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.

Help Within Reach

In life we often encounter difficult situations. They may either be of issues regarding career, relationship, business or simply the trivialities of daily living. When these things do challenge us our normal reaction is to seek other people’s help when we think we are incapable of solving them ourselves. However, when help isn’t available we tend to get panicked or feel helpless. We may then get frustrated which can be manifested negatively in our mood and behavior. They happen because we often forget that no matter how small or big the problem may be there is always help within reach for every one of us. This help comes from divine intervention. It doesn’t take much to pray. All that is needed is for us to be humble enough to admit our weakness and acknowledge that there is one Supreme Being who controls everything.
I have been through a lot of hard times ever since childhood, although, I have never been very vocal to my family about them. That’s why, I learned to utilize prayer instead at an early age. I use it in every possible way: kneeling at a chapel, sitting down somewhere, lying on my bed, walking, running, or whatever I’m doing. It has become a habit so that I get to say it when I sense trouble coming or when I am in the middle of it. I’d ask for a commuter ride during rush hours, to spare me from the rain, to write a good article, to address doubts, to find a lost item, and even to say a birthday wish. It worked most of the time. My real point is that whenever the need arises I need not go far to look for a reliable help. I t only takes faith and a little patience to wait and see things happen in unexpected ways. Like everyone else, I am privileged to make the call anytime as I like, even at the slightest hint of trouble. I am inviting everyone to do the same and experience the blessings of a prayerful life, even in the midst of guilt. In the end, we can only realize how good it is to have help always within our reach.

Glorious Road to Seoul

It's been some time since I last heard about the excited news that I passed the NCLEX-RN ( May 2007 ) yet it's been only a few times that I earnestly mentioned about the spiritual aspect of my preparation. I told friends and family about my physical and mental conditioning I had before the test. Almost all the time I seemed to claim the lone credit for the success of my exam. However, I have come to realize from personal reflection that all those would have gone down the drain had not HIS omnipotence blessed and guided me all the way.

At first, the travel to the testing site ( Seoul, S.Korea ) was to be my first outside of my own country. The expenses, and an extremely different culture of my destination gave me enough apprehension that would likely block me mentally on test day, aside from the exam anxiety itself. A country where there were unexpectedly a few people who could speak and understand English would drive me crazy looking for the test center in the maze of the city. Yet, it was with all these that I started counting my blessings.

A good Samaritan in the person of my US-based cousin covered all my expenses from my exam registration to my travel package costs with allowance. As if they weren't enough I had a good company with another cousin who would be taking the same exam on the same schedule and venue as I.

During our flight to South Korea, I was awestruck to witness darkness shift slowly to daylight when the sun's rays introduced themselves to my window. They were beaming in the background against the cottony clouds from high altitude. I felt how good it was like to be an angel standing on the said clouds. I was engrossed in this fantasy until I was awaken into reality when the plane touched down the runway. land bound, we were greeted with panoramic views of peculiar trees, stretches of seashores and rocky hills on our way to the city proper. When we got there, I was fascinated with how technology ( buildings ) splendidly blended with Korean cultural heritage ( historic structures ).There wasn't a single moment wasted because as soon as we settled our things in the hotel we proceeded back sightseeing on foot. It was then that we discovered the testing center was located just next to our building. We spent the whole afternoon taking snapshots of the city square unmindful of the grueling 5-hour test we had the following day. Indeed I was psychologically and emotionally relaxed for the next day's hurdle. Best of all, we only knew later that the test center would be closed the day after we sat for it. I was quick to point out what spared us from misfortune but allowed us of the wonderful privileges.
In my year-long self-preparation for the examination I regularly served in the church masses on top of praying the rosaries, personal prayers and Bible reading before I would read a single word from my review materials everyday. Behind these spiritual effort lies also a sincere heart of praise and worship, not just petition. There's no doubt I was delivered in my test woes and I should rightfully be grateful in return. In writing this, I have this intent to give HIM what is due HIM, that people may know how good God is and be hopefully inspired of His goodness . All praise and thanks to you, Mighty One!