Journeys Straight to Heart

I love to travel, it's one of things I would always do.

And in traveling you meet a lot of people, eat good and weird food and sometimes bankrupt your savings. But one of the perks of traveling is the opportunity to learn more about culture, places, even people; and in the process, you also grow as a person--become more well rounded, readily accept differences and have the sense of liberty as you let life make its beauty known to you.

I've been a homebody. When I was in college, my routine was to go home straight from the school. I don't take detours and I only visit places when it is part of a project or a requirement. I don't do it for leisure nor for pleasure. I don't have that kind of yearning in me.

But when I started working in a TV Network, a lot of opportunities opened for me to travel and it excited me, but then again I don't have the luxury of time to really explore since our time in a certain place is very limited. After covering local festivals, we do post-production, eat with the staff, go back to the hotel and fly the next morning. Eventually it stressed me, I came to a point where I just want to stay at the office and do remote support. Di na kasi ako makaraket (I cannot do my sideline work), and for a talent, rakets are the cream inside the cream puff or the strawberry in a strawberry shortcake. That's what keeps you in a contractual position because every sideline you get is additional income since you don't enjoy the benefits that regular employees have.

After I resigned in my previous work, I met my partner who is an adventurer at heart and that started this practice of traveling for pleasure. That was the end of the homebody life for me. My life has been changed forever. I dream of places to explore and look forward to the boldest of adventures. I'm also fortunate to have friends who equally share this love for travel. So it saves me the hassle and the money of planning trips. We have about a minimum of 10 getaways per year at average. So you can imagine how my life now is like. :))

But there are just trips that hit you straight to heart. Some journeys that make you smile in remembrance, give you pride not only because you survived the adventure yourself but because you opened an opportunity for fellow adventurers like you to experience something they have a lot of doubts about.

My friends and I opened an open trip travel group that caters to adventurers who like to travel but don't have the budget to cover all expenses needed for a full blown adventure. Most of our trips are thrill-seeking getaways that a lot of people want but do not have the guts to pursue. These trips include surfing, intro diving, spelunking, and the likes.

As a certified diver, the intro dive open trips automatically goes to my care. I spearhead the activity since I have more knowledge about it than the rest of the group. My partner, Arbs, works hand in hand with me since he is a much better diver and does the photography for the activity. Most participants inquire about pictures underwater during the trip so we included it in the package.

And every time before the actual dive, the excitement of the participants is always coupled with fear that they may not be able to do the skill required to explore underwater. And its perfectly understandable because it is a journey to an unknown territory and out of one's comfort zone. Most of the time I try to distract them and encourage them; but the moment they knew that  they are next in line for the the dive,  I sense discomfort, some excitement, but mostly, it is the nervousness that weighs more. From the moment they fit in their wetsuits to the time they practice the skills, there are hesitations and fear as like any beginning of something bold and new.

But the moment they plunge in, they tend to forget all the doubts they had in the surface. When you ask them underwater how they are, they almost automatically give you the "okay" sign, as if they are greeting an old companion or visiting a  familiar place.  All the worries fly out of the surface and it's the sense of awe that prevails. The 20 minutes bottom time seems inadequate and when they do enjoy the sightings underwater, human nature takes control and they forget that they are with a Dive Master. LOL. They would want to explore on their own, you can sense it with their body language--all those arm flailing and kicks that you usually do when you are on your own. And of course they readily pose for the much awaited profile photo on Facebook, that will shout to the world they have done this awesome adventure and survived it!

When they resurface, you can see pure unadulterated joy and pride that they conquered something new, that they enjoyed every single bit of the time underwater. They make exclamations of awe... and for a sojourner like me, whose simple joys include diving, is always priceless. The look on their faces as they express their happiness feels as good swimming with a whale shark or conquering a nerve wracking Plunge for free! :)

I would never get tired of organizing intro dives for people. These are journeys that you can say are very worth it. These are journeys that make you feel like the universe is a very awesome place and that every human being is also a part of yourself, that every joy you give them returns to you in spades.

I never knew that introducing new things to people can be that awesome. I'm one of the reserved types who like to enjoy things on my own with an ample space to zone out in my own bubble. I don't easily get too comfortable with people I just met or get to spend some time in a service van.. But these open trips made a change in me. I discovered that there is pleasure in people watching and in those moments that you make a room to accommodate new connections in your life, it makes the world a better place to live in, well,  no matter how corny that sounds. :)

Traveling teaches you things you do not normally learn in life. You just have to embrace every experience: every thrill, insect bite or sunburn you have to suffer. No matter where life take you,  conquer it with your every breath and you'll be surprised with what discoveries you will find.

"Climb the mountain so you can see the world, not so the world can see you."

My New Life in Christ

I've just graduated in my Christian Life Program today and I feel so happy, blessed and overwhelmed.

I learned a lot of lessons I hope I could help impart to people and be a blessing...
It is hard but yes, very much POSSIBLE.

This is one of the most meaningful or perhaps the best Christmas gift I had in my life right now.
As I rejoice in this new life, which is one in Christ, let me share to you some of the things that touched me during the CLP.

Talk 1: God's Love
I don't know anyone there since  I wasn't able to attend the orientation but Gibo, my friend from Engineering Department, invited me to attend. With God's grace I was able to work on my sched, which during that time was 12nn-9pm and the CLP starts at 7pm. It is such a blessing from God that my Shift Leader allowed me to participate. :)

So going back, there was this 'merienda' time or when the service team feed you (this doesn't sound right!haha)  and all of us were having a nice time eating... I was alone because I don't know anyone of the participants. Across from me is a guy from the Radio Department and we were not talking. I was holding my cup of water while eating pancit and then a guy, named Zeus, offered to hold the cup for me. I was really surprised and weirded out. Why would he hold the cup for me, he was also eating? And then I realize it was what the community was all about--my first lesson in SFC: We are each other's support system. So matter how trivial that is, it shows care and concern and forgoing your own comfort to provide assistance to your brothers and sisters in Christ. Just like what Zeus did, though I graciously declined, it has meant a lot that time. :)


Talk 9: Baptism by the Holy Spirit
This is perhaps the best session I had in CLP. I felt like a heavy burden has been lifted off my shoulders after the session... It really gave me a renewed sense of hope and trust in the Lord. It is a rare experience and one I will treasure in my lifetime. It might be hard to believe that one can experience such rebirth, but that was what it felt like during that time and after that session, there was really no going back---because it feels like the Holy Spirit has literally baptized you into being one of the chosen children of God.

"I am home (back into Your arms)
I am home (in the warmth of Your love)
I lose my hold and You reached my hand
You held me up I'm truly home"

That is the closing song on our Baptism session and I feel like shouting because such words have never been truer to me. I feel like dancing, I was very happy. You could just imagine me raising my hands and singing like a was alone in the bathroom (awkward imaginings #2. haha)... that kind of freedom, no holds barred... no reservations worship. It was very liberating. I was not used to such passionate show of worship but there, it felt like all the chains have been removed from me that I could not care the least as long I am giving glory to the Lord. 

Talk 12: Transformation in Christ, Graduation

This is the last session in CLP and I didn't know what to expect. I thought it was just an ordinary session and I was at ease when the service team prayed over us. When the speaker said "Welcome to SFC!", kinilabutan talaga ako (i had goosebumps) and I was so overwhelmed I cried like a lunatic. I don't know but such words really hit me, I have passed the test. All the weeks of going home late, riding a cab with a sleepy driver in EDSA, killing time in the malls because I end my shift early and had to wait 4 hours for the session or perhaps oversleeping because I am on a night shift and arriving late--it all was worth it and I did it! Praise the Lord! I feel very thankful and blessed... because the Lord has called me and when I responded, He took care of me, every single time... from making sure I get home safe or giving me the strength not to miss any of the talk (yeah!!) to surprising me a glimpse of opportunity that has been my long time dream. There has been delays but the Lord made sure I catch messages from Him, that will remind me that He loves me and He has great plans for me. 

So there, Happy SFC to me! And so it begins... for a life in Christ is a lifetime commitment, I'm just glad I took the initial steps. So to those of you who have in their hearts the desire to heed the calling of the Lord, it's just a leap of faith. The reward is incomparable, I promise you. Your problems won't go away, yes, but the manner in which you look at it, the way you handle it, will be guided by the Holy Spirit and it will all be easier to bear. 

I have already started downloading the worship songs and included them in my playlist. It gives me peace to know that I am slowly but surely following in His path, so I think this is a start to my new life in Jesus Christ!

Praise God!

God is good all the time and all the time, God is good.

You've given me this brand new day to serve you and follow you
You took my tears and made me smile you lifted me up
You gave me all the reasons Lord to see things as gift from You
I'll go out and testify and shout to the world

I will lift your name on high...
I'll forever worship You...
I will serve you with all of my heart...
Coz You are my God...
I'll forever be grateful

When trouble comes my way you were there to stay
And everything will be alright
Now I know its true that this Love is You
And I will live each day and say....

I will lift your name on high...
I'll forever worship You...
I will serve you with all of my heart...
Coz You are my God...
I'll forever be grateful

"Climb the mountain so you can see the world, not so the world can see you."