God in My Work

Four years ago, I had second thoughts when I finally decided to work in my first line of profession, Nursing. I always loved my second course, compsci., and dreamed it can give me the peace of mind I always wanted to have in my work. Unexpectedly, I ended up deciding to work in the former. I was hired, observed some amount of discipline and tried to cope with adjustment. It did work for some time but waned as days passed by. Eventually, I had to quit supposedly to invest my whole life in the field of technology. I was happy about my decision to take the risk. The weeks that followed then was a series of trials, confusion and finally bouts of depression. That investment was as frustrating as I could imagine.
Now, I'm back working, or rather, training as an ICU Nurse at one of the government hospitals in the city, VSMMC. So far, everything went well and I'm almost finished with the three-month training without a hitch. Wow! I couldn't almost believe I stayed that far. The past feelings of resistance has now been replaced with a fair amount of enthusiasm in this field of work.
When I first started, I doubted if I could ever finish the training because I was apprehensive about it. I could do no less but trust God. I had to be bold, I had to be witty, so I told myself . I did some sort of mental conditioning to arm myself with the challenge. However, the most effective tool was not in the conditioning but in the ability to focus on my daily tasks and offering every action I make to God. I look at my patients each day as brothers in need of my care and tender attention, I look at them as a reflection of Jesus in want of our affection. That way, I changed the way I had to deal with the challenges of this profession. It changed my atittude and the focus has changed from self to God ( through my patients ). I must admit, though, that thinking about self is still there but the bigger part is for God, this time. Undeniably, I feel a sense of fulfillment every time I get out of the hospital every day, thinking I had used eight (8) hours of my day dedicated for HIS glory. It's all about putting God first in my work.

Invoking Angels

For years, prayer has always been a big part of my life. I prayed to God directly. At times, I talked to Jesus, still at other times to Mary. Less often though, I also asked intercession from the saints. One day, however, a spiritual instinct simply prompted me to invoke help from the angels particularly my guardian angel. That was for the urgent need of assistance I needed at the moment. It worked wonderfully in my favor . Since then, I have learned to invoke them in my needs. It has occurred to me that as messenger and servants of God, they have the ability to make things happen according to His will. Calling them, I always intend to magnify God's greatness by saying that they do it for the glory of God the Father through Jesus Christ. For sure, they are very glad to grant the good purpose of my urgent petitions unselfishly in honor of the God.
I have written this post not as an opinion but as a testimonial to this reality, that people may know that there is another spiritual resource we can invoke in times of need. This practice is in no other way contrary to faith but as supplement, an indirect worship to the One God we adore.

75th year Parish Anniversary

Last August 22, 2008, the Sto. Rosario Parish where I serve celebrated its Jubilee Anniversary. It was a simple occasion of Nine-day novena masses, outreach program for the indigents, food for the parish workers and clergy and a few other activities. It culminated with no less than a high mass and the opening of the newly renovated church facade.
At first, I never even felt the significance of the occasion because it was some usual things people would do in any other occasion. I saw people greeting gleefully with each other after the mass and wondered why they could be so happy with the "75th" anniversary of their parish. I said to myself " God, are people simply in want of some occasion of gathering, food, and activities? "
A few moments later, while I mingled with the laymen still unsure of the supposed meaning, a flash of thought suddenly entered my mind as if telling me what it's all about.
The celebration supposedly speaks of the unwavering faith of the people in their church, that, through generations have withstood the test of time. In fact, starting as a small chapel for worship in its infancy, it has now grown to a prominent landmark in downtown area where people from all walks of life drop by anytime of the day to take refuge in their faith. Indeed, the Sto. Rosario Parish Church in Cebu deserved the grand recognition for serving as shelter of refuge and worship for the city's christendom for generations now! - I felt guilt and shame over my attitude that for the length of time that the celebration had been much awaited by the people I had been nonchalant, though I was half cooperative. I realized, it only happened once in my lifetime.

An alternative prayer

On some days, I must confess, that I get bored with the usual prayer routine that I say everyday, although, there is always the desire to say it. To address this issue, I have long devised a way to do it differently. After I'd say a short prayer, I'd converse to God by singing the songs I learned from the school and church.
I find it a good way to praise God by letting him hear what he gave me - the gift to sing songs. It need not necessarily be boisterous, but done in such a way that only HE and I could hear it. It's so uplifting having to emphasize the truth about the lyrics of every song. I'm doing it in my worship because I'm free to do it and because God is very open to whatever we have to offer Him even in the least of what we have.
Singing is three times praying.

First Viaticum

It was just an ordinary Sunday morning on a clear sky. I had just come down the stairs of the apartment to which I visited a sick parishioner who couldn't make it to the nearby church because she was advised by the doctor for a strict bed rest. She was to be the recipient of my first Viaticum, or the administration of the Holy Communion to the sick. Going back to the church, I was walking alone with a sense of spiritual fulfillment that day with inexplicable sense of joy and lightness.
The three years of my service as a parish lay minister was mostly dedicated to administering Communion in the mass as well as assisting the priest in the altar during mass whenever there was no altar boy present. I have of course, long known of the fact that we are given the authority to deliver the Sacred Host to the sick who cannot make it to the church. The task requires knowledge of the ritual involved before giving the communion to the recipient inside the house. Many of my fellow ministers, being in the service for some time have become experts in the task.
Late last year, a brother-in-law who was also a minister in their parish in Manila happened to come for a vacation in Cebu. Incidentally, he gave me a guide book for the lay ministers' eucharistic duties. I read it, but never expected that someday I will be able to practice it in my duties. True enough, the day came for my call this year on that blissful Sunday. I was quick to accept it and even though I lack the necessary tool to transport the Eucharist, I was able to find a way for the purpose. Indeed, it was one soul blessed in the name of Jesus.