We’re All Pilgrims

We’re All Pilgrims

Marian Pilgrimage Diary

            This is my 15-day Marian Pilgrimage Diary.
            That way, you eavesdrop on my thoughts.
            Through this diary, I’ll take you with me as we zoom all over the planet—visiting China, Germany, Portugal, Spain, France, and Italy.
            This trip is a special for me.  First, because I’m bringing my 2 sons.  Second, because I’m bringing a lovely personal masseuse.  (Oh, she happens to be my wife too.)     This means I will have to squeeze writing diary entries in between carrying my kids and a truckload of luggage.
             When I was single, I used to travel with a tiny hand-carry bag and nothing else.  But in this trip, I drag behind me 4 massive suitcases, a backpack filled with pampers, 1 roller bag filled with toys, 1 duffel bag filled with milk bottles, and 1 computer bag.  Oh, and 2 strollers too. Many times, I feel like I was a walking Christmas tree.
             Yes, marriage is a burden in a literal sense of the word.  But a beautiful burden I would never dream of exchanging for anything else!
In this trip, I also have the great privilege of bringing with me 70 wonderful pilgrims.  We also have a fantastic team to lead this group: Fr. Joseph Skelton as our chaplain, Kerygma Preacher Adrian Panganiban as tour organizer, and Fish editor George Gabriel as our videographer for preacherinbluejeans.com  (Yes, log on there and it might be playing there now!)  My Beaconlight team, Beckie Sanchez and Vita Monforte assists Adrian, so everything is organized well.
            Okay friends, here’s my first entry.  Buckle your seatbelts, enjoy the ride, and be very blessed…
 

Day 1: Interruptions As God’s Special Gift

 Flying From Manila to Guangzhou, China

                  I’ve learned to smile and trust when things don’t go my way.
                  After taking off from Manila, our plane was supposed to pick up passengers in Guangzhou, China.  We were not even supposed to deplanebut just wait for an hour—and off we go to Europe.  But surprise, surprise! We couldn’t land.  The plane circled above the Guangzhou airport for 4 hours!  Many of us were imagining the worst scenarios.  Were we being hijacked?  Was there a bomb on the plane that the airport wasn’t accepting us?
                   Finally, after 4 hours of getting dizzy, the pilot announced that there was so much fog, he couldn’t land.  So we diverted to Hongkong to refuel. After two hours, we were on our way back to Guangzhou again.
                   This time, we landed safely.  We thought it would be a quick landing, some chitchat with the crew, and off we fly again.
No.  Instead, we were asked to step down the plane.
                   When we did, they announced that we were going to stay in China for 12 hours!  Reason: Because the flight crew had maxed out their allowable hours to fly, they now had to rest.
                   It was a huge interruption none of us could afford.
                   You know what?  I thank God I was travelling with 70 pilgrims, not 70 tourists.  If they were 70 tourists, I would have heard 70 grumblers grumbling great grumbles. 
                    But gosh, I didn’t even hear one complaint.
                    Instead, I saw each of them choosing to see the delay as God’s invitation for them to rest, to enjoy, to listen, to pray, to sleep…  We enjoyed the hotel they gave us.        We ate our free buffets.  We gathered to pray and sing together.
                     Friends, all of us experience interruptions in our lives. 
                     And when interruptions come, we have two choices: We can either complain at this terrible intrusion to our schedule or we can see them as a precious gift from God—a surprise so special, it will bless us in a way we can’t understand.
                      When a delay comes into your life, always ask yourself: How can I be blessed by this interruption?
                      Life is too short to complain.
           
PS. I wish to thank all those who have written to me, thanking me for sending them each month the inspiring Kerygma magazine for FREE, plus my Life Dreams Success Journal.  (The Life Dreams Success Journal is a small powerful tool I made that has already helped many people write their dreams, thus helping them fulfil their goals.)  Yes, I give away a FREE all-year subscription of Kerygma magazine plus the Life Dreams Success Journal to all KerygmaFamily members who support the ministry through a regular monthly love offering of at least P100 or $20 only.  If you’re not yet a KerygmaFamily member, log onto http://www.kerygmafamily.com/ now and receive Kerygma magazine each month plus the Life Dreams Success Journal for FREE.
 
PS2. Attention Music Ministry Members.  My friends and Kerygma Preachers Arun Gogna, Alvin Barcelona, and Rissa Singson will be giving a seminar entitled ALL I AM, Workshop for Music Ministers, on May 12, 2007, Saturday, 8am – 5pm.  Designed for singers, dancers and band members, this course offers new perspective on how to animate and minister through music. A day of worship, renewed vision and empowerment, bring your team and be blessed!  Venue: Lay Force, San Carlos Seminary, Guadalupe Makati.  Call now for group discounts.  Only limited slots available.  For reservations and inquiries, contact Noel at (02) 8239546 or text 0915-4493600.
 
PS3: Cancer Survivors Support Group: A support group incorporating psycho-emotional, spiritual approach as well as health and education  to help cancer survivors and their caregivers/ families to cope with the illness. Each session will comprise varied activities from discussions on healthy ilving, group sharing, including guest speakers from the medical profession, and of course prayer.
 
Every 2^nd Saturday, 2-5pm.
Conducted by Light of Jesus Counseling Center.
Venue: The Lighthouse, 60 Chicago St., Cubao
Fee: FREE