Recently, I came from such a journey. It all started with a sore throat and joint aches. I did not think about it much—at first. A little warm salt water gargle, a pain killer and mega-dose of Vitamin C would do the trick.
The malaise I felt did not go away as quickly as I expected. It lingered on like an unwelcomed guest. Then early one morning, I woke up and coughed up a mean looking phlegm.
Enter the working of a crazy mind of a hypochondriac. I had TB. I knew it. I got it from my contact with the poor kids I mentor to once a month. I was not careful when I held their hands, touched their faces and partook of Holy Communion with them.
I am going to die all because of my exposure; my involvement. I should have heeded my family’s warning about picking up a disease from my excursions to the poor neighborhood.
I then started to think of how to disengage myself from the mentoring program. Donate money would be a better and cleaner option. Even better, just stay at home and limit any form of human contact.
But wait! Somewhere deep down instead of me, sanity surfaced. I realized that I am going to die— someday. Maybe from TB, maybe not. Maybe from food poisoning picked up from my trips; or a tragedy less poignant as dying from old age.
Surely the tragedy would not be contracting some dreaded disease. There are remedies for that. The tragedy would be letting the fear of dying hold me back from doing something good for the least of my neighbors. This would be the greater malaise, the greater disease that would rob me of living a full life.
Thankfully, the mindless journey came to an end. I am on the road to recovery.
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My participation at a recent pre-Advent retreat gave me a better understanding on living a full life. It was an opportunity to listen to two young priests who were very articulate. But their joyful aura gave more testament to their talk on life and eternity.
But besides the memorable talks, there were also the simple but flavorful meals served by the sisters managing the retreat house. One dish that I enjoyed a lot was Fish Sarsiado. Or also called Kardilyong Isda. It’s a dish that in its simplicity one can derive great pleasure.
Here’s my version of such a recipe that captures the simple joys of eating.
Fish Sarsiado
You will need:
½ kilo of alumahan ( striped mackerel) or Matang Baka (Big-eyed Scad)
Oil for frying fish
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, chopped
2 tomatoes, chopped
½ c stock or water
1-2 eggs, lightly beaten
Salt and pepper and patis (Optional)
What to do:
After cleaning the fish, season with salt and pepper. Heat up oil in a pan and fry the fish.Set aside once done.
In another pan, add about a tablespoon of oil. Saute the garlic, onions and the tomatoes until tender. Add just enough stock or water to half-cover the veggies (some use rice washing— resulting water from washing your rice prior to cooking). Add the fried fish and bring to a quick boil before lowering the heat to a simmer. Simmer for about 5 minutes so that the fish can soak up some of the moisture. Stir in the beaten eggs and continue to simmer until the eggs have set. Season with salt and pepper and maybe some fish sauce.
Transfer to your serving dish and as always this goes very well with steaming rice.
(picture to follow when I cook this again at home)
“Eternity begins when we live a full and joyful life. A full life that can only be attained by following in the teaching of Jesus (or in the teaching of ones chosen faith). Fear only holds us back from living life to the fullest.”
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