courage

by Yas Jayson Thursday, September 15, 2016 1 palagay he says leaving and living people are people picture paints a thousand pesos

I promised Ray that I would attend his ordination in Cotabato City. I forgot to book the flight and went instead to Siquijor. The island is very beautiful.

Few months after, Ray has received his first obedience as missionary priest. Together with Yoniz, they were sent to Beijing, China. Asked what their mission will be like, he simply told me "We'll be running a center for children with disability. I'll have lots of time in prayer. I'm praying for you." They flew to Hong Kong last week to learn Mandarin.

His assurance of prayer reminded me of an incident last Mother's Day. A friend's mother, who I am not very close to, replied to my greeting with a disturbing note. "Oh thanks. I have not seen you lately, are you in the seminary yet? I'm not joking. I pray that you may wear priest vestments someday real soon. But whatever that makes you happy, go for it. We only live once."

Later when I asked her about her message, she would tell me that she has been praying for me to become a priest someday. Here is a woman who I would see rarely but is praying for me.

Behind every vocation is an intense prayer of someone. In my case, it was numerous someones.

I assured Ray that I will be praying for him too. After all, China mission is not for the faint of heart. At 27, Ray's heart is set to his most passionate desires though it had brought him to unfamiliar shores. Here is man who knows courage. I wonder where my feet will take me.