From the time I read what was to become the name of my multiply site [the insufficiency of anything attainable], there has always been a lingering desire to translate it into Tagalog. I have been toying with some Tagalog words, but none has satisfied what I am looking for.
Finally, this morning I had the chance to think about it and inspired by the gospel reading today [that talks about the end times, i.e. the end of Jerusalem, of the cosmic world, and of individual existence... hahahaha... bigat!], an insight came to me that allowed a more or less acceptable Tagalog equivalent.
ANG KAKULANGAN NG LAHAT NG KAYA NATING ABUTIN... Lahat ng kaya nating gawin dito sa lupang ibabaw, lahat ng kaya nating tuparin, pagsikapan at pagtrabahuhan, lahat ng kaya nating abutin, laging may kakulangan, laging kapos, dahil ang kaganapan at lubos na katuparan ng ating buhay ay makakamit lamang sa piling ng Diyos. Diyos lamang ang makapupuno ng kakulangan. Sa Diyos lamang ang lubos na katuparan.
Only with God can there be genuine sufficiency. Only God is sufficient for us. Everything else in this world will be insufficient even our highest, noblest, most meaningful attainment, or acheivement.
Kaya nga anumang ligaya dito sa lupa ay laging may kakambal na luha. Kaya nga ang ginhawa dito sa buhay laging may kasamang sakripisyo at dusa. Kaya nga ang buhay ay walang hanggang pakikibaka at paglalakbay, dahil anumang kaya nating abutin dito sa mundo laging kapos, laging kulang. Sa piling lamang ng Diyos ang lubos na kaganapan.
Don't get me wrong. Of course, it is our duty to live our lives here on earth according to the will of God; it is our duty to do our best that the graces of God entrusted to us will bear fruits of goodness and holiness, but we should not forget that the fullness of goodness and holiness can only come from God. Anything we attain in this life even with God's grace will be insufficient for only with God can there be absolute and total sufficiency. Amen.
