Peace be with you!

At the Zion's Joy (ZJ) semi-silent retreat over the weekend, Sister Mel aptly reminded me that 'as disciples of Christ, we are not called to proclaim high theological doctrines but we are called to share with others, our personal experiences with Christ.'

And this only resounded so strongly with the chief message of our facilitators' sessions in the previous weeks - to spread and share the love of Christ to the world! Wee.

So at the retreat, it was a refreshing change for me because the program was structured at such an easy tempo i even had time to take an afternoon siesta, bathe three times in the day, and most importantly, I found a Peace that i havent felt in a long while...

A glimmer of raindrop, a world of possibilities...!

Kelly Ang, saying 'Meow!' to kitty Kelly

I found myself a tranquil state of mind through my ramblings with nature, by sitting on my favorite bench during prayer time just admiring the fresh air and the overcast sky... Simply put, i found a Peace the world hasnt been able to imbue me with.

Hmm... And maybe you cant fully grasp what i'm saying here.

Do you want to know why?! I think it's because YOU GOTTA EXPERIENCE THIS PEACE FOR YOURSELF! :)

Yep. And I also experienced a familiar settling of my heart as I searched within myself as to where am i in my own personal journey with God, and i found Peace while walking back to the retreat centre from Mass, because the only sounds i could hear coming from the people of ZJ were our soft footsteps on the pavement!

No chatterbox gargle from Stef, no boiterous behaviour from me and other guys, and no fragrant farts and raucous burps from Clement. ;)

And that silence was sheer music to my soul!

I was suddenly touched.

The simple shuffle of our footsteps across the pavements amidst the absence of our normal chatter volume (cos it was a semi-silent retreat, remember?) was an implicit and tacit attesting to the fact that although we may not have always been able to be physically present with each other all the time in the walk/journey with each other, but this is my community of precious brothers and sisters who have been friends with me for as little as a year, to as many as twenty years of my life! And though there may have been moments of silence or merely tentative shufflings in the darkness, i was always walking alongside with you - and i knew you were too, vice versa! So, thank you - each and every one of you!

And ok God, please grant me the grace to be generous in spirit and be always willing to share the many gifts that you have bestowed upon me with others whom you may make me meet along the way! And please continue to shower your graces on the community of ZJ as you have always done so!

I pray that your love will keep on growing more and more, together with true knowledge and perfect judgement, so that you will be able to choose what is best. Then you will be free from all impuritry and blame on the Day of Christ. Your lives will be filled with the truly good qualities which only Jesus Christ can produce, for the glory and praise of God.' - Philippians 1:9-11.

-rhino 69-