions and our uninstructed or unlearned behavior — are not always justifiable reasons for pardoning the guilty. Those words may sound rough and unpleasant, but sometimes they need to be expressed clearly and directly so that they reach our minds and hearts.

However, the weight of evidence may point to the fact that failure to see the different colors of life can lead to unnecessary death and injury. We may be barreling down the tracks of life with plenty of people in tow. Our decisions can influence friends, relatives, colleagues, and others in our daily surroundings. I don’t like your style? Still, you belong to the colors of my life…!

The colors of life are not always colorful. Many times, we may also find ourselves going through black-and-white periods.

What makes your life colorful? Be curious; make it your mission to discover new ideas, places, people, and interests. Be expressive; don’t be afraid to speak your mind and communicate your feelings to others. Take the initiative; don’t sit around waiting for permission to do what you love.

Life is full of colors. In our lives, we see bright colors — the happy, hopeful, and positive moments that make life beautiful. But life would not be complete without challenges and problems. Just as a picture needs contrast, the colors of life would not be complete without the darker ones.

Here is another important person. He was born in a stable. His friends were fishermen. He never traveled far beyond his homeland. He died in disgrace while he was still a young man. And yet, through the centuries and around the world, Jesus of Nazareth, through his life and teachings, has inspired more people than anyone else who ever walked this earth. He, too, became one of the most important colors of my life!

***

Email: doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me on Facebook, X (Twitter), or LinkedIn, or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com./PN

THE COLORS OF MY LIFE

 

By

 Klaus Döring

 -

Saturday, September 12, 2026

SOME people view life as a complex mixture of every human feeling, while others reduce it to simple dualities. Violet stands for joy, indigo for knowledge, blue for peace, green for love, yellow for tranquility, orange for sanctity, and red for strength. The union of all these rays creates energy within human beings and guides us through life with seven precious qualities from God.

The Ups and Downs of Our Life. We all live our lives through the prism of our experiences and emotions. And, naturally, we all want to live a happy life.

Therefore, the colors of life that we discover throughout our journey on Earth represent the different ways in which we see and interpret the world around us.

I have always been fascinated by Celine Dion’s song “The Colour of My Love”: “I’ll paint my mood in shades of blue; paint my soul to be with you…” and “I’ll paint the truth, show how I feel…” The colors of love are also the colors of life.

Passion and ignorance — our intense emotions and our uninstructed or unlearned behavior — are not always justifiable reasons for pardoning the guilty. Those words may sound rough and unpleasant, but sometimes they need to be expressed clearly and directly so that they reach our minds and hearts.

However, the weight of evidence may point to the fact that failure to see the different colors of life can lead to unnecessary death and injury. We may be barreling down the tracks of life with plenty of people in tow. Our decisions can influence friends, relatives, colleagues, and others in our daily surroundings. I don’t like your style? Still, you belong to the colors of my life…!

The colors of life are not always colorful. Many times, we may also find ourselves going through black-and-white periods.

What makes your life colorful? Be curious; make it your mission to discover new ideas, places, people, and interests. Be expressive; don’t be afraid to speak your mind and communicate your feelings to others. Take the initiative; don’t sit around waiting for permission to do what you love.

Life is full of colors. In our lives, we see bright colors — the happy, hopeful, and positive moments that make life beautiful. But life would not be complete without challenges and problems. Just as a picture needs contrast, the colors of life would not be complete without the darker ones.

Here is another important person. He was born in a stable. His friends were fishermen. He never traveled far beyond his homeland. He died in disgrace while he was still a young man. And yet, through the centuries and around the world, Jesus of Nazareth, through his life and teachings, has inspired more people than anyone else who ever walked this earth. He, too, became one of the most important colors of my life!

***

Email: doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me on Facebook, X (Twitter), or LinkedIn, or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com./PN

THE GOOD OLD DAYS

Tuesday, September 8, 2026

I wish somebody would have told me babe

Some day, these will be the good old days

All the love you won’t forget

And all these reckless nights you won’t regret.

THE PHRASE “good old days” — commonly stylized as “good ol’ days” — is a cliché in popular culture used to refer to a time the speaker considers better than the present. It is a form of nostalgia that can reflect homesickness or a yearning for long-gone moments.

A famous quote about the “good old days” says, “I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them.”

Is it correct to say “good old days”? When we talk about the good old days, we mean a time in the past when we believed life was better than it is today. We often hear people reminiscing about how things used to be.

Common synonyms for “reminisce” include recall, recollect, and remember. While these words all refer to bringing an image or idea from the past back into the mind, “reminisce” usually suggests casually and nostalgically recalling experiences from long ago.

Why, then, does it sometimes feel as though everything was better in the past?

We tend to dwell on the good things that happened to us and retell those stories more often, reinforcing our pleasant memories. We remember the great songs, cars, and football players of the old days while conveniently forgetting many of the bad ones.

When people speak of the good old days, they are usually referring to a period when they believe life was better than it is now — perhaps a time when people felt safe enough to leave their doors unlocked at night.

Psychologists call this tendency “rosy retrospection”: our inclination to recall the past more fondly than the present, all else being equal. It is a cognitive bias closely related to nostalgia, although nostalgia itself does not always mean that our recollection is distorted.

Human nature also makes the memories of our youth especially vivid. Those years seemed rich, exciting, and almost endless. Perhaps that helps explain why we often think the past was better — and why, as we grow older, time seems to move faster.

I grew up old-school, in a time when there was little or no technology compared with what we have today. Looking back, I thought life was almost perfect.

Our social network consisted of our neighborhood friends and our schoolmates. We did not post every thought, activity, or personal moment for the world to see. There was no internet yet.

We played sports instead of spending hours on video games. To me, that is one of the most important differences. Life was simpler then — and, in some ways, perhaps better.

But I am not foolish enough to believe that technology has not given us a wealth of opportunities that previous generations never had. I am still amazed that I can ask my smartphone about almost anything in recorded human history and receive an answer within seconds. That is remarkable. Scientific and medical advances made possible through technology continue to astonish us. In that respect, technology has had a tremendously positive influence on our lives. Unfortunately, however, the internet has increasingly become more of a social-media platform than an educational one.

***

Email: doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me on Facebook or Linkedin or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com.or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com./PN