From total Strangers to best Friends

 

Have you joined a club, an organization or a community recently?

Most people joined one so that they can have more friends, more learning (depending on what they can offer you) and nurture the talents or gifts you have.

That's the most common reasons people join a group.

But have you ever wondered when we join a group, we know some of them? Even a single one? 

We join one group from a friend, either your parent or your relatives.

But...

Have you ever joined a group that you don't know a single person in it?

Well, I do.

Here's my story.

Before and After the Music 

I was in a Christian community called the CFC-SFL (just ask me personally if you wanna know the meaning if it). Anyways, I really, really wanted to join the music ministry in our community.

Alas, I wasn't given a chance. It hurts a bit because I have completed my whole session on voice lessons and yet I wasn't given a part in the music min. 

That hurts a bit. I think it was not yet my time to shine in the stage...

So my plan B was to join the music ministry of the Thursday Feast of the LOJ community.

What's more is that I don't know a single one from that ministry. Not a single one. Period.

So, I did my audition and passed. Like I have a perfect score on my music class. It was overwhelming at the same time scary because I'm in a ministry of strangers unlike in my other community where I know all of them.

But that was a very bold move I have done because....

I've got a chance to sing on stage.

Sang solo on stage (well, I just sang solo on the first verse of the song. That's a huge accomplishment for me).

I even learned NEW songs (back then songs sung are just in a songbook, not that updated).

And.... I got the chance to know my band mates.

It's a fun experience indeed.

          

After the Retreat

After the I Love Life retreat, I started making my first ever blog.

Kinda a newbie on this one. 

But the compliments are overwhelming. That's why I'm still on it until now.

Then an opportunity knocked.

I was given a chance to join the Bulletin for the whole Feast in Cebu. I never thought I would be joining one since I'm just new on writing. Well, maybe they liked the way I write my blog post.

Oh, that's why.

Then I joined their meeting for the very first time at the same time, I was given my very first assignment. (the meeting was for the KCON and it was my first meeting to join.)

Well, it’s very much overwhelming because I got to meet a new set of strangers on that meeting.

I was so silent back then. Just observing. Silently, listening to each one.

Then I got the chance to talk and know them, even for a short time.

I got the chance to be featured in the Bulletin for several issues already. And it was heartwarming to see my article published and read by many.

That's why one of my other goal is to publish a book in Shepeherd's Voice.

Meeting Strangers

I've read an article from the book "Is your love tank empty?" by Bo Sanchez.

He met an unchurched man. A stranger. He learned lots of things from this man. 

Not to be judgmental. Not to be critical. It's a wonder that he met someone whom he can learn from. From a stranger.

Even I, myself, have experienced that scenario.

There is an activity on one of the talks in the Feast (a weekly gathering) that allows a person to talk to someone I don't know personally. In other words, talk to a stranger.

And so, I did.

I talked to a stranger. Lo and behold, we became friends just by talking.

Amazing isn't it?

Even in the I Love Life retreat I attended, I have met strangers and become friends. Partners. Travel buddies.

Sometimes, being too comfortable with the friends we already have can make us doubt our friendships with them when they got additional friends. (I've experienced this one first-hand).

Be open to strangers (those who you can befriend, not just any strangers roaming in the streets). You might have opportunities knocking at your door when you meet them.

An Eye - Opening Journey

I'll share you a story.

There was once a newborn baby who had a weird eye condition.

His left eye has this rapid wiggling effect that even his parents don't know what to do with him. So they took him to a doctor and examined him further.

All the doctor can say is that it can be operated but lose one eye or replace it with another one.

His parents have insufficient funds to manage his operations and so they let him be.

The boy grew up and when he look at you straight up, he'll look at you at a 45 degree angle from the right. Since his dominant one is his right eye, so that explains why he looks at you that way.

As he grew much older, going to middle school, he managed to straighten up on his focus of facing people. It means that when he look at you, he now looks at you straight with both eyes not the 45 degree angle look.

He then goes to high school. 

The school held a Star Search competition within the year levels to see who would be the best on which craft each of the levels will be presenting.

The boy joined the dance contest portion. He was so excited because he likes to dance.

When their group started performing, the boy felt dizzy and see flashes of light in his left eye. He left the group since he cannot focus anymore on his dance steps due to the flashing effect. It took minutes to send those flashing effect gone. And when the flashes are gone that was the same time the group finished their performance.

Poor kid. He wasn't able to enjoy dancing due to that condition.

From that time on, he is experiencing frequent flashing effect on his left eye but just for a few minutes.

Then he was able to reach college level and graduated. He even got his first job a few months after graduation.

He really felt blessed at that time despite his eye condition.

Then comes the climax of his story.

After his shift from work, his best friend (who is also his workmate at the same time, his housemate) asked him to have a time off and watch a movie.

So he accepted his friend's offer and they watched a movie.

After the movie, he felt the flashing effect again in his left eye. But this time, it took more minutes than the usual.

So he looked for a bench to sit on and waited for the flashing effect to be totally gone.

Not knowing what happened, his friend asked him if he's alright and he said no. At that instance, he felt his vision was getting slooower by a second. And he can hardly keep up with the people roaming around the mall.

So his friend took him by the hand and led him outside to go home.

Are you wondering who can that boy be in my story.

Well, that's me.

"Woah, but you don't look like you have an eye condition,"

You might say that because my appearance deceives you (not to mention I look like a normal handsome and cute boy next door. Just joking around --- with a smiley face)

Anyways, that was the times like I was watching the Matrix movies in slow motion. I felt like I was in the movie myself. It might felt good when you're in a live movie (laughing).

I still have those flashing thingy as I write this one.

I even consulted a doctor of what my sickness really is.

He told me that the name of my eye condition was ocular myopic degeneration.

What's that? 

I don't even know at first what it meant. But my doctor told me that my retina is getting thinner and might get detached in the long run. So there is a possibility that I may incur blindness.

Oh, did I mention above that I DO have blindness in my left eye before ever consulting my doctor? 

Well, it's just partial blindness. Just like a thin strip of bacon placed in my left eye.

I asked the doctor if there is a cure for my condition.

And you know what he said?

A big NO.

Oh. My. Gosh. What will happen to me? Will I never see people again? Even the ones I loved? Even the girlfriends I have? (that's too much to ask. I'll with one. Wink)

I even asked God if there is still a future for me regardless of my disability.

True enough, He heeded my question.

He replied me back in a form of a retreat two weeks ago.

I have learned so much from it that it reminded me of what kind of journey I will be taking ahead of me.

This eye condition of mine proves that I am unique from the rest. Aside from the good looks (no kidding, right?).

It also proves that even if my eye condition will never ever be cured, I can still go on with my journey in life. Showing off the best of my abilities either through dancing (as you have read in my story), signing (I do love singing as well) and through writing (I wanted to share what I can share).

Through all the drama that I have in my life, It was an eye-opener.

God instilled so much talent in me that I should start sharing with all of you.

Imperfect as I may be just because I have this eye condition, there is more to life than being frantic about it.

Friends, enjoy the imperfections you have. Enjoy the life ahead of you.

It will become your eye-opening journey towards life.     

How do I love life?

Well, that's a good question.

Let's see how I can answer this one.

Hmmmm.....

When I was a kid, my parents taught me about God, about homework (I am more unto playing computer games , actually) and about good conducts.

But do they taught me about loving life?

Nah, I don't think so. It's more on enjoying, right?

Oh, the loving part would be loving my parents back then. But about loving life? Nope.

When I went to school until I reached college, teachers taught me on my academics (Religion and English were one of my faves back then) and about relationships with peers (crushes and love at first sights included, blushing...).

But do they taught me about loving life?

Nah, I don't think so. It's more on enjoying again, right?

Oh, the loving part there would be loving my crushes, and girlfriends. I can magnetize girls with my looks.

Just kidding. I am very shy when it comes to relationships in girls and yet they like me (still blushing).

When I got work after graduating college, my work taught me about punctuality, work ethics, getting money and other stuff about work.

But do it taught me about loving life?

Nah, I don't think so. It's more on enjoying again and again, right.

Enjoying pleasures and leisure from the hard-earned money and spend it all for enjoyment.

Then, I entered a Christian community so that I can really know more about God.

And I did.

I did learn more on my spiritual aspect. About God. About neighbors. About how to be saved and how to be holy. About tithes. About charity.

But do it taught me about loving life?

Well, it doesn't state on how to love the life I have right now. It's more on the loving of God and neighbors and other serious spiritual stuff like the 2nd coming of Jesus, premonitions of Mama Mary and even the End Times.

Scary, isn't it?

But that's the sad truth.

Anyways, when I heard of this so-called I Love Life retreat, which was introduced here in Cebu for the very first time as I attended the Feast gathering on a Thursday of August, I got so excited to know more about it. Learning more about it and experiencing this kind of retreat.

As the months passed by, the retreat has started.

Already to go. Packed everything needed. And even prayed a lot that I may learn and enjoy this retreat.

And WOW.....

I never thought that this retreat can bring so much impact on my entire existence here on earth.

I never cried so much on my life.. It's a bucketful of tears, really.

At the end of it all, i feel so much overwhelming and oozing love from the retreat. Even I got to be friends with all of the participants (amazing right? A shy person got new friends from total strangers)

And to sum it up from all the retreats I have undergone, this one's the best retreat ever in my entire life.

Whew, I was sooooooo overwhelm that even my love tank overflows as I write this. Funny thing is that I can go on and on with this one.

Now, on a serious note. Let's go back to the question: how do I love life?

It's simple.

I need to love myself first and foremost.

Hold your horses, I know what you're thinking, right?

"We need to love God first above all things." Is your answer, am I right?

Now, I'll post my answer into a question: how can I love God first if I don't even love my own self?

Well, I can truly relate to that.

Here's the answer.

I need to love myself first so that I can know my worth, my purpose, my calling, my uniqueness, my imperfections and even my behaviour towards myself and others.

I even question myself, "Why me?"

I'm imperfect. I'm abnormal (that's pretty much harsh) due to my sicknesses. 

That question was answered on the retreat. Just love myself. Period.

And when I love myself, I become more vulnerable to God's calling and to my neighbors (family, friends, relatives, etc...) as well.

In return, I become more appreciative of life I have. I begin to love life ahead of me.

I become more excited about the life I am heading towards to. Excited for my ups and downs in life. My dreams and goals in life. Everything.

So, if you wonder how to love your life more.

Begin to love yourself and you'll find true love in your life.