Two weeks ago, I came back to mission Area here in GTA with a attentive eye to how and what i should change in my approach to Full-Time work. While the events and commitments have dramatically increased (it seems), the same struggle felt in the PI of “fighting for quality time with the Lord” remains.
Every so often in the busyness, it’s difficult to be self-aware and rooted in:
What truly wakes us in the morning? (one-on-ones-or [insert commitment]) Why do we serve? (to bring others to God) Why should we keep going despite the tiredness? (because I drank coffee)
Every day, He asks the same simple questions, calls me to become more blatantly aware Him, and to keep simplifying my reasons of serving to One…out of love for Him. My Father. My Healer. My Friend. [insert images of God here].
Lord, give me the grace to always be reminded of who I am serving…Preserve and increase my prayer time with You.
We may have formidable problems, but what a reassurance to know that we have an ALMIGHTY God.
Earlier this week, we had an Household here in Isabela on the topic Pro-Life. Somewhere along the sharings, the Lord revealed how real and daunting the Mission was back in North America. We may not be renewing individual through the curing of earthly poverty, but instead we are called to literally fight a culture of Death. It is firstly a battle of the sanity of the mind, fighting every ideology that questions our God-given Worth and Beauty..and secondly battling the illusion that we are Self-Sufficient…Godly (the ultimate Sin, really)…How does one promote the God to society who is conquered in their own self?
Meditating on these problems has been paralyzing…How truly BIG are the problems in society, and how equally DEEP is our own broken humanity…
This morning though, the Lord brought about a lot of rain. Though are skies are gray and dreary, the rain always has been a sign of Abundance for me. His reminder for me this morning was to continue going back to the manifestations of His Almighty nature, which He provides in abundance. Indeed:
…what a blessing it is to be a missionary (despite the many impossibilities).
…what a blessing it is to even have my Faith (despite being issued from society that promotes Him as being obsolete).
…what a blessing to have brothers and sisters who endeavour in the same mission. (they are walking and tangible manifestations of Christ). (thanks ate Mabs)
Lord, give me the sight to be constantly AMAZED by Your Almighty works…so that I may be, in turn, empowered to be an Instrument of love and blessing to others.
If you visit Magat Dam, you will see on one side of the dam 6 huts floating on one side of the Cagayan River. Apparently, “fish cager” families actually live in these small, straw and simple huts: eat, sleep, bathe, and make their livelihood there (fish). Once they caught their catch of the day, only then will they row back to shore to sell.
When I heard that story, I started wondering what it’s like to wake up/be on these tiny islands in the morning, surrounded by water. I’m thinking there’s no light there in the morning. How in the world can one feel secure when drowning is a constant reality? What is on those tiny islands that fish cagers would spend their lives there, and call it home?
“One can finds it home in Mission”. Indeed, it would seem that fish caught by the fish cagers are more diverse: the Cagayan river for instance is the only place you can fish Eels. The fish caught there are also bigger than those bred in fish ponds. Yes, as crazy as the life of a fish cager might be, it would seem that their Mission is what more than affirms them, but also empowers them every single day.
I believe that being a Missionary is the same. We experience the Lord daily in our experiences in service, struggles, stories, hopes, dreams, prayers…for ourselves, and for the sea of people under our care. Though this lifestyle may be incomprehensible to most, we know that through these we can proclaim God’ greatness to the shores we row back to. Our Mission to witness is truly a joyful one…a promising one…because of the one we proclaim…the God of Promise.
As I arise today,
may the strength of God pilot me,
the power of God uphold me,
the wisdom of God guide me.
May the eye of God look before me,
the ear of God hear me,
the word of God speak for me.
May the hand of God protect me,
the way of God lie before me,
the shield of God defend me,
the host of God save me.
May Christ shield me today.
Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit,
Christ when I stand,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
Amen
- The Lord has been my Interpreter: In times when I start babbling, He reveals to me what words to speak to proclaim His word. (especially if it requires Tagalog, haa)
- The Lord has been my Life Planner: Especially with the many things on our plates, nothing works but the call to surrender every day. He alone knows what blessings lie ahead, and who will call me to bless.
- The Lord has been my Looking Glass: I continue to be amazed…because He reveals His splendour in Isabela’s surroundings, and the people I meet every day.
What an assurance to know that while we are Missioning, the Lord is actually gearing up right beside us. Even more so, His Spirit dwells within, and manifests Itself in fulfilling our every need to be blessed, and bless those we meet each day.
One of the most memorable parts of our ANCOP immersion this past weekend was hearing my hosts share their life story at meal times. With each of the family members, I’d witness another side to the plot, descriptions…of their colourful walk with the Lord. These stories, Tita said, would be a way for me “not to forget her…and the Community” that was transformed by the Lord through the work of CFC.
“Never forget that you are blessed.” For a long time, I’ve struggled with many crippling fears in doing mission work; I’d forgotten how powerful my Love Story with the Lord really was. Indeed, the revealing of His greatness in this life is not any less than of majestic, factual, and thus unshakeable in nature. The fuel to blessing others is remembering that we are ourselves have also been blessed abundantly.
