Seek-and-find

www.victory.org.ph

Last Sunday, I was as usual excited to attend worship service, especially when I learned that it’s the start of a new series, entitled “Ordinary”. The message is about stories on how our extraordinary God uses ordinary people, like you and me, to share His Word and do not-so-ordinary things.

I suddenly remembered a thing in the past – a not-so-ordinary encounter with a very ordinary person, whom God used to somehow prepare me for a grand personal encounter with Him.

When I was in college, every lunch break is a thrilling time to choose from a long line of eateries, located just a stone’s throw away from our campus, offering various delectable meals.

I and my friends would always end up in an eatery that offers foods that click in our taste buds. And every time we go there, a woman in her mid-40s wearing an apron, would greet us with a crispy “hello” and the warmest smile you could imagine.

We call her “Tita”. While we eat, we would hear her talk about her life: her dishes, her family, especially her children, the goodness of God in her life and how worthy He is to be praised. When her customers finish eating and are about to go, she would always say “God bless” to them. Not “Thank you, come again” but “God bless”.

Every time I see her, it will always be a puzzle to me. This woman lives a very simple life, wears the same apron everyday, has this small eatery for a living, her husband looks like he’s not yet fully recovered from stroke – but she seems so happy and contented with her life. How come?

Until one day, I was not able to control myself. When she started to talk about God again, I asked, “Tita, anong religion mo?”

And with the familiar warm smile, she replied, “It’s not about religion. It’s all about our relationship with God.”

My jaw dropped. Literally. Not because of the context of what she said, but because I couldn’t believe this woman could actually speak in English like that! I mean, I didn’t translate that statement or anything. That’s really what she said, verbatim.

After maybe 30 seconds, I recovered and said, “Wow Tita, may gano’n?” and I laughed hard. The statement obviously didn’t make sense to me that time.

Before, I was kind of “in doubt” if there really is God. I thought, maybe God is just an idea, a concept. I mean, I hear about Him everywhere, but it’s like I didn’t know who or where He is. When I pray, I wasn’t sure if someone is even listening. Or if He is really there, there are billions of people on earth who calls to Him, maybe He wouldn’t be able to hear me anyway.

Until not so long after that encounter with Tita, a schoolmate of mine, who was once a stranger to me, began speaking to my life about Jesus, about the Cross, about the Bible. He assured me that God knows every detail of my life and He hears all my prayers. And He clearly defined God as a “true and living God”. That phrase rang a bell to my ears. I became so engrossed, that I wanted to meet that “true and living God” he was talking about.

Plus I saw that person’s character and the kind of life he lives. He is not like me or other teenagers I know. And I couldn’t help but also see the happiness and contentment in him, the kind that I saw in Tita. Which really made me wonder, where are they getting such joy and satisfaction?*

I started to seek God with all my heart. I wanted to know who He really is. I began reading the Bible which my schoolmate-turned-friend gave me as a Christmas gift. All my doubts and questions were answered.

And in the abundance of His grace, He opened my eyes and showed Himself up in my life. I finally realized what gives them true happiness and contentment in life: they are secured by the love of God and their love for Him. "We love because He first loved us." 1John 4:19 

I went to church and I was amazed. I saw happy married couples. I saw kids who, at an early age, are excitedly learning about Jesus Christ. I saw teenagers who are burning in passion to share the Word and make a difference. I saw people, from all walks and ages, who are genuinely singing praises to God. I felt His very presence. 

Then, it all finally made sense to me... It's not about religion, it's about our personal relationship with God... our true and living God. 

God has a purpose why we are where we are, and why we meet the people whom we meet. Every day is just a great opportunity to touch other people's lives. Whenever I would look back, I will just be very grateful to Tita and to my schoolmate-turned-friend.

Yes, they are just very ordinary people (a woman in her mid-40s wearing an apron and a simple 4th year student), yet they left a not-ordinary impact in my life. And I would always remember them for sharing to me what could be the most precious thing one could ever share to another person - the love of Jesus Christ... which didn't make sense to me at first, but eventually changed my life forever.

          *But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. Jeremiah 17:7-8