Feeling the Presence

There have been moments in my life when I had a sense of foreboding and of impending doom. There were moments when I felt sad, gloomy, and disappointed for things not going the way I would have wanted them to. But looking back, everything has worked out for the better and in a manner that I could not have managed myself had I been totally in control.

I had a sleepless night when I learned I did not make it to the seminary of my choice and instead had to go to San Carlos. My years in San Carlos have been life changing and I have met there many of my life-long friends today.

I woke crying from my sleep one night during the early days of martial law as I realized that my whole world was crumbling around me. But that traumatic national event has had a profound effect on the rest of my life as it helped me clarify my options and take the decisive steps for my future.

I often felt silly and so out of place attending board meetings and executive sessions during my corporate career. I kept wondering why I was there at all. I have realized that it was not for the bigwigs that I was there but for the many ordinary employees that I have been able to help inspire and develop.

I was dumbfounded when I was fired from a job by a boss I did not have much respect for. Yet, there was no sense of panic but a deep realization that I was again being guided to move forward in my life. Indeed, that experience afforded me the opportunity to better prepare for our later move to the US.

Through it all, I always felt my life was being looked after. There was Someone guiding me along the way. Even when things were not clear or were even difficult, I knew I was where i was supposed to be because of God’s presence in my life. He walks with me. Even now that my daily life is so ordinary, I still thrill at the thought that just around the bend, God has more surprises waiting for me.

R. Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.
~ Psalm 31
Jesus was going up to Jerusalem,
he took the Twelve disciples aside by themselves,
and said to them on the way,
“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem,
and the Son of Man will be handed over
to the chief priests and the scribes,
and they will condemn him to death,
and hand him over to the Gentiles
to be mocked and scourged and crucified,
and he will be raised on the third day.”
Matthew 20:17-19
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