 |
| https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=Mission+photos |
I had a chance to
talk to one of my favourite professors Dr.
Saturnina B. Absin, last weekend.
She said that one time in the past a President of the University named
Fr. Jett Villarin, SJ shared three things
we can do before we die - climb a mountain, plant a tree and write a book. For others it may be different.
Honestly, during
this writing I am still figuring out what these three things are. Even the thought of dying still frightens
me. Not so long ago when I was single
and has been single for a long time (hahaahha really long ha), I thought I
could die earlier anyway since I found myself just “roaming the world”
endlessly and has not really found such meaning with what I had been
doing. So the thought of dying early was
the product of frustration of the unfulfilled desire of not having married at
what I thought was the right age for me.
It was soo frustrating at that time.
You see when one
thinks of dying, it is like having those unconscious or perhaps conscious
suicidal thoughts. It happens a lot to
those that have really lost meaning with life and living.
But hey let me go
back to the thinking of dying at the moment.
I get frightened. You know
why? I found such great meaning and
value to where I am. Having a husband
and a little girl to take care of really put me right on track with life. I
feel I have the direction to pursue. I
feel that I need to take care of myself since I have a family to take care of. Though dying is imminent, yet I pray everyday
that I would still live so that I could continue serving my family. Living today has meaning for me. Living each day is living for the family I
dearly love.
Still I could not
deny such invitation and consider that three things that I would be doing
before the imminent death takes place.
Hmmm I am still afraid but the
following runs in my mind and heart.
First,
is to continue loving my family.
I love my family so much – my husband Mike and Mikaela. I call them both , the two M’s in my life. I know in my heart that I would always be there for both of them until the day I die
(ohh now I am saying it heheh). Loving
them both is equal to serving them in any way I can.
Second, is to teach, train and facilitate learning. One Jesuit priest Fr. Bulatao directly told
me ones in the past when I joined one of his seminars – workshop “your hand is
saying that I AM A TEACHER”. I resisted
it at first. I was then a BS Psychology
student. Though I understand that being
a teacher does not necessarily mean having that formal training such that
enrolling in the course itself yet today I am into it and even went as far as
doing post graduate studies. Huh…can’t
take my eyes of you thing ha heheh.
Thanks to that Jesuit priest that led me to my life’s mission work.
Last,
is to
write and publish a book. Not
just a single book but I guess lots of it.
I like writing so much even with a lot of “crooked lines”. It has led me to sharing myself, views,
values and how I look at life and the world.
I have plunged and risked being known and perhaps judged by others but I feel so home everytime
I write. I find it so swift, so natural
and soo soo much of God in me shared to the world through this gift that He
gave me (Ohhh Thank you so much God).
So
how is it then for you? Are you brave
enough to answer the question ‘What are the three things that you would do
before you die?’. Please do not be
afraid. The question directs us to our
life’s mission. It gives us
meaning. It deepens our connection with
life and ultimately...God. This reminds me of a quote from
Pope John Paul VI:
"Somebody should have told us right at the start of our lives that we
are dying. Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of everyday. Do
it I say! Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many
tomorrows."
No comments:
Post a Comment