But the ultimate highlight of the short bonding was the discussion of a very, very familiar topic that all of us could relate with: love and romantic relationships. Seriously?
It seems like it always has to be expected every time people who are now past their first quarter-of-a-century and are still single to talk about romantic feelings and married life. They say it's natural to ask a person who remains unmarried at this age why in this world of over 7 billion people are we still single? I mean, should being single at this age scare you? Where have all the sensible standards gone?
I don't like to sound apologetic here by justifying it's alright to be single right now with all the cliche-ish talk on waiting for the right season, for the right reason, and for the right person. Medyo gasgas na yata ang mga yun. But since I don't mind being apologetic when it comes to these issues, I guess it doesn't hurt that much to throw in my take and a little of my experience that has taught me well. And the hard way.
Note: I don't want this write-up to be that lengthy, so I'll just post it here in a series. Please bear with me :)
Issue No 1. Is the time right?
If you're the choleric type of person and you can't relate with this one, it's alright. Mahirap naman talaga ang maghintay. Especially if in between the waiting period you see no guarantee if what you're waiting for would come. So the tendency here is that we will be tempted to short cut the process just to get there the shortest possible time. We will try to pour out unnecessary attention or misplaced affection to the person we are dreaming to be with. We start to invest time and resources and emotion. At kapag hindi nag-work out, tayo lang din ang frustrated.
Thinking that you are running out of time, or that the person you're praying for might end up with someone else, can be the biggest trap in the waiting season. Wag kang paranoid masyado. If the other person has the same maturity as you have, then who knows he/she might be in the same level of waiting and expecting as you are? Pero wag ka munang kiligin ano? Kung single pa siya ngayon at single ka din, it doesn't mean na magiging kayo na later. Everything worth waiting for should undergo a process.
I remember the life of Abraham on how he waited on God for the promise of a son. He was 75 years old when God spoke to him and said he will be the father of many nations. Man, just how crazy is that? Not only that Abraham was too old; Sarah was also barren. Baog. Gaano katindi yun? It's understandable that Sarah would laugh about it.
But still, Abraham believed. Abraham waited. But in between the twenty-five years of waiting time--when the promise seemed to have been forgotten and God seemed so silent-- Abraham and Sarah failed in the process. They've tried to handle their situations based on what they know is right at the moment. They made a crucial mistake, but despite that, God's purpose was unstoppable. He can't fail His own words.
You know what I realized here? It is that it was never about Abraham or Sarah or the promised son. It is about the nature and the character of the One who gave the promise. It is all about God. When in our situations we can't see the possibility of a promise, that's because we are looking at the wrong direction. Look up to God who is able to fulfill every promise he has given.
Are you holding on to a promise from God? Is it a promise and a vision of a godly relationship with a godly person? The lesson here: wait upon the LORD.
The best thing that you can do now in between the waiting and the seizing, is to be the right person. As they say, don't try too hard to find the right one, instead, be the right one. You have to realize that there is always a right time for every season in our life. So right now, ano ba ang dapat iprioritize? If you are a student, then it's just common sense that you have to prioritize your study first. If you are a single professional at tingin mo qualified ka na to settle, see to it first that you provide the needs of your family. Baka naman may mga umaasa pa sayo? Wag ka masyadong atat.
Another thing: why not take God seriously this time? You've been wanting to be enamored and be swept away and be swooned and be treated special by a specific person in the past and it didn't end up so well. You've tried to fit in into somebody else's embrace, yet you still find yourself unsatisfied. You've wanted to be loved and feel accepted by that dream boy or that dream girl, and yet you woke up one day to find out it was nothing but a horrible dream. How about falling in love with God? How about embracing the fact that God loves you so desperately that He's willing to demonstrate that love on the cross of Christ?
On a final note, embrace this season of being single as a time for exploring the limitless life we have in Christ. I believe that as we offer this season of our life to the LORD--this season of waiting and serving and seeking His will--He will eventually honor our desires with all that He has promised. And we can only say at the end of the day: thank God I've waited!
Note: I don't want this write-up to be that lengthy, so I'll just post it here in a series. Please bear with me :)
Issue No 1. Is the time right?
If you're the choleric type of person and you can't relate with this one, it's alright. Mahirap naman talaga ang maghintay. Especially if in between the waiting period you see no guarantee if what you're waiting for would come. So the tendency here is that we will be tempted to short cut the process just to get there the shortest possible time. We will try to pour out unnecessary attention or misplaced affection to the person we are dreaming to be with. We start to invest time and resources and emotion. At kapag hindi nag-work out, tayo lang din ang frustrated.
Thinking that you are running out of time, or that the person you're praying for might end up with someone else, can be the biggest trap in the waiting season. Wag kang paranoid masyado. If the other person has the same maturity as you have, then who knows he/she might be in the same level of waiting and expecting as you are? Pero wag ka munang kiligin ano? Kung single pa siya ngayon at single ka din, it doesn't mean na magiging kayo na later. Everything worth waiting for should undergo a process.
I remember the life of Abraham on how he waited on God for the promise of a son. He was 75 years old when God spoke to him and said he will be the father of many nations. Man, just how crazy is that? Not only that Abraham was too old; Sarah was also barren. Baog. Gaano katindi yun? It's understandable that Sarah would laugh about it.
But still, Abraham believed. Abraham waited. But in between the twenty-five years of waiting time--when the promise seemed to have been forgotten and God seemed so silent-- Abraham and Sarah failed in the process. They've tried to handle their situations based on what they know is right at the moment. They made a crucial mistake, but despite that, God's purpose was unstoppable. He can't fail His own words.
You know what I realized here? It is that it was never about Abraham or Sarah or the promised son. It is about the nature and the character of the One who gave the promise. It is all about God. When in our situations we can't see the possibility of a promise, that's because we are looking at the wrong direction. Look up to God who is able to fulfill every promise he has given.
Are you holding on to a promise from God? Is it a promise and a vision of a godly relationship with a godly person? The lesson here: wait upon the LORD.
The best thing that you can do now in between the waiting and the seizing, is to be the right person. As they say, don't try too hard to find the right one, instead, be the right one. You have to realize that there is always a right time for every season in our life. So right now, ano ba ang dapat iprioritize? If you are a student, then it's just common sense that you have to prioritize your study first. If you are a single professional at tingin mo qualified ka na to settle, see to it first that you provide the needs of your family. Baka naman may mga umaasa pa sayo? Wag ka masyadong atat.
Another thing: why not take God seriously this time? You've been wanting to be enamored and be swept away and be swooned and be treated special by a specific person in the past and it didn't end up so well. You've tried to fit in into somebody else's embrace, yet you still find yourself unsatisfied. You've wanted to be loved and feel accepted by that dream boy or that dream girl, and yet you woke up one day to find out it was nothing but a horrible dream. How about falling in love with God? How about embracing the fact that God loves you so desperately that He's willing to demonstrate that love on the cross of Christ?
On a final note, embrace this season of being single as a time for exploring the limitless life we have in Christ. I believe that as we offer this season of our life to the LORD--this season of waiting and serving and seeking His will--He will eventually honor our desires with all that He has promised. And we can only say at the end of the day: thank God I've waited!
