Post Scripts About the Retreat

Wohoa! After 7 months of hibernation, I'm back!

The inspiration to write for me is just like a thief in the night. I don't know when it will come. But when it strikes, it hits me like a car. Bam! And then I just have the uncontrollable urge to write down my thoughts or else I cannot sleep.

Well here am I with the inspiration to write down again my thoughts about our recently concluded retreat. I have been in absentia joining school retreats for as far as I can remember. Perhaps 3 years? This is of course excludes the centennial retreats held by the university in 2011 and 2012. So it has been something like 5 or 6 years since I attended the last retreat sponsored by my school.

Of course my reasons then were valid. I had to take care of my ailing mother who was suffering from chronic kidney disease. She had her dialysis every Tuesdays and Saturdays. And every Saturday, I had to accompany her to the hospital. When she joined my brother Jesus Christ, my Saturdays then became free. Needless to say I could now attend to whatever Saturday activities that I can join in. And this particular retreat was one of my firsts again.

The retreat is what I would call spiritually refreshing. Yes truly it was rejuvenating. The theme of the activity was about faith since the Catholic church declared this liturgical year as the "Year of Faith." And I guess everyone must start with some degree of belief on why we are all gathered there.

The approach of the retreat master was comedic. Laughter was an integral part of his method in delivering his message across. For me there were no dull moments with Fr. Romy. It was just a wonderful experience of learning God's message. Most memorable lessons were:

"Kahit tapakan, lukutin at kung ano ano pa ang gawin sa iyo, hindi nagbabago ang halaga mo."

"Ang tunay na pagpapatawad ang magpapalaya sa iyo."

"Umayos ka. May misyon ka pa."

Bonus to that retreat of course is the bonding with my friends since we don't usually get to have "sleep overs" if you want to call it that way. Plus I gained a new brother! What else could top that?

With my friends before the session

In closure the best experiences happen when everything is unplanned and let God open it up for you. Truly this retreat is a memorable one!