Today 16th February 2012, the blog that you are currently reading “Streets of Gold” completes its 2nd anniversary! Cheers, you can drink to that!!! 
What started out as an “I must blog” about my faith was soon pushed ahead with the backing of the Pope. It’s true the Holy Father was backing me one hundred percent and here is how:
As far as I can remember, the Vatican’s theme for the 43rd World Day for Communications was “New Technologies, New Relationships. Promoting a Culture of Respect, Dialogue and Friendship.” On Sunday, 24 May 2009 Pope Benedict XVI said, “I would encourage all people of good will who are active in the emerging environment of digital communication to commit themselves to promoting a culture of respect, dialogue and friendship.” The words that stuck with me since that day went something like this, “I would like to conclude this message by addressing myself, in particular, to young Catholic believers: to encourage them to bring the witness of their faith to the digital world. Dear Brothers and Sisters, I ask you to introduce into the culture of this new environment of communications and information technology the values on which you have built your lives. It falls, in particular, to young people, who have an almost spontaneous affinity for the new means of communication, to take on the responsibility for the evangelization of this ‘digital continent.’ Be sure to announce the Gospel to your contemporaries with enthusiasm. You know their fears and their hopes, their aspirations and their disappointments: the greatest gift you can give to them is to share with them the ‘Good News’ of a God who became man, who suffered, died and rose again to save all people. Human hearts are yearning for a world where love endures, where gifts are shared, where unity is built, where freedom finds meaning in truth, and where identity is found in respectful communion. Our faith can respond to these expectations: may you become its heralds! The Pope accompanies you with his prayers and his blessing.”
By those words I was wowed (as I always am when the Pope speaks). I contemplated a lot, kept thinking, kept praying, wondering, confused, anxious, and excited and felt every possible emotion I suppose. I wanted to do it. I wanted to blog but I didn’t feel it from within. I waited, and I prayed over it. Then again in January 2010 I heard the Pope say, “For God’s sake blog!” (Message of his holiness Pope Benedict XVI for the 44th World Communications Day) And like a new being coming into the world, ‘Streets of Gold’ took the whole nine months to birth on 16th February 2010 (i.e. from 24 May 2009- 16th February 2010).
Naming the blog: Honestly the name just happened. I knew instantly the blog had to be called ‘Streets of Gold’ and biblically it was significant based on what was going to be published here. But personally the name was a fusion between two of my all time favourite songs 1. Fields of Gold (Sting) 2. A Beggar on a Beach of Gold (Mike and the Mechanics). Compared to what the Good Lord has granted me, I an unworthy servant, am truly walking in Streets / Fields / Beaches of Gold.
Also, the picture at the top-right of the Samaritan woman at the well is there to remind me of how empty my life was in spite of having it all. And just like the woman at the well I was seeking.. for things that could not satisfy. I was young and wild and free, but then I heard my Saviour speaking, draw from my well that never shall run dry. If I hadn’t christened this blog ‘Streets Of Gold,’ I guess it would have been “Like the woman at the well.”
I am glad this blog is attracting the right kind of visitors, mainly from Christian schools, colleges, universities, churches, seminaries, archdioceses, hospitals, broadcasting stations, navy, IRS, CNA, EWTN, the Vatican and individuals who have all been here. Will be posting some of these visitors in the coming days (the sensitive ones won’t be displayed). Besides these there have been a few “gold diggers” who keep searching for ‘how much gold the Vatican has’ and land up here. Well, when you do find gold on this site or any site for that matter, please, please spread the message so others can be blessed too.
For all those good souls who are spreading the message around, I would like to say a “thank you.” To all the referrals, followers, commentors and visitors, a BIG “thank you.” To all those unseen, unheard of angels who share the post via, email, facebook, twitter, and google plus one, “God bless you for your deeds.”
We all need to be motivated to do something, to move ahead. Last year this blog published 751 post all because of one person who motivated me to “postaday” in 2011 (you know who you are) a “very BIG thank you.” This year’s motivational factor is "TLM-MD" read the blog carefully and you’ll know why. There are others too who inspire me, can’t mention all their names here for various reasons, but would like to say, “thank you.” Without all you lovely people this blog wouldn't be functioning.
One last thing before I sound more like a “Grammy Award Winner,” you can check the coming post to see from where in the world people have been visiting this blog.
Grace and Peace
What started out as an “I must blog” about my faith was soon pushed ahead with the backing of the Pope. It’s true the Holy Father was backing me one hundred percent and here is how:
As far as I can remember, the Vatican’s theme for the 43rd World Day for Communications was “New Technologies, New Relationships. Promoting a Culture of Respect, Dialogue and Friendship.” On Sunday, 24 May 2009 Pope Benedict XVI said, “I would encourage all people of good will who are active in the emerging environment of digital communication to commit themselves to promoting a culture of respect, dialogue and friendship.” The words that stuck with me since that day went something like this, “I would like to conclude this message by addressing myself, in particular, to young Catholic believers: to encourage them to bring the witness of their faith to the digital world. Dear Brothers and Sisters, I ask you to introduce into the culture of this new environment of communications and information technology the values on which you have built your lives. It falls, in particular, to young people, who have an almost spontaneous affinity for the new means of communication, to take on the responsibility for the evangelization of this ‘digital continent.’ Be sure to announce the Gospel to your contemporaries with enthusiasm. You know their fears and their hopes, their aspirations and their disappointments: the greatest gift you can give to them is to share with them the ‘Good News’ of a God who became man, who suffered, died and rose again to save all people. Human hearts are yearning for a world where love endures, where gifts are shared, where unity is built, where freedom finds meaning in truth, and where identity is found in respectful communion. Our faith can respond to these expectations: may you become its heralds! The Pope accompanies you with his prayers and his blessing.”
By those words I was wowed (as I always am when the Pope speaks). I contemplated a lot, kept thinking, kept praying, wondering, confused, anxious, and excited and felt every possible emotion I suppose. I wanted to do it. I wanted to blog but I didn’t feel it from within. I waited, and I prayed over it. Then again in January 2010 I heard the Pope say, “For God’s sake blog!” (Message of his holiness Pope Benedict XVI for the 44th World Communications Day) And like a new being coming into the world, ‘Streets of Gold’ took the whole nine months to birth on 16th February 2010 (i.e. from 24 May 2009- 16th February 2010).
Naming the blog: Honestly the name just happened. I knew instantly the blog had to be called ‘Streets of Gold’ and biblically it was significant based on what was going to be published here. But personally the name was a fusion between two of my all time favourite songs 1. Fields of Gold (Sting) 2. A Beggar on a Beach of Gold (Mike and the Mechanics). Compared to what the Good Lord has granted me, I an unworthy servant, am truly walking in Streets / Fields / Beaches of Gold.
Also, the picture at the top-right of the Samaritan woman at the well is there to remind me of how empty my life was in spite of having it all. And just like the woman at the well I was seeking.. for things that could not satisfy. I was young and wild and free, but then I heard my Saviour speaking, draw from my well that never shall run dry. If I hadn’t christened this blog ‘Streets Of Gold,’ I guess it would have been “Like the woman at the well.”
I am glad this blog is attracting the right kind of visitors, mainly from Christian schools, colleges, universities, churches, seminaries, archdioceses, hospitals, broadcasting stations, navy, IRS, CNA, EWTN, the Vatican and individuals who have all been here. Will be posting some of these visitors in the coming days (the sensitive ones won’t be displayed). Besides these there have been a few “gold diggers” who keep searching for ‘how much gold the Vatican has’ and land up here. Well, when you do find gold on this site or any site for that matter, please, please spread the message so others can be blessed too.
For all those good souls who are spreading the message around, I would like to say a “thank you.” To all the referrals, followers, commentors and visitors, a BIG “thank you.” To all those unseen, unheard of angels who share the post via, email, facebook, twitter, and google plus one, “God bless you for your deeds.”
We all need to be motivated to do something, to move ahead. Last year this blog published 751 post all because of one person who motivated me to “postaday” in 2011 (you know who you are) a “very BIG thank you.” This year’s motivational factor is "TLM-MD" read the blog carefully and you’ll know why. There are others too who inspire me, can’t mention all their names here for various reasons, but would like to say, “thank you.” Without all you lovely people this blog wouldn't be functioning.
One last thing before I sound more like a “Grammy Award Winner,” you can check the coming post to see from where in the world people have been visiting this blog.
Grace and Peace
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