2015's Little Surprises

I find that 2015 has been a special year for  me.


Two little surprises came to me this wonderful year. Both very close to my heart.

First was in January when I was designated coordinator in our little community of mass lectors and commentators. I was immediately terrified and bent my knees in prayer. How am I going to be a leader to my fellow lectors. I knew then that I found it really serious because I wanted for so long to bring many of us closer to our Lord. I do not know how to do it. I do not know how to do it yet.

The coordinator who went before me did very well. She was very organized and had big dreams for our group (outings, recollections, etc) and most of them did come true. She is also close to a number of our members already.

I on the contrary spent more than 20 years as lector in the same community not spending one night out with anyone...ANYONE in our community. I just go for my serve, when appointed to do something do it and I am gone like the smoke in a few moments after completing my task.

Not that I do not want to hang around but in my many years, I have been recipient of one too many stories about others that i do not want to keep in my databank.  If I cannot do anything about it, I'd rather not hear it.

Now, I am striving to bring back kindness and understanding into the ministry...(chuckle) actually I learned that spreading understanding can be confusing to some people. How ironic.  In a community inside the church, forgiveness, letting things slide, extending understanding and helping people to learn before condemnation seems to be quite foreign, frowned upon even. Like a sore thumb, I continue to pursue my quest for peace in the community. Peace vs. perfection. Tsk tsk tsk. It's a sad comparison. Sometimes instead of peace I harbor rebellion from those who wants perfection and those who did not care before but are held hostage by rules are falling off the crack.  No one is ever gonna be a hostage in my term. If they are serving, they must want to serve for God. If they are doing it for God they will stay no matter how they perceive my leadership.  As for me, I do not see myself as their leaders as much as I see my self as an example of Christian living. If they do not see compassion in me, if they do not see understanding, if they do not see forgiveness, if they do not see me doing my task well as lector/commentator, if they do not see me praying, then I would be remiss. That is all they will see.  I only have two years and i do not wish to create a perfect organization. I honestly think everyone is already doing very well.  What I want to create is a compassionate community of lectors and commentators spreading the Word of God to which they live by. That is all there is to it.

Slowly, I am seeing the color of characters I am working with and it's exactly as I imagined. It's still a lot of work. In fact it will get harder because we are changing parish priest and at the time when I may not be readily available as before.

Why ? Because of 2015's new surprise. Sometime in the beginning of June or late May, I replied to a tempting facebook post of a friend about a project in Boston. No details was given only that the person needs to work with students and that it would be a pro bono case and that it will be in Boston. Of course, the Boston bit is the immediate catch. But the meat of it is working with students. I was afraid it will involve classes but good that it didn't. It was a counseling stint and I am very comfortable with it.

I am presently working with Consult Asia in their CSR project with 2 scholars of ICTSI going to Boston. Preparing them, guiding them and then checking up on them when they get to Boston.

I will be going there sometime September and then in late October again for a week at a time. Even now I am excited to learn how their adjustments would be like when they get there. They both look mentally and psychologically tough to me, but really there is no telling until they get there.

Another task I feel unworthy of and terrified to do because it has such potent impact on others. God help me to play a part in the lives of others.

When I was younger I thought I'd be really rich and really powerful and in high society when I get to work.  As I pursued corporate life, I looked inside me and it did not fit. I went from one company to the other, no two work was the same. Teller, recruiter, counselor, insurance agent, trainer, classroom teacher, travel agent, office manager.  To this mix I saw that I go for passion rather than money. I go for helping rather than earning. I go for people rather than position.  At this point in my life, I look back and despite limited money in my pocket, no distinguished company or title, I find myself right smack in the middle of where I want my life to be.

I have time to be a daughter, a sister, an aunt, an entrepreneur, a counselor, a trainer, a writer, time for church, for friends, travel ( no required number of leaves or seeking approval) and I can not be any happier. Well of course that is not true. It could be peppered with a few incentives and some more dollars but I am not complaining. I know I have what I need and what I do not have, I don't need.

Thank you Lord for the gift of life. There is one thing I  find lacking Lord, and you know what it is. Please help me be able to do as much as I can in this lifetime and guide my path. Amen.