CFC Singles for Christ Cabuyao
My First Weekend Retreat
by MJ Azon
It was Monday, the first day of the week for work. My office mate accidentally saw my LOARF (Leave of Absence Request Form) on my table and read what I had written in the portion "Reason:_____".
This was my reason: "To attend Singles for Christ Weekend Retreat"
She intently looked at me and asked seriously, "Katoliko ka ba?
I smiled at her and immediately responded, "Yes, I am."
She said, "Wow! Ang bait mo naman. Nag-leave ka para LANG diyan?"
by MJ Azon
It was Monday, the first day of the week for work. My office mate accidentally saw my LOARF (Leave of Absence Request Form) on my table and read what I had written in the portion "Reason:_____".
This was my reason: "To attend Singles for Christ Weekend Retreat"
She intently looked at me and asked seriously, "Katoliko ka ba?
I smiled at her and immediately responded, "Yes, I am."
She said, "Wow! Ang bait mo naman. Nag-leave ka para LANG diyan?"
“I found myself much unwrapped in talking about SFC even outside the circle of community.”
Her contemptible judgment made my spirit alive through the words God wanted me to tell her, and so I unexpectedly answered, "Wala pa akong vacation leave so filed yan as authorized absent lang. Okey lang naman kahit umabsent ako kasi sobrang nag-enjoy naman ako dun. I am absolutely mentally and physically exhausted from work so I guessed, my spiritual life badly needed to be fed. And He actually satisfied me through that retreat. Hindi yun kayang bayaran ng isang araw na sweldo ko."
She was amazed hearing those words from me and she instinctively continued asking about SFC's activities in a brighter perspective. I was so glad sharing those things to her. From that, I found myself much unwrapped in talking about SFC even outside the circle of community.
I would also like to mention that before, I gradually stopped from my service because of rush works on my first project and I had to go to Naga City for its construction. I must admit I prioritized my work over Him during that span of time. But you know what? I felt this thirst digging all over my soul. So after coming back from the desire to serve again, I promised myself three things: (1) I will attend SFC activities with all my might; (2) I will continuously attend my households and (3) I will not spend again my Sundays for the extension of my office works (I am really guilty with this.)
She was amazed hearing those words from me and she instinctively continued asking about SFC's activities in a brighter perspective. I was so glad sharing those things to her. From that, I found myself much unwrapped in talking about SFC even outside the circle of community.
I would also like to mention that before, I gradually stopped from my service because of rush works on my first project and I had to go to Naga City for its construction. I must admit I prioritized my work over Him during that span of time. But you know what? I felt this thirst digging all over my soul. So after coming back from the desire to serve again, I promised myself three things: (1) I will attend SFC activities with all my might; (2) I will continuously attend my households and (3) I will not spend again my Sundays for the extension of my office works (I am really guilty with this.)
“I felt more happiness and passion to my work because I was being inspired by the upcoming retreat...”
Then poof! There was this announcement clasped my ears:
"You are all invited to join the SFC Weekend Retreat this coming Saturday at Our Lady of La Salette…"
I felt much excitement hearing that because it will certainly be my very first retreat. But, there was this one word hanged up in the surface of my ears, the word SATURDAY.
I asked them, "Kelan uli ‘yun?"
They replied, "Sa Sabado na po."
I started to be hushed. I felt crashed knowing that many of them are free from work during Saturdays except for the POOR ME. I said to myself (as I was always saying), "It’s so unfair! Bakit kasi may pasok ako every Saturday e?!"
After that little battle within me, I swiftly heard God telling me, "You must attend, my child."
Then I replied to Him without thinking twice, "Yes. I will attend for You, Lord."
There were so many unexpected things happened to me on that week before the retreat. But the most memorable to me was when I finished all my work faster than I could ever imagine, when I felt more happiness and passion to my work because I was being inspired by the upcoming retreat and above all, was when my boss gave me the permission to be absent on Saturday. Woah! I quickly went to toilet cubicle and started to praise and thank Him as quiet as I can. (Don’t laugh, it is not a joke. I usually do that in office whenever I want to talk with Him because it’s the most private place I knew. Suggestion: Do it also.)
Tantararaaaaan! The most awaited day came and I finally slacken up my mind from the stressful day in the office. "At last, I’m free.. I’m free!" We came in the retreat place, the relaxing and holy place of Our Lady of La Salette. We went first to our dormitory to fix our things and to rest for awhile. The ambiance is good. I felt comfortable with my bed moreover when I introduced to it my bedtime partner- my kulambo (mosquito net).
"You are all invited to join the SFC Weekend Retreat this coming Saturday at Our Lady of La Salette…"
I felt much excitement hearing that because it will certainly be my very first retreat. But, there was this one word hanged up in the surface of my ears, the word SATURDAY.
I asked them, "Kelan uli ‘yun?"
They replied, "Sa Sabado na po."
I started to be hushed. I felt crashed knowing that many of them are free from work during Saturdays except for the POOR ME. I said to myself (as I was always saying), "It’s so unfair! Bakit kasi may pasok ako every Saturday e?!"
After that little battle within me, I swiftly heard God telling me, "You must attend, my child."
Then I replied to Him without thinking twice, "Yes. I will attend for You, Lord."
There were so many unexpected things happened to me on that week before the retreat. But the most memorable to me was when I finished all my work faster than I could ever imagine, when I felt more happiness and passion to my work because I was being inspired by the upcoming retreat and above all, was when my boss gave me the permission to be absent on Saturday. Woah! I quickly went to toilet cubicle and started to praise and thank Him as quiet as I can. (Don’t laugh, it is not a joke. I usually do that in office whenever I want to talk with Him because it’s the most private place I knew. Suggestion: Do it also.)
Tantararaaaaan! The most awaited day came and I finally slacken up my mind from the stressful day in the office. "At last, I’m free.. I’m free!" We came in the retreat place, the relaxing and holy place of Our Lady of La Salette. We went first to our dormitory to fix our things and to rest for awhile. The ambiance is good. I felt comfortable with my bed moreover when I introduced to it my bedtime partner- my kulambo (mosquito net).
“...knowing more my purpose will make me value the life God gave me, will make me appreciate every person He made to be part of my life...”
The program started after a couple of minutes. Prayer, praise and worship, and some fun games were done before the talk proper. There are five topics rendered in the event: (1) Discover your Purpose; (2) Discover your Passion; (3) Discover your Pain; (4) Discover your Pleasure and; (5) Discover your Power which was being discussed to us on the second day of the retreat.
"Discover your Purpose" was the topic that influenced me a lot. It is my first time to meet and heard a talk from Tito Alds. He is really great. I just remembered the "Dream List" I made last year. After hearing the talk, I immediately think for the earnest meaning of those dreams done by the encouragement I got from Bo Sanchez’ books. At first, they made me understand what achievements I wanted to have for a certain span of time. But now, I must say that the common denominator of life really depends on the purpose you decide to contain with. So, why not also write "My Purpose List"?
Knowing my dreams in life made me bags of inspiration to pursue working in order to make those written dreams in reality. But knowing more my purpose will make me value the life God gave me, will make me appreciate every person He made to be part of my life and will help treasure and use the gifts of talent not only for my own benefit but for my neighbors as well. More importantly, by being aware with my purpose, I can easily understand why I am here on earth, why He created me, why I belong with this kind of family, why I have these kinds of talent, why I am working with this company, why I joined this community, why I am always facing sets of challenges, why I suffered from heartaches. It is always that word "why" I ask to Him whenever I face different tough situations. I realized then, why not have follow-up questions like "What is the purpose, Lord? What is my purpose?"
"Discover your Purpose" was the topic that influenced me a lot. It is my first time to meet and heard a talk from Tito Alds. He is really great. I just remembered the "Dream List" I made last year. After hearing the talk, I immediately think for the earnest meaning of those dreams done by the encouragement I got from Bo Sanchez’ books. At first, they made me understand what achievements I wanted to have for a certain span of time. But now, I must say that the common denominator of life really depends on the purpose you decide to contain with. So, why not also write "My Purpose List"?
Knowing my dreams in life made me bags of inspiration to pursue working in order to make those written dreams in reality. But knowing more my purpose will make me value the life God gave me, will make me appreciate every person He made to be part of my life and will help treasure and use the gifts of talent not only for my own benefit but for my neighbors as well. More importantly, by being aware with my purpose, I can easily understand why I am here on earth, why He created me, why I belong with this kind of family, why I have these kinds of talent, why I am working with this company, why I joined this community, why I am always facing sets of challenges, why I suffered from heartaches. It is always that word "why" I ask to Him whenever I face different tough situations. I realized then, why not have follow-up questions like "What is the purpose, Lord? What is my purpose?"
“I learned lots of wisdom from my first weekend retreat…
I enjoyed being closed to Him.”
By thinking about the purpose, I can now gain deeper and brighter explanation by myself why these annoying situations bordering up my daily battle in life. By that purpose, I can now let my awareness on the things I should be focused on, I can organize my daily living, I can feel peacefulness, no stumble, no confusion, no heavy heart, no worries, no blameful minds, and above all, there will be no erroneous paths to walk by. Like dreams which can lead into reality, purpose can lead me to the pattern God wanted me to walk through. Because from that path, I can complete the purpose He designed for me.
I learned lots of wisdom from my first weekend retreat. I felt renewed. I enjoyed bonding with my brothers and sisters, I enjoyed knowing new friends (specially our SUN shining group), I enjoyed the beautiful and holy place of Our Lady of La Salette, I enjoyed all the talks and the speakers, the activities, the foods (most especially the "daing"), the accommodation, the emcees, the worship portions, the songs, the dance steps, the picture takings, the group sharing, and above all, I enjoyed being closed to Him.
I just cannot believe how that event totally helped me to discover many things hiding inside my foggy perception in life. After hearing those inspirational talks, the thoughts of enlightenment progressively parked in my heart and mind commanding to evaluate and discover the deepest meaning of my life here on earth. I know I am still on the process. And this process is seeking more of my purposes God had planned for me.
I learned lots of wisdom from my first weekend retreat. I felt renewed. I enjoyed bonding with my brothers and sisters, I enjoyed knowing new friends (specially our SUN shining group), I enjoyed the beautiful and holy place of Our Lady of La Salette, I enjoyed all the talks and the speakers, the activities, the foods (most especially the "daing"), the accommodation, the emcees, the worship portions, the songs, the dance steps, the picture takings, the group sharing, and above all, I enjoyed being closed to Him.
I just cannot believe how that event totally helped me to discover many things hiding inside my foggy perception in life. After hearing those inspirational talks, the thoughts of enlightenment progressively parked in my heart and mind commanding to evaluate and discover the deepest meaning of my life here on earth. I know I am still on the process. And this process is seeking more of my purposes God had planned for me.
