If you grew up in a Filipino household, the rhythmic skritch-skritch of heavy-duty packing tape is a familiar soundtrack. It’s the sound of the Balikbayan box—that cardboard giant that sits in the hallway for weeks, slowly filling with more than just canned goods, designer shoes, and clothes.
To the Filipino-American community, these boxes are more than freight; they are a bridge. They are packed with sacrifice, a deep longing for home, and an enduring love for family across the ocean. We pour our “American Dream” into these boxes, taping up our hopes and sending them 7,000 miles away.
But in our drive to fill these boxes, we often forget a fundamental truth: We are the real vessels.
Malasakit: The Divine Spirit Within
At the heart of our culture is a beautiful trait called Malasakit—that deep, selfless caring for the well-being of others. In the hustle of life in the U.S., it’s easy to dismiss this as just “the way we are.”
In reality, Malasakit is something much more profound. It is the divine spirit within us showing itself to the world. We are reminded of this in Ephesians 2:10:
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
You are God’s masterpiece. You weren’t just designed to ship resources; you were specifically designed to be a carrier of goodness.
When the “Inner Box” Runs Empty
Let’s be honest: life in the States can be draining. Between back-to-back shifts, long commutes, and the cultural pressure to succeed, we often let our own “inner boxes” run empty.
When we are running on fumes, we start seeing the world as a place of lack rather than a place of God’s presence. We become focused on what we don’t have to give, forgetting that the “Good Spirit” inside us is a renewable resource.
Moving with Purpose: You are the Delivery System
To live on the “Good Side” is to Move with Purpose. This is the realization that you do not need a shipping label or a special occasion to share God’s love.
You are the delivery system.
Whether you are walking into a hospital ward, a corporate office, or a crowded grocery store, you are moving with the intention of showing what that “Good Spirit” looks like in action. You aren’t just going to work; you are transporting grace.
The Challenge: Flipping the Script
I challenge you this week to look at the “delays” in your life as divine opportunities:
A delay in your schedule? An opportunity for patience.
A difficult conversation? An opening for grace.
A grocery line? A moment to offer a smile to someone who feels unseen.
The “Good Side” isn’t a destination we are trying to reach or a country we are sending boxes to. It is the light we are carrying with us right now.
As we navigate our week, let us remember that we are God’s handiwork. When we move with purpose, we flip the script on world-weariness and show everyone we meet that the goodness of God is very much alive—no packing tape required.