My recent prayer time has been a bit different lately. Instead of the usual petitions, my prayers have lead me strangely down the paths of memory lane. It’s funny how certain songs tend to go hand in hand with certain memories. The song “One Desire” comes to mind every time I reflect on my trip to the Philippines in 2009.
It’s been almost 4 years since I went on my GAT trip, and to think about how much life has changed since then is almost unbelievable. I’ve gone from a Chapterhead, to a Clusterhead, to a 100% Free Head to a YCOM Head and to a Mission Volunteer. I’ve seen my fellow pilgrims get married, have children, and even go full-time. I’ve seen some of them grow in to young professionals, and for others, I’ve seen them follow their dreams and pursue their passions. Though we all live unique and somewhat separate lives now, it brings me great joy every time I pray for them because I know that in whatever they’re doing, they’re doing so because their love for the Lord has lead them there.
I thank my God every time I remember you
Philippians 1:3
It’s quite funny how life-changing this event was for me. We often witness in the community to never cascade on the spiritual highs and lows of the events, but I think I can honestly say that this experience for me was one of those pinnacle experiences that have stood the test of time. Whenever I feel like my human weakness fails and I forget the beauty of Agape Love, still images of the villages we visited, the people we met and the shear brotherhood shared at the GAT come flooding back to my mind as if I just left yesterday.
The Lord revealed to me many things on this excursion, but the message that I’ll always treasure is very sweet and simple: love others selflessly. I remember going in to the trip so narrow minded and thinking “I really want to do this because I love to help others”. How naive! Albeit there’s absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to help others, to think the less fortunate are poor because they have less material things – that was my mistake. Those in the Philippines, in particular the ones who resided in the Ancop villages, taught me that they don’t thrive off the same things western society has taught us has worth. They just simply want to be talked to, noticed. When they are deprived of this, they suffer, just as we would. They find the same utter joy in sharing in company and welcoming us in their home then we do immersing in the village life. All people yearn to experience unconditional love: both to love and to be loved.
I live within you, deep in your heart Oh God, I live within you, rest now in me.
It’s so exciting to know that I get to travel there again in less than a month to once again experience the joys of unconditional love through the witness of His servants. What brings me greater joy is the idea that for those going for the first time, a new world of wonder will be revealed just as it did to myself 4 years ago. The Holy Spirit moves at a disturbingly unpredictable pace, and I know that for many of the delegates, they’ll return to their respective homes with a fierce zeal and intensity to serve. May those who seek peace find what they are meant to find.
Vive Christus Rex
Pater Noster. Ave Maria. Gloria Patri.
cpm
