I’ll never forget the life lesson i learned while riding Faith, the name i’ve given my bike. I was about to head up a steep slope on the trails of Antipolo I’ve never been able to complete. Every time i rode it I would always seem to stop and struggle getting back on to finish the climb. Then one day before that stretch of the trail, i stopped and said a very simple prayer and asked Him to give me enough strength to finish the climb.
I mounted myself on the bike and started the climb. It was tough and I forced myself to keep on going. I focused more on looking down at the trail so as not to be distracted at the distance i still had to cover to get to the top. Thinking that i had only a few meters to go, i decided to look straight ahead only to realize i still had a long ways to go.
It was then that i stopped…again. I didn’t complete the climb…again. I gave up…again. BUT it was also in the middle of my discouragement that i felt Him say to me…”Gary, look at where you came from.” I looked back and saw how much i already had climbed. Then He continued “I was with you when you started the climb and I am with you now. When you are done with this climb and move on to the next section, and when you’re done with the entire trail…I will still be with you. You don’t have to go back down in order to reach the top. Just stop at whatever point you feel you need to rest, and when you hop back on that bike…I will be with you. And should you stop again, hop on again and start from there…and I will be with you. Gary, I only ask that you have faith in knowing that I am with you very step of the way. I know your weaknesses but I am your strength. I know what you need. I will provide. Have faith Gary I will lead you to the top.”
It is for this reason that i call my bike Faith. It’s symbolic of how i should live. In life, I should share, live, walk…and ride…by faith.
For some reasons it felt like it’s so wrong to leave at that exact moment, when circumstances seemed against the idea of separation. Before riding that vehicle en route to a place of comfort and enjoyment, I was bothered by unfathomable negative vibes. It was as if something’s pulling me back home, as if there were unspoken words ready to be heard, as if the weather itself was trying to convince me that it would be coziest to just stay at home. But I did not let any of it waver my desire to leave and be somewhere else. And on that very comfortable seat I had occupied, I received the worst news ever, one I’ve been dreading to hear all this time. I saw it coming, but there was no way to prepare for it, none that I can think of. Now we wait for the inevitable and only constant thing that happens in this world; change. They say there are always pros and cons in everything we do, but I can’t see any positivity anchored to it. The only thing I can offer right now are my prayers.
Sometimes people look at your life and if they see you are a good testimony for them, they want to have what you have.” - Loida Boren
This will be the very first time I would ever talk about Him and His works and I know that it’s just the beginning of putting them all in my own words and understanding.
I have known Him since I was a child. My aunt would always bring me to a Sunday service, in which I referred to as Sunday school, and as far as I can remember I enjoyed every time I spent there. I have learned so many worship songs that were later forgotten due to lack of practice because I just stopped attending the service. But it’s always been in my heart, the desire to sing praise and worship songs.
For a long time I lived a religious Roman Catholic life with my family. It was indeed religious, full of ceremonies, traditional practices and religious beliefs, which I never questioned before.
When I was in second year college a friend invited me to attend service to her church. I was reluctant at first. I knew that there would be inevitable changes if I go on. For few weeks I dismissed the thought of going to her church and I would always change our topic whenever we arrive to her invitation. But her earnest prayers were answered and suddenly I was convinced to go one Sunday morning. In an instant I felt as if my dying soul was revived. There was this spiritual longing that’s always been there but was always ignored.
After few months we moved out of my hometown. Since then I stopped attending the services again for some reasons. But I didn’t go back to Catholicism for I know now the distinctive differences. I just couldn’t imagine myself anymore inside churches I used to know, worshiping their statues and listening to recycled sermons of priests that are based on limited scriptures from the bible. That’s one fact I found out, they are not preaching the whole content of the bible, it was selective in accordance to what they want people to believe.
For months I did not attend any service at all. There was something missing within me. And to be perfectly honest, I felt embarrassed to go back to my friend’s church because I just suddenly didn’t show up one Sunday morning. And more importantly I was ashamed to face God. I wasn’t even praying and talking to Him all those times. It was the time when everything seemed so wrong, as if I couldn’t do anything right.
I found a Baptist Church that’s just very near from where I live. I attended Sunday service there but not more than twice. I just couldn’t understand why I didn’t want to attend there. Well, it was maybe because there were slight differences from how Born Again Christian hold their services.
One day I was invited by a high school friend to attend to what she thought as ‘recollection’ seminar in Alabang. I wasn’t doing anything at that time and I was really looking forward to spending some time with my friend so I agreed. When we arrived there I was surprised that it was actually a Christian Ministry, particularly a youth ministry. It was my friend who felt like a foreigner at that time. And I was so amused because I have never attended a youth ministry before. We were welcomed by smiling faces. After the service the youngsters grouped themselves to what they call ‘D-group’ or discipleship group. It was an entirely different activity. I never really had a chance to bond with the youths in my friend’s church, so I was kind of amazed to see that there are actually a lot of Christian teenagers. Trek, the D-group leader, patiently explained everything to me. One thing he said that I will never forget was “One day you’ll find the church where you truly belong and where you would continue your walk with the Lord.”
It was then the beginning of my faithful walk with the Almighty God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Finally, I’m getting to know the Way, the Truth and the Light.
A good friend’s birthday celebration last April 28. I overslept during the party while the others were dancing, singing, drinking and laughing out loud. But I did enjoy every moment of this night! :)
After long day of working as volunteers to the race, we still had the energy to party and celebrate my friend’s birthday! We survived! :)
More of The Running Dead.
I was once again given the opportunity to volunteer at this kind of event, The Running Dead - A Race to Stay Alive. This time I worked with the school administration, particularly with Atty. Katrina Cruz and all thanks to Tourism Department of PATTS College for recommending me.
The main goal was to raise funds last April and help grow a new batch of elite triathletes.
