ILAW 5 - Life's Pilgrimage

It was  4:35 AM and the other two (referring to Brother Rey and Roji) start texting and asking where I'm at. So I ask the guard at the CSB Hotel to grab a pedicab for me and I head straight to the South Gate. When I reply saying that I'm on my way, Brother Rey says that we have to take a cab. In my mind I'm like why? After finding out that the DLSU Coaster left us three I couldn't help but laugh. Good thing Roji literally runs after his dad to ask if he can take us to La Salle Greenhills. So Roji grabs the wheel and takes us there in less than 30 minute, to think we didn't use EDSA but rather took the long route touring us around Makati, Mandaluyong then finally hitting Ortigas. 

The 5th Inter- Luzon Aspirants Workshop was hosted by the Lasallian Formation Center Community. It was a two day pilgrimage that basically took us up Mt. Samat in Bataan and down to the Jaime Hilario Integrated School - La Salle in Bagac. More than 30 participants composed of Brothers, Novices, Postulants and Aspirants were present to reflect on the realities of our life's journeys.

Leaving the Provincialate a couple of minutes pass six, we stop at the first gas station on the NLEX. Still on the Daniel Diet, I decide to grab a tuna fish sub while the others are enjoying their tocino and tapas. So after breakfast, we're all handed leaflets full of the towns that we pass by's history. Being the history enthusiast that I am, I read the entire thing. So the connection, we were all asked what are the significant events in our lives that were somewhat momentous or important to whom we are today. And as usual, I couldn't think of anything. So I slept the entire trip. Sorry Brother Vince.

Next stop was the church in (if my poor memory serves me right) Balanga. We were then given a brief talk from Brother Mandy about the place and a wicked short session with Brother Vince. 

As he begins speaking about how our lives are journeys that we choose to travel, he strikingly points out that sometimes the things we are disturbed by are merely an awakening. He then leaves me dumbfounded with the question of "Where is this leading you?'. That is all I actually remember with what he was saying. I guess I was too tired to function but for some reason, that was all that stuck to my mind.

So as we start the hike up towards this cross

So it may not look like a cross, but its the pole on top of the mountain.

Here it is up close. Breathtaking, right?

on Mt. Samat, I start connecting the journey with my life. Mind you, it is not at all easy to walk 7 kilometers more or less of roads that are inclining. It is not easy to walk up a mountain with the kind of extra baggage I carry. Haha. And it is not easy to think while you are physically tired. But nonetheless, I've come up with a rather good, well I think its good, generalization of my life's pilgrimage.

In life, you'll always start at the bottom. And as you work your way up towards your goal in life, you'll learn to find the road is not at all that easy. You'll eventually get there, but sometimes you will stop when you are tired to rest.

You will find difficulties or obstacles that will test your perseverance. You will run into new faces, meet new people and eventually find out that you are not alone in your journey,

but, will see that there are others that will tackle the same path that you are on. Some will come, and some will go. You either leave them behind, or find yourself being left behind. Sometimes you will be perfect all alone, other times you will need a companion.

For the struggles and all the tough terrain, you would want someone to help you. To guide you, to accompany you through the hardships.

Sometimes others will need you to shell out a little extra effort to boost their morality or to keep them going. To give them a little push to make them feel that they are not alone.

I think it should have been the other way around, right Cliff?

A little gesture of merely walking with another person may seem like nothing, but knowing that there are others that choose to walk with you can help you go a long way.

You're lucky enough to be with a group. Striving at the same pace with others is something to enjoy, something to grasp at. They know what you are feeling because you're practically walking in the same speed. Others will be tempted and will opt to take short cuts, but then will realize that when they get to the top, no matter if they're first or what, the others will be trailing behind them and eventually catch up. They have gained more wisdom by taking the long road and will appreciate every step taken. Sometimes, shortcuts are dangerous. Besides skipping the things you would've learned you could end up less prepared.

I was lucky to hike with a Brother and few friends. And in real life, I'm blessed to be walking with several. They have traveled the path that I am currently trekking. I was lucky to walk with Brother Rey during the last few kilometers of the hike.

The 6K marker.

He told me which sides of the street to take, the steeper and less traveled and less distant yet tiring route versus the more traveled and crowded wide side that could make the walk more tiring in the long run. In real life he teaches me how to approach the road less traveled and ironically is becoming difficult yet rather helping me reach my goal somehow faster.

During the beginning of the hike, we were one group.

And it is evident how others can get by faster and how others are left behind. The people that pass you are sometimes the people you catch up with. There are times when you think you won't be seeing them again in your journey, but miraculously, you see them at the end of the road. Now the goal of this hike was to reach the top, which was a thirty story high Cross. Figuratively, the hike was to reach the peak, where the cross stood, a symbol of our Saviour Jesus Christ. To join him after the long hike, tired and thirsty for rest. Upon reaching the final destination, you'll find some waiting for you, and you'll find yourself as well waiting for others.

So it doesn't really matter how you get there. Because in the long run, we'll all return to one place. You'll all be complete.

You'll all be rejoicing over a triumphant fight. You will all reunite under one God.

But if you choose to travel the road alone, it will be lonely. You can try to enjoy the magnificent view,

but you will feel that you are left behind. The struggle can turn out unbearable, and you may not have any one to turn to. People will look for you. And, people will wait for you.

I've learned that everyone will not always be there for you. You can choose to keep up with others, but when the pace is too fast, you'll find yourself weary and exhausted. So go with the flow.

Walk until your feet can bear the pain. Then rest until you are ready to continue. Who knows if someone will come along the way to accompany you.

And when you reach the top, be proud and smile. Remember to thank those who have helped you along the way. Remember the trials that you have encountered and be wise by learning from them.

To end this post I would like to share with you guys a prayer that we used before our send off:

God of our journey, we entrust our fellow pilgrims into Your loving care knowing that You are always the Faithful Traveler and Companion on our way. Grant us the courage to face the challenges of this life we chose. Continue to guide us as we journey on in this road towards the fulfillment of Your Kingdom here on earth. Amen.

So I encourage everyone to walk your paths with full faith in the Lord. Ask him to guide you and if ever you do get lost, just look for the light,

and trust me, real friends won't leave your side. They may be a few steps away at times but they will never leave you walking alone.

And thanks to the very good Adobo, the Daniel Diet was tarnished. Talk about resisting temptations! And if the Bagac Community's weighing scale is accurate, I lost three pounds from hiking up and walking down Mt. Samat!

Thanks again to the LFC Community and to the Brothers of the Bagac Community for hosting and the generous hospitality. ILAW5 rocked my socks, literally and figuratively!

Group picture before send off at Bagac

And every time activities like these end an we all have to go home and part our ways, I can't help but smile on all the good times. Thanks guys for the travel, for walking with me and for being there, and for making my journey worthwhile. Rest assured, you'll find me walking near.

 

Nice one Awe!

Live Jesus in our hearts, Forever!

Photos from Roji Enriquez, Brother Mike Valenzuela FSC, Brother Mikey Cua FSC and Joseph Daluz. Thanks.

Yes Bro!

Update as of 21 November 2009:

We are now 12!

The De La Salle Brothers Taft Community Aspirants welcome their new brothers:

Left to Right: Mark Salvan, Thor Manlangit and Awe Tenido.

Welcome to the family and as one community may we help one another in discerning through genuine brotherhood. God bless for saying Yes! Say what?

De La Salle Brothers Taft Community Aspirants' 

T- Shirt for the 5th Inter Luzon Aspirants Workshop

We're not cliquish so please don't get us wrong. We just felt like it. Haha. Expecting to hear people talk behind our backs and everything, we're sorry. But yeah, can't wait to hike up Mt. Samat or Arayat, sorry I am that bad when it comes to names, and go chill at the Jaime Hilario Beach! Will talk about the pilgrimage when I get back, I gotta go pick up my mom from the airport.

Later!

For the Hell of It

Before going to bed last night, I couldn't help but notice the Bible Diary I got as a gift from Roji last year. It was sitting on my side table all dusty and untouched for a few weeks. So being the Curious George I am, I open it up and scan towards 23 November 2009.

Here's the First Reading, from the Book of Daniel,

Daniel's Training in Babylon

 ¹ In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. ² And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia ^[a] and put in the treasure house of his god.

 ³ Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility- ⁴ young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king's palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. ^{[b] 5} The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king's table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king's service.

 ⁶ Among these were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. ⁷ The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.

 ⁸ But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. ⁹ Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel, ¹⁰ but the official told Daniel, "I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your ^[c] food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you."

 ¹¹ Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, ¹² "Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. ¹³ Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see." ¹⁴ So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.

 ¹⁵ At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. ¹⁶ So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.

 ¹⁷ To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.

 ¹⁸ At the end of the time set by the king to bring them in, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. ¹⁹ The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king's service. ²⁰ In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.

For those like me who aren't well versed when it comes to the Bible and do not know who the characters are, Daniel was famous for interpreting dreams, and yes, is considered by the Christians as one of the four major Prophets besides Jeremiah, Isaiah, and, uhh, Ezekiel? (Please correct me if I'm wrong) 

So what am I trying to point out here? Nothing in particular. To be frank, I felt it was just one of those Readings that the Church has to go through just for the sake of having the traditional Readings before the Holy Gospel. But what really caught my attention was Daniel 1:12:

"Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.

So first, the random thought and enthusiasm within sparked. What an awesome way to test my patience and enhance my prayer life. For me to isolate myself from the worldly ways I am accustomed to, and to turn to God for the strength! Think of it guys, its like a reminder for me to live the life that the Lord wants me to by showing me in scripture (I don't really try to interpret everything I read in the Bible and relate it with my life, but this just sounded like a fun idea). Maybe God wants me to be healthy? Maybe God wants to test me? Or being the human that I am, I want to test myself and see how far I can go.

So who knows, what if I do make the 10 days and become "ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom." Dn 1:20?

But, I totally screwed up Day 1 thanks to the calzone I bought for breakfast at Domino's. I totally forgot about it. Come Day 2, 'the New Start day', I screw up again thanks to the scrumptious brunch the IAA Office served for Mr Holmes' birthday. So starting tomorrow, (with all hopes high), I shall test my obedience by eating nothing but vegetables and water for 10 days. So help me God!

A Greater Kind of Love

Spending a couple of years with one specific person may sound hardcore.  

You know who to turn to during the good and the really awful times. You know who's going to wake you up when you have to get up early for a really important class. You know who is always available for you when you need someone to talk with. You know who is down to join you for the craziest things. You know who has your back when the times get tough. You know who's going to take care of you, even if you have a little cough. 

They know what the things are that make you happy, and they know what will hurt you. They know what you've been craving for hence, they know where to go for lunch. They know when and why you're down. They know when you haven't showered nor brushed your teeth.

Its the simplest things that make the relationship unique. 

Like instead of a kiss, the first thing she does is she wants to smell your armpits just to make sure you did take a shower. Then she smiles. Or the way she calls and asks you to make lambing even if you've spent the entire day with her. The day you learned to tie her hair, just because. 

Its when you buy her Hotshots because she doesn't have a lunch break, and, because they're her favorite. The way she sits through your physical ed. class doing her homework even if you can't shoot a ball for shit. Or how you have to wake up early in the morning just to accompany her to school even if your class starts in the afternoon.

Sometimes, its the fights that make you two who you are as a couple. That even if she causes drama during your sister's graduation party, you still find the reasons to love her. Even when understanding is nowhere to be found, you still know that at the end of the day everything will be alright.

It just sucks how having the company of someone so near to your heart can leave you feeling lonely.

She was hard to love. She was difficult to understand. But she was yours.

Without her, the good times wouldn't have been as good, and, the bad times would be just plain bad.

For the two or more years she was mine, I have to be thankful. For being there, for loving me. For teaching me how to love even if it was difficult. To permit even when things were questionable. To trust when things were undeniable.

You taught me how to persevere. To struggle even when I could enjoy comfort. There was no burden. But there was a cross to be carried.

Without you, I don't think I would ever be this ready. I've learned to love the unlovable. I've learned to understand open mindfully. To appreciate what we had, and to let go of what we could have had.

So why has God put me through it all? Not just to love, but to learn. To do everything I can so I wouldn't have to regret. 

In this light, I know I can face the unexpected. To control my emotions and to know when to let go. To love the unloved. To appreciate what I only have. To serve even when its against what I want.

The relationship we had helped me to become a better person. We were instruments used to teach each other. The relationship we had was the field for preparation, for something greater, for a love far more admirable than what we both were comfortable with.