Wow!
We’re on Day 8 already, Planned for God’s
Pleasure, following Rick Warren’s The Purpose Driven Life. My friend
decided on taking off the weekends and it benefited me a lot as I reflect further on the Chapters that we took the entire week…
The Gift: The Journey with a Chaffeur
I
humbly admit that it wasn’t an easy task to discuss my reflections with
somebody else. As a young missionary in the late 1990s, we were accompanied by
a Spiritual Director, who helped us discern the direction of our journey. But
then later on, we were taught to stand on our own and discernment was carried
on with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
At
first, my friend and I were using ‘our’ words (what we know of and what we’ve
learned). We were stuck with the beliefs we have formed through years of
experience. Everything seemed ‘mental’
and ‘intellectual.’ I wasn’t edified as much but as the days went by, my friend
started using God’s Words through the Psalms he shared. I ceased judging the
way we have been ‘faith sharing’ and began to admire his docility to the
Spirit. We talked less about ourselves and focused more on God and how we are
experiencing Him at this moment.
So
from Day 7, The Reason for Everything,
we went back to Day 1, It All Starts with
God.
Abiding in God’s love
Today,
Rick Warren asks in his book, “How is it
possible to do everything to the glory of God?” He continues, “By doing
everything as if you were doing it for Jesus.”
I
took a piece of what I shared with my friend…
If this the way
'worship' is defined, then it's almost similar to 'contemplation,' being
present to God. There is this deep awareness that I am before God and He is
present in everything I do, from the most trivial things , e.g. washing the
dishes, answering the phone, cooking, to my work in the office, then to bigger
projects like reaching out to people in need. It is a continual conversation with
Christ ~ ceaseless praying. However, one should also strike a balance between
personal prayer and helping others. Putting to mind St. Dominic's ideal, “to
speak only of God or with God."
Finally, Falling In Love ‘Again’
and ‘Again’ with Jesus
While
sharing with my friend, I was brought to the initial days when I decided to become
a missionary. There was this ‘spark’ that burned in my heart urging me to enjoy
this God Who takes pleasure that I am alive and free. He continually works in and through us.
Let
us pause at this moment and just enjoy
God.
