Tag Archives: Dive

Big, Fun and Scary Things, Dear Diary

OMG and The Day of Action

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I dubbed my day yesterday as my OMG (Oh my gosh!) Day, because of the number of things that I found out and talked about which made me feel so overwhelmed. Let’s see…I had about 5 discoveries/talks yesterday that got me thinking, “OMG OMG OMG”. Hence, OMG Day. I was supposed to post this last night, but internet at home is super slow once again. ><

But I shall only write about one of the OMG things yesterday as it’s the most relevant.

As the month of July draws near, I keep on wondering if I should push through with my WYD 2008 dream. Just last Saturday I was thinking that I might not be able to go there anymore because of financial reasons, and I’ve almost accepted it. There’s this “what if” whispering at the back of my mind, and some strands of regret that tells me, I should have tried harder.

And the latter thought sucks, by the way. I hate regretting things. And I feel like if I didn’t even try for this one, I would forever regret it. Or at least, regret it for the rest of the year.

I can’t remember how I got to checking airfares in the Philippine Airlines website yesterday, but I was doing that in the afternoon. I saw all airfares in their website is still out of my budget. Until my friend Marvs told me to check Ultimate Fares. I was ready to accept that the fare would still be expensive, and then Marvs told me of this one straight trip to Sydney via PAL that is around USD 760.

That’s like…PHP 10,000 less than all the fares I saw in the PAL website.

WHOA. OMG OMG OMG!

All of a sudden, the fire of the dream glowed brighter. Nabuhayan ako ng loob! I realized, with quick computation, that I could probably afford it. Most probably, leaning into the more positive side. I found a group of people to go with (yay YFC!). I found a reasonable fare (even if I’m still worried if that disappears). I talked to a friend who works with a travel agency and can give us packages for Sydney.

And suddenly, Sydney seems to be easier to reach!

So today, I finally did what I said I would do way back in February:

I registered as a Pilgrim in the WYD 2008 website.

Aaaahhhh!!! This is it! As what I called it before, this is my DIVE! This is when things start rolling, and I have to roll with it or else I’ll be left behind! I’m excited and scared and worried all at the same time, and this still doesn’t guarantee that I’ll be able to go, but I’m getting there. I still don’t know where to pull all my finances before I get there, but I’m praying things will all fall into place. Of course, I have to do my part as well — like work on my Australian Visa requirements and find more ways to save cash for the trip (donations are welcome, seriously).

I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of Your heart.

I think I shall call this day The Day of Action. Today and the next few days, that is.

And yes, this means I’ll be updating Mission: Sydney again. :)

In His Steps

Waiting for the Splash

I took a Dive today. Ironically, I have not gone swimming this (already ending) summer yet. So what kind of dive is it?

Well, if you know me in real life you probably know. If you don’t, I can’t divulge it yet. :) But it’s part of the much talked about Great Adventure. Which reminds me…I should always read that entry to remind me of what my 21st year is.

Anyway, like I said, I took a Dive. And right now I’m waiting for the SPLASH! I don’t know what would happen to me, if I will be able to rise up from this dive that I took, or if I will be engulfed by the “waters”. I don’t know if I will be disappointed with that will happen or if I will scream with happiness after. I don’t know if I will continue to stay at where I am in my life right now or be given an opportunity that will somehow make me be like George Lindemann…who knows? Only God knows. But the splash hasn’t come yet, so I can’t say anything. Right now, I will just have to wait. You got that right, wait.

I can do that. I can wait. I’ve been waiting a lot all my life.

But Lord, please let this be it.

In the meantime…as I wait and pray, here’s a really nice devotional from Elisabeth Elliot (on a sidenote, it just occured to me that I have been receiving her devotional for three years already. Yes, her devotionals repeat every year, but I have to admit that I don’t always read it, so sometimes some of the entries hit me like that). Emphasis mine, by the way.

Responsible to Praise
by Elisabeth Elliot
A Lamp Unto My Feet, Luke 23:47

We cannot always or even often control events, but we can control how we respond to them. When things happen which dismay or appall, we ought to look to God for his meaning, remembering that He is not taken by surprise nor can his purposes be thwarted in the end. What God looks for is those who will worship Him. Our look of inquiring trust glorifies Him.

One of the witnesses to the crucifixion was a military officer to whom the scene was surely not a novelty. He had seen plenty of criminals nailed up. But the response of this Man who hung there was of such an utterly different nature than that of the others that the centurion knew at once that He was innocent. His own response then, rather than one of despair that such a terrible injustice should take place, or of anger at God who might have prevented it, was praise (Lk 23:47 NEB).

This is our first responsibility: to glorify God. In the face of life’s worst reversals and tragedies, the response of a faithful Christian is praise–not for the wrong itself certainly, but for who God is and for the ultimate assurance that there is a pattern being worked out for those who love Him.

This is the Great Adventure. Have a restful night, everyone. :)