Saturday night our HR director texted to tell us that we will be having a mini-program during the anniversary luncheon today. And part of the tradition are special numbers from the newbies in the office. My first thought was "WTF?! This is so grade school!"
But of course that's me: complain first then eventually obey. I was thinking hard of what I can contribute to the program, one which is least damaging to my dignity, when my feet brought me to the cabinet atop my wardrobe. It is kinda high for me so I used it to stash stuff that I know will occupy it for a looong time. And in there gathering dust is my old banduria.
I played played banduria when I was a freshman in high school. I joined the Rondalla because I don't want to take up PE. Funnee I didn't play any instrument before this (I took up piano lessons before but I was so tamad to continue it so i stopped, which I regret up to this day; anyway, piano doesn't count). Luckily I was able to tag my friends my join also. I did this for four years. We played in every program and event imaginable that was held in the University. We were even asked to play outside the campus: once in Expo Filipino, when the King and Queen of Spain arrived in 1998, then in the small airport in Plaridel, Bulacan for some event. It was the centenary of Philippine independence so to be Filipiniana is so in.
Seeing my banduria brought back so many memories in high school. The joy, the tears, the fun times, the scary ones, the embarrasing and the kilig moments. One particular memory tugged my heart though. And this memory is very special and valuable to me. It was when I first met my Lord and Savior.
When I was in grade school I studied in a Catholic school. For seven years I grew up with nuns and in a very Catholic environment. But during those seven years I was nowhere near being a little good Catholic girl. All imaginable offenses I did back then. I swear, I brought so much tears to my parents' eyes 'coz I am such a suwail and pasaway kid.
So high school, one can say that I am dry, spiritually dry. There is something that is lacking in me, I can feel it but I didn't know what. Then God gave me a barkada-one thing that I've been wanting in grade school. What's unexpected was that our group was so diverse in a lot of aspects, but most especially in religions. We're all Christians but from different denominations: one is a born-again Christian, one is Methodist, the rest are Catholics.
It was here in high school that I attended a real Bible study. It was headed by my Filipino teacher who was part of Jesus Is Lord church. We have it after classes. I remember during the fair week that she had us watch films about the rapture, made in the sixties or seventies i think. I had the scare of my life coz of the graphic nature of the film. Anyway, I'm digressing again.
In summer of 2000 my uncle's family joined CCF. That summer there will be a high school camp, and it'll be the first time that my two cousins SR and Philip, the ones who followed after me, will attend. They invited me to the camp so my two cousins will have company at the same time that I may have a different summer. I was turning 16 then. And it was during that camp that I received our Lord Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.
A year after, summer of 2001, Edlyn, my Protestant barkada asked me if I could teach summer Bible school to the children in their area. Since I wasn't doing anything then I agreed and had a blast! I continued teaching for two more years. Only stopped when I had summer school for Math 12 and my practicum.
The same year, another friend invited me to join YFC-Ateneo. I had camp with them, and re-accepted Christ as my Savior. I was pretty active in YFC then and I continued to grow in the faith.
2002 was a memorable year for Ateneans for that was when the Blue Eagles won the championship after so long. It was also memorable for me coz it was when Kimmy invited me to attend bible study that CCF held in school. It was pretty special coz Paul Tanchi was then the teacher. After the championship we attended again, and the following sem Lani and I became regulars. It was during that semester that we were assigned to a discipler. Bobbi was one of the best things that God brought into my life. It was with her that I learned true discipleship, and she really helped me with my spiritual growth. The difference in religion didnn't hinder us from talking about God and growing together.
The following year I was introduced to GenRev thru the media. First sem of SY 2003-2004, the Campus Catalysts program was launched and Ateneo was one of the first schools, since there're a number of GenRev-ers in Ateneo. I was active there, at the same time continued discipleship with Bobbi. The following sem Bobbi graduated and so Lani and I transferred to the discipleship group of her bestfriend Atid, who handles Kimmy and Zyza (see my entry "The Core").
Then 2004 the bible studies in school got a little gulo for many reasons, and it was good timing that GenRev Ateneo also started during that time. At this point Lani, Zy and I have grown to become Soul Sisters, bonded by our love for and love of Christ. We continued attending GenRev Ateneo, then GenRev Night every month, which eventually led to Team Revival gatherings. Two weeks ago we made a big step when we applied for a Koinonia group. Three days after that Zy and I already have a KG; Lani's still in the discernment process as I write.
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This is the latest chapter of my life. The next chapters are yet to be determined; only God knows what will happen.
I remember one saying that we are like a string instrument, and God is the player. We cannot make beautiful music unless we allow Him to pluck our strings. The same way that I pluck each string of my banduria in order to produce music, it is only with Him that we can really bring out our best, and only He can bring out the best in us. The banduria can't play itself. We are nothing without Him.
In his mind a man plans his course, but the LORD directs his steps. - Proverbs 16:9
Yet, O LORD, you are our father; we are the clay and you the potter: we are all the work of your hands. - Isaiah 64:7
6 comments:
I can't think of something smart to say right now, but I really hafta get this out of my system:
this entry is just so konying.:D
LOL! Love ya, achie!
Oh yeah, now I thought of something with a bit more sense: one of the most important things that I learned from our beloved disciplers is that it's not religion per se that matters, but your relationship with God. If you follow the doctrine to the letter without even knowing why you're doing that, what then? Following blindly without ever establishing a solid relationship with our Savior is just doing it for its own sake, not because of Jesus.
Amen sister! You are so tama with that :) Religion is just a daan to knowing God. We're not naman robots to follow God without thinking; that's why we have free will. What's the silbi of free will if we're gonna be alipin to the doctrines?
bwehehehehe! lova ya too shobs!
Margarett Lyneida Louise! I am so asar na with you! If you don't make tigil with that way of pagsasalita , I will make pukpok you!
Heehee! But seriously now, the most important thing would be our personal relationship with God, because that would be what we would be accountable for in the end. That's why a person can't go and say that his religion/church/community is the best among the rest. Yes, it's true that these would help in our spiritual walk, but in the end, it's you who would have to be accountable. Remember the story of the rich young man in the Bible? He may have followed the doctrine perfectly, but because there is no worship and (incomplete) praxis, he went on his way sadly.
uhuh, I agree :) You are tama again sis :p
Stop that! (Haha! Like I had the right to ask you.:p)
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