Rise Up and Soar!

Amats and Day know about this first part...and a few other people know about the discernment process I've been undergoing the last few weeks in the mountains, which has continued back here in the lowlands. I came back down to Manila exactly two weeks to the day I went up "to the hills," knowing fully well that this trip to re-encounter all things familiar would weigh into the decision I will have to make. I was slightly surprised that, the very next day I was back, God's message was "Stay there until I tell you." (Matthew 2:13). Eek. I'd been drawing up blue-prints and making plans (always submitting them to Him for consideration, of course), and He said "Stay there until I tell you." My Heavenly Father talaga and His sense of humor (not to mention timing).

But now I understand why I had to "stay" until He told me otherwise; He opened me up to so much, to so many opportunities and relationships and possibilities and realizations which I wouldn't otherwise have had if I went "back up" as scheduled. I'm more sure now, about many matters; most of all, I'm more sure of my commitment to love and serve Him and to love and serve those whom He loves, even as I pursue His other dreams for me that may not appear to be as selfless. Today, He reminded me that despite His other aspirations for my life, I should never forget my Jerusalem, my joy of joys - let my right hand wither, let my tongue cleave to my mouth if I do (Psalm 137). As if to hammer that point in, after Mass in UP tonight, He even showed Himself to me...through an unintelligibly chattering, mentally challenged little mendicant who lovingly touched my face and told my heart to continue looking for - and finding - my God, my Savior, and my King in the very least of my brethren.

And, having said that, He gave me my cue: "Lift your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you." (Genesis 13:14-15). "No desire will ever be placed in you by the Holy Spirit unless He intends to fulfill it. So let your faith rise up and soar away to claim all the land you can discover." (S.A. Keen, quoted in the 26 March entry of Streams in the Desert)

Amen, amen, and amen! May I soar in His direction, with His wind beneath my wings. :-)