Entering A New World

It was Kaitlyn's first day of school yesterday.  We took some time off from work and brought her to school. The feeling of sending our child to enter a new world of friends and mentors is exciting and frightening at the same time. We want the best for our kids, but we are also aware of the elements of the "outside world." Well I guess, as they grow older they become more and more detached and independent from us.  I praise God that our daughter is starting to engage in the world of education, even just at the play level.

What "new world" have we entered lately? New work environment, new school, new classmates, new friends, new business?  Entering into these can be both exciting and frightening. Exciting because of the break from the usual and the learning we can get from the endeavor or the environment.  Frightening because of the idea of change, and we are afraid that we might not cope or live up to it.

What can be our posture in entering "new worlds"?

1. A posture of trust in the Lord. Peter when walking off the boat, entered into an impossible situation, a new kind of world where one can walk on water.  He was frightened, but his trust in the Lord was more than his fears, so he stepped off the boat and into the water.  If we are centered in the Lord, we will dare do things that is beyond our capabilities.

At once [Jesus] spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I;* do not be afraid.” Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” Matthew 14:27-28

2. A posture of reaching out. Peter sank when he heard and felt the rushing wind. But the Lord held Peter's outstretched arms and saved Him.  When we are caught in the middle of things and feel desperate, we have to reach out in prayer.  We can sink into being paralyzed with too many work or dealing with our own lack of self-confidence. Christ will save us bring us out of our fears and move us into action. 


 But when he saw how [strong] the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith,* why did you doubt?” Matthew 14: 30-31


3. A posture of thanksgiving. With God as our strength, we will overcome and be victorious. Let us thank God for all our blessings and successes.  Sometimes when we achieve progress, our dependence on the Lord will loosen up.  We tend to think that we did it because we earned it by ourselves and because of our innate abilities. If this happens, it is because our pride has reached our heads.  By thanking the Lord each day, we are brought back to the humble posture that all glory is His.


After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.” Matthew 14: 32-33


As we enter into new worlds, let us not be overcome by fear for the Lord wants us to grow in faith and He is there to save us.  Our challenge in life is to dare great things in His name.

No Boring Day With The Lord

While in Papua New Guinea, I was told that "Good Night" meant good evening.  So, when we started off our meeting at 7pm, I had to say good night to everyone.  

This is just one of the things I had to get used to while being away from the Philippines.  I had to get used to the time difference in Papua New Guinea, Australia, and New Zealand. I had to endlessly get used to the right hand drive set up. I had to adjust to using Kina or Australian dollar instead of Peso (always multiplying in my head).  And just when I got used to the changes, it was time for me to head back home for the Philippines.

When I look back at those adjustments I had to make, it was both fun and exciting for me.  You'd find me laughing every time I made a mistake in opening the wrong car door or taking time to pay because I had to find out how much in Peso am I spending my lunch on.  It was exciting because it was not routine, it was a disruption of what I was comfortable doing everyday. 

The Lord wants us to live an exciting life.  He wants to disrupt our routine.  One day he tells Peter, James, and John:

"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men (Mt. 4:19)."

Surely, their fishing routine was changed.  When we serve the Lord, no two days will be the same. Our days will be filled with endless possibilities.  Who will I bring closer to God today?  Who shall I pray for?  Lord, where are you sending me today?  What are you telling me through Today's Gospel?  These questions will help us live a boring-free life. 

The things that God asks us to do may not always be something we are used to doing.  It may not fall within our areas of strength.  We might even find ourselves laughing at some bloopers of our attempts in evangelizing others.  But at the end of the day, we are excited because it was out of the ordinary, out of our routine.  There is no boring day with the Lord.

Lord, we know that you have a specific mission for all of us.  And in this mission, help us to see every discomfort as an opportunity to live a more exciting life with You. Amen.