Silverlinings (for other editions, see Silverlinings)

My Suki
(September 19, 2006)

At first I was a little embarrassed and didn't understand. Ate Susing abruptly walked away from the woman wrapping her chicken and moved over to a new vendor who was just opening her stall at the market. "Ate Susing, why did you not buy from the other woman?" I asked. "What was wrong with her chicken? The prices are the same."

"Oh," Ate Susing answered, "This woman is my suki."

Ate Susing seemed to have a different suki for everything she needed from the market: fresh fruit, all kinds of vegetables, lean pork, live or dressed chickens, and large or native-small eggs. She weaved through the stalls, past hawkers yelling out prices, past long arms holding out sample produce, past those calling out eagerly, "Morning, Mam,"—but Ate Susing paid no attention. She knew her suki would give her the best price with the best discount—there would be no need to haggle the price down. Some could not afford to give her a discount, but because they were her suki, they would drop an extra piece of fruit or vegetable in her bag. For being a faithful customer, Ate Susing was guaranteed reduced prices, good quality, and credit if needed.

I realize I have a few suki arrangements, also. I have my favorite cashier at the grocery store. She doesn't give me discounts, but she greets me warmly with a big smile and speaks Tagalog slowly, so I can understand.

I look for my preferred tricycle driver when I go to the seminary. My suki driver takes me inside the gate and doesn't charge me extra. And, I don't have to explain the location of Nazarene Seminary-he now knows exactly where to go. He smiles and waves when he drives by me on Sundays—he understands I always walk to the nearby Taytay Church of the Nazarene.

Suki does more than help develop economic exchange relationships. Because trust is such a vital aspect, it creates an opportunity for personal relationships that can grow into genuine friendships between individuals and groups of people.

I find that my suki relationship to God is different. "God showed how much he loved me by sending his only Son into the world so that I might have eternal life through him" (personalized from 1 John 4:9). I didn't do anything to deserve this relationship. He just loved me. I was unworthy. He just loved me. I was a sinner. He just loved me.

I accept this relationship he is offering me. The only thing I have in exchange is myself. I love him, not because of what he will do for me, but for what he has done for me. I serve him not for prosperity and materialistic wishes, but just because he loves me. I desire to please him, not because I am afraid of the consequences otherwise, but just because he loves me.

This is His holy suki relationship with me.

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Dr. Geneva Silvernail

Asia-Pacific Regional Literature Coordinator
Regional Education Consultant

Asia Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary
Ortigas Ave. Ext. Kaytikling, Taytay
1920 Rizal Philippines

Email: gsilvernail@apnaz.org
ministry@genevasilvernail.org