Jam-Packed
I have always looked forward to enjoying worry-free and work-free days. Just last week I was blessed with 76 hours worth of fun, adventure, and relaxation. I can say that through the years, I have learned to enjoy the things that life has to offer.
Friday
I had an English class with my student, Jim, for two hours. Aside from helping him understand and finish his homework, we also looked for a few universities where he can send his college application. He hopes to study in Canada or in Sweden… ^_^ I wish him all the best.
After our class, we ate in a Korean restaurant somewhere in Valle Verde with his mom and his aunt. We ate grilled beef (kalbi jjim, if I’m not mistaken), dumplings and a dozen Korean side dishes. His aunt and I talked about a lot of things while enjoying that sumptuous meal.
I then went to the supermarket, went home and did my usual household chores. I also watched TV while playing with my niece. It was almost 1 am when I started packing my things for my “Silent Retreat” the next day (I will post a separate and detailed note for this J ). Then, I realized my camera is missing! I searched my room but I really couldn’t find it.
I was so upset. It’s a camera; how can I lose such a valuable thing?! I cried in desperation, I wanted to shout. Don’t ever think I’m exaggerating, I was really frustrated. I started feeling so down and lonely; I hated myself. I asked God why it had to happen. Why do I always have to lose something? (Recently, I’ve lost money too). But then, I realized, I need not ask God. I have to be responsible enough to keep the things important to me. In the midst of crying, I had to convince myself that everything will be ok. (But I still hated the idea that I lost my cam! Ugh!)
Then, I sent messages to some of my friends (even to my ex-boyfriend), hoping I could ease the sadness I was feeling. Jelly, my college friend and used-to-be-housemate, texted me. So, I called her up and we talked. I felt better.
Then, my ex-boyfriend replied, which was totally surprising. He has always been good at avoiding and ignoring me all these months. He told me that he still feels sorry about what he did to me and that he doesn’t deserve to be giving me words of comfort. He promised he would help me in any way except for personal matters (ok!!) haha. Somehow, it felt good to receive messages from him once again. A year after our break-up I realized that we had a great friendship before we became a couple and somehow, I want to have that friendship back.
Saturday
I woke up at 5 in the morning to start preparing for my “Silent Retreat” at Maryhill, Antipolo. I was excited but I still had my camera in mind (I was really hoping to take a few pictures from that retreat). Then, I realized, maybe I was meant not to bring a cam because it was supposed to be a day spent entirely with God (ok, that calmed me).
We, Ate Jo (my caring group head), her friends Aira and Rachel, and Aira’s Boss – Jonathan, arrived at the retreat house at 8:30. We got there right on time.
The facilitator, Sis. Luisa, explained that we needed to spend five sacred hours with God. It was a date with Him, she said. Oh, nice! I never thought of the retreat that way. We had to spend the entire five hours in silence – we had to forget our worries, problems and anxieties for a while so we could fully feel the presence of God. We had to avoid talking to the other attendees, and had to eat our meals on our own. She believed that God would speak to all of us in different ways depending on our current situations in life. God was our retreat master.
I had so much fun being alone with God, it was rejuvenating, relaxing and overwhelming. In the silence and through His words I felt the Lord embracing me, telling me how great is His love for me.
(more on this on my future post; find out what was God’s message for me)
I went home from the retreat feeling renewed (I totally forgot about the camera). Then, my brother told me, “Yung camera mo nasa cabinet mo lang (Your camera is just inside your cabinet).” I was surprised… and very glad. I looked inside my cabinet and there it was, between the two piles of folded shirts! I was having useless worries after all. Thank God!
With my camera back in my hands, I decided to respond to my friend’s invitation to go to a bar, it would be a great place for picture taking (?!). I’ve never entered a bar in my entire life (I don’t know if this is something to be proud of or to be ashamed of..haha). I knew I wouldn’t enjoy it as much as my friend would but, I just wanted to give it a try.
So, there, I had my first bar experience and first bottle of beer. Cheers! The experience was hilarious. I was really freaking out half of the time. (more on this on my future post!)
My friend and I got home at 3 am. Remember, I was up from 5 in the morning that day; but I didn’t feel so tired. I was enjoying life!
Sunday
I woke up at 8:30 to prepare for “The Feast”. I was so excited to be in that happy place once again. I got there 20 minutes early, so I had the extra time to look around, observe and reflect. As always, I felt so blessed – with the day’s readings, the priest’s homily, the music ministry’s wonderful offering of praise and worship songs, with the powerful and inspiring talk of Rissa Singson-Kawpeng.
The talk encouraged the congregation to start/continue reading the bible, because the word of God is our ultimate weapon against our enemies.
So stand ready, with truth as a belt tight around your waist, with righteousness as your breastplate, and as your shoes, the readiness to announce the Good News of peace. At all times, carry faith as a shield; for with it you will be able to put out all the burning arrows shot by the Evil One. And accept salvation as a helmet and the word of God as the sword which the spirit gives you.
Ephesians 6:14-17
The Pasig Feast Builder, Bro. George Gabriel was sick with dengue that time. But, he had a special video message to all the Pasig Feast attendees. To date, he has been discharged from the hospital and on the way to recovery. :)
I went home filled with joy, filled with hope, filled with gratitude. Just like a knight with his armor, I was fully prepared, ready for battle. I had my shield, I had my weapon. There was nothing I couldn’t face.
I thank the Lord for the 76 hours of pure, clean fun. And I thank Him more for the countless hours He has never once abandoned me.
Friday
I had an English class with my student, Jim, for two hours. Aside from helping him understand and finish his homework, we also looked for a few universities where he can send his college application. He hopes to study in Canada or in Sweden… ^_^ I wish him all the best.After our class, we ate in a Korean restaurant somewhere in Valle Verde with his mom and his aunt. We ate grilled beef (kalbi jjim, if I’m not mistaken), dumplings and a dozen Korean side dishes. His aunt and I talked about a lot of things while enjoying that sumptuous meal.
I then went to the supermarket, went home and did my usual household chores. I also watched TV while playing with my niece. It was almost 1 am when I started packing my things for my “Silent Retreat” the next day (I will post a separate and detailed note for this J ). Then, I realized my camera is missing! I searched my room but I really couldn’t find it.
I was so upset. It’s a camera; how can I lose such a valuable thing?! I cried in desperation, I wanted to shout. Don’t ever think I’m exaggerating, I was really frustrated. I started feeling so down and lonely; I hated myself. I asked God why it had to happen. Why do I always have to lose something? (Recently, I’ve lost money too). But then, I realized, I need not ask God. I have to be responsible enough to keep the things important to me. In the midst of crying, I had to convince myself that everything will be ok. (But I still hated the idea that I lost my cam! Ugh!)
Then, I sent messages to some of my friends (even to my ex-boyfriend), hoping I could ease the sadness I was feeling. Jelly, my college friend and used-to-be-housemate, texted me. So, I called her up and we talked. I felt better.
Then, my ex-boyfriend replied, which was totally surprising. He has always been good at avoiding and ignoring me all these months. He told me that he still feels sorry about what he did to me and that he doesn’t deserve to be giving me words of comfort. He promised he would help me in any way except for personal matters (ok!!) haha. Somehow, it felt good to receive messages from him once again. A year after our break-up I realized that we had a great friendship before we became a couple and somehow, I want to have that friendship back.
Saturday
I woke up at 5 in the morning to start preparing for my “Silent Retreat” at Maryhill, Antipolo. I was excited but I still had my camera in mind (I was really hoping to take a few pictures from that retreat). Then, I realized, maybe I was meant not to bring a cam because it was supposed to be a day spent entirely with God (ok, that calmed me).We, Ate Jo (my caring group head), her friends Aira and Rachel, and Aira’s Boss – Jonathan, arrived at the retreat house at 8:30. We got there right on time.
The facilitator, Sis. Luisa, explained that we needed to spend five sacred hours with God. It was a date with Him, she said. Oh, nice! I never thought of the retreat that way. We had to spend the entire five hours in silence – we had to forget our worries, problems and anxieties for a while so we could fully feel the presence of God. We had to avoid talking to the other attendees, and had to eat our meals on our own. She believed that God would speak to all of us in different ways depending on our current situations in life. God was our retreat master.
I had so much fun being alone with God, it was rejuvenating, relaxing and overwhelming. In the silence and through His words I felt the Lord embracing me, telling me how great is His love for me.
(more on this on my future post; find out what was God’s message for me)
I went home from the retreat feeling renewed (I totally forgot about the camera). Then, my brother told me, “Yung camera mo nasa cabinet mo lang (Your camera is just inside your cabinet).” I was surprised… and very glad. I looked inside my cabinet and there it was, between the two piles of folded shirts! I was having useless worries after all. Thank God!
With my camera back in my hands, I decided to respond to my friend’s invitation to go to a bar, it would be a great place for picture taking (?!). I’ve never entered a bar in my entire life (I don’t know if this is something to be proud of or to be ashamed of..haha). I knew I wouldn’t enjoy it as much as my friend would but, I just wanted to give it a try.
So, there, I had my first bar experience and first bottle of beer. Cheers! The experience was hilarious. I was really freaking out half of the time. (more on this on my future post!)
My friend and I got home at 3 am. Remember, I was up from 5 in the morning that day; but I didn’t feel so tired. I was enjoying life!
Sunday
I woke up at 8:30 to prepare for “The Feast”. I was so excited to be in that happy place once again. I got there 20 minutes early, so I had the extra time to look around, observe and reflect. As always, I felt so blessed – with the day’s readings, the priest’s homily, the music ministry’s wonderful offering of praise and worship songs, with the powerful and inspiring talk of Rissa Singson-Kawpeng.The talk encouraged the congregation to start/continue reading the bible, because the word of God is our ultimate weapon against our enemies.
So stand ready, with truth as a belt tight around your waist, with righteousness as your breastplate, and as your shoes, the readiness to announce the Good News of peace. At all times, carry faith as a shield; for with it you will be able to put out all the burning arrows shot by the Evil One. And accept salvation as a helmet and the word of God as the sword which the spirit gives you.
Ephesians 6:14-17
The Pasig Feast Builder, Bro. George Gabriel was sick with dengue that time. But, he had a special video message to all the Pasig Feast attendees. To date, he has been discharged from the hospital and on the way to recovery. :)
I went home filled with joy, filled with hope, filled with gratitude. Just like a knight with his armor, I was fully prepared, ready for battle. I had my shield, I had my weapon. There was nothing I couldn’t face.
I thank the Lord for the 76 hours of pure, clean fun. And I thank Him more for the countless hours He has never once abandoned me.
0 comments: