TABLE OF CONTENTS Appendixes: BIYAHERO DVD; Collection of Videos Used in this Manual and Religious Songs
THE RECOLLECTION DIARY; A Writing Booklet for the Participants. Participants. It contains all the activities of this manual for easy writing.
I II III
Rationale and Dedication Recollection Overview - The Concept & Topics Recollection Considerations -
IV
3
5
Venue Facilitators and Speakers Participants Suggested Schedule
5 7 8
Preparatory Talk & Orientation Job’s Troubles; What Comes in a Journey House Rules Tara Biyahe Tayo Activity 1: Bola-Gaan Game Activity 2: Mapa’t Bagahe, Expectations and Commitments
13 17 24 27 27
Umpisa ng Paglalakbay Station 1: Let’ Let’s Buckle Up -
1 3
8
28
Station 2: The Bumpy Ride
References; The New American Bible
-
-
Kalakbay, The Directory for Catholic Youth Ministries in the Philippines -
Youth Encounter Manual, Job My Hero, Kathryn M. Cunningham, MAPS | Source: Catholic.net The whole reflection on Job’ Job ’ s s Troubles is from Kathryn M. Cunningham’ Cunningham’ s s article, Job My My Hero.
Cycle 1: Me, Myself and I; Misconception and Personality Communication Activity 3: Ako? Hindi, Sila, Sila! Activity 4: Please Listen, This is Me Cycle 2: It’s All that I Have? Counting Blessings Not Sheep. Activity 5: My Likes and Dislikes Activity 6: There’s More than I Have Cycle 3: God, Me and My Every day; Finding God In Every Day Activity 7: Kabataang Pinoy Activity 8: My Daily Schedule
37 37 45 47 47 55 57 57
Station 3: The Final Stop -
Activity 9: At the Crossroad with Jesus; An Encounter with God 70 Activity 10: The New Journey; Journey; My Commitment Commitment to God 80 My Redeemer Lives 84
TABLE OF CONTENTS Appendixes: BIYAHERO DVD; Collection of Videos Used in this Manual and Religious Songs
THE RECOLLECTION DIARY; A Writing Booklet for the Participants. Participants. It contains all the activities of this manual for easy writing.
I II III
Rationale and Dedication Recollection Overview - The Concept & Topics Recollection Considerations -
IV
3
5
Venue Facilitators and Speakers Participants Suggested Schedule
5 7 8
Preparatory Talk & Orientation Job’s Troubles; What Comes in a Journey House Rules Tara Biyahe Tayo Activity 1: Bola-Gaan Game Activity 2: Mapa’t Bagahe, Expectations and Commitments
13 17 24 27 27
Umpisa ng Paglalakbay Station 1: Let’ Let’s Buckle Up -
1 3
8
28
Station 2: The Bumpy Ride
References; The New American Bible
-
-
Kalakbay, The Directory for Catholic Youth Ministries in the Philippines -
Youth Encounter Manual, Job My Hero, Kathryn M. Cunningham, MAPS | Source: Catholic.net The whole reflection on Job’ Job ’ s s Troubles is from Kathryn M. Cunningham’ Cunningham’ s s article, Job My My Hero.
Cycle 1: Me, Myself and I; Misconception and Personality Communication Activity 3: Ako? Hindi, Sila, Sila! Activity 4: Please Listen, This is Me Cycle 2: It’s All that I Have? Counting Blessings Not Sheep. Activity 5: My Likes and Dislikes Activity 6: There’s More than I Have Cycle 3: God, Me and My Every day; Finding God In Every Day Activity 7: Kabataang Pinoy Activity 8: My Daily Schedule
37 37 45 47 47 55 57 57
Station 3: The Final Stop -
Activity 9: At the Crossroad with Jesus; An Encounter with God 70 Activity 10: The New Journey; Journey; My Commitment Commitment to God 80 My Redeemer Lives 84
I: RATIONALE AND DEDICATION The topics are divided into three stages called “Stations”. The First Station is composed of four minor topics that opens up the retreat and lays the mood for the main cycles. The second station on the other hand contains the main body of the retreat and is again divided into three topics called “Cycles” for each topic has a revolving nature ending with the same idea that it begun but with a challenge for redirection for the participants. Each cycle prepares are connected to one another, with the next much deeper than the previous leading to the final stage of the recollection. The third and final stage is the climax of the retreat, it will start with a very high atmosphere preceded by three cycles and will end with a summing up activity that serves as a call for commitment for the participants.
The stages are as follows; Stages Topic Title and Subtitle Stage 1: Let’s Buckle Up Job’ Job’S tROUBLES: Talk 1 What comes in the Journey?
Talk 2
House Rules Magkasama Tayo
Talk 3 Talk 4
Mapa at Bagahe
Stage 2: The Bumpy Ride Me, Myself and I: Misconception vs Personality Cycle 1 Communication
Cycle 2
Is it All that I Have? Counting Blessings not Sheep.
God, Me and My Every Day: Finding God in Every Day.
Cycle 3
Stage 3: The Final Stop At the Cross Road with God! Activity Face to Face with Jesus 1
Activity 2
Ang Bagong Byahe: Committing to Walk Jesus.
with
Description
- A preparatory discussion laying the foundation for the succeeding cycles. It uses the story of Job as a jump off point. - The participants will be oriented with the do’s and don’ts during the entire retreat. - The getting to know each other activity. The participants will be paired at this stage before the retreat formally start. - discussion of the expectations and commitments of the participants. - A discussion of how deep is the self-realization of each participants leading to the deepening on how one’s action and the perception of others will create bitter misconception. - The personal evaluation part of the retreat on a much wider coverage. In here the participants will discover the grace and blessings given by God in their Life. - The last of the cycles, it serves as the pre climax activity. Slightly mellow in gravity of thoughts for it deals with the ways on how to live with God in a daily basis using the story of sisters Martha and Mary as the jump point. - The highlight and climax of the retreat. The participants will be given the chance to talk face to café with God through a controlled Taize’ Prayer Activity. - A culminating and evaluation activity. Through a ceremonial dance, “Pilgrims Dance” the participants will be asked to commit for a new journey with Jesus. Jesus.
Duration 1 hour
45 Minutes 10 Minutes 30 Minutes 20 Minutes
1 Hour 45 Minutes to 2 Hours 1 Hour Minutes
30
1 Hour 45 Minutes to 2 Hours
1 Hour Minutes
45
45 Minutes
“Mar tha tha burdened with much serving, came to Him and said, ‘Lord do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.’ The Lord said to her in reply, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many thing. There is only a need for one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” Luke 10:40-42 10:40-42
Martha and Mary are sisters, youth and active. Both of them share the same love and passion in serving God that they gained the friendship of Jesus that is as what many scholars suggest even to a personal level. They had been so close to the Lord, that when He is travelling nearby He sees to it that He pass by their house to take His rest. Maybe because the Lord feels comfort in the way the two women extend love to Him that He likes to dwell in their presence. But in the story, a clear contrast appears between the two siblings, and the Lord seemingly favors one. One, Martha busy herself with the domestic labor whereas her sister, Mary reclined by the foot of the Lord to listen to Him teach. Mary becomes overwhelmed that she complained yet the Lord persuaded her. The story of the two siblings is a manifestation of the two divided world of the youth nowadays. Many young people though living in the same generation, portrays two or more distinct way of life. Some get so sucked up by modern technologies that it controls them in ways unimaginable even to their parents; others are so influenced by the ideas of liberalism that it consumes their morality and values; yet many still brought by the growing gap between them and the older generations around them ends up confused and unguided resulting to a life with no direction at all; vises and many mundane pleasures also grip the youth’s way of life that the ir future is being compromised. Only a handful youth could be seen with deep self-realization and a strong spiritual foundation making them resilient with the factors that destroys the life of their fellow youth. In this changing times, it is but stringent that the youth are redirected to the path of righteousness, morality and spiritual stability. The youth should be given an utmost attention and dedication to be guided with the values that the church, as in Christianity, uphold in order to make them once again disciples of the Lord Jesus. Like the story of the sister’s Martha and Mary, the youth should be reminded that there are things in life that are more important than what many of them perceive.
II
In this changing times, it is but stringent that the youth are redirected to the path of righteousness, morality and spiritual stability. The youth should be given an utmost attention and dedication to be guided with t he values that the church, as in Christianity, uphold in order to make them once again disciples of the Lord Jesus. Like the story of the sister’s Martha and Mary, the youth should be reminded that there are things in life that are more important than what many of them perceive. A growing life, rooted in Christ’s teachings and is fueled by t he grateful heart for God’s blessings. A life that has a deep understanding of on e’s self, family, life situation and goals able to withstand test and condemnation. It is of this regard and the love for the author’s fellow youth that this manuscript is created. To serve as a simple and humble guide in providing an arena for the youth of today to once again look deep into themselves and evaluate their very existence. May this guide, together with the wise counsel of those who are to interpret them and with the intercession of the Holy Spirit be able to make those who are to be part in it realize that the Grace and Mercy of God abounds in their lives. And that may with the loving compassion of Jesus, the youth once again find true friendship in the one true God, for He says, “You are my friend if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves for a slave does not not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who choose you…” John 15:14-16 15:14 -16 “Biyahero” a Tagalog term for traveler sums up a personal cont ext of being on a journey. A Biyahero is constantly on a move to reach his target destination. Along the way he experiences a lot of obstacles, challenges and discouragements but pushes onward. This term, “Biyahero” profoundly support s the type of lifestyle that the youth of this generation must take. To be on constant movement to reach their goals, their dreams and aspirations and most importantly, live a life rooted with God.
That is why, this book bears that title. Considering that a recollection activity involves journeying towards the deepest confines of the participant’s life towards realization and renewal. A journey that welcomes every youth to take and join and move on towards a life with God. May this manuscript reach the youth who needs the induction to take a journey to find life and be a “Biyahero, Kabataang Naglalakbay Kasama si Kristo. Growing Through God’s Blessings.”
: RECOLLECTION OVERVIEW THE CONCEPT AND TOPICS
“The next day John was there again with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God.’ The two disc iples heard what he said and followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them and said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’ they said to him, ‘Rabbi’ (which translated to teacher), ‘where are you staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come and you will see.’’’ John 1:35-39
Many of us says, that life is nothing but a journey. That is true, for life involves real journey, be it geographically, anthropologically, socially, spiritually and many more. We take our first step in life the moment we were conceived and only ends the moment we breathe our last. Thus, it is important that along the journey that each of us take we are prepared and is accompanied by trustworthy guides. In the journey of the youth through this recollection, they are to be introduced to the one true guide that is the Lord Jesus. Like the two disciples of John the Baptist, the moment they heard their master proclaim that Jesus, who passes by them is the Messiah, they followed Jesus. Though they are of little understanding with the nature of Jesus, they took the effort to just follow. In time, when the Lord noticed their pursuit of Him, He asked them, “What are you looking for?” Their reply is but a question still, “Rabbi, where are you staying?” so Jesus replied, “Just come and see.” This is how the Lord guides us, the moment we decide to follow Jesus, He doesn’t tells us where to go, or go to this place at this address and there you will find me. Instead, Jesus simply tells us, “Come, you will see.” This means that God Himself will be with us in that journey, He will be our guide. He will lead us in ways we might find uncomfortable or even unconventional but still, it is the way to go. Such is the guiding inspiration in the topics that are herein presented. Inspired by stories in the Bible that gives profound lessons in l ife especially for the youth. Stories like that of Job and the sisters Martha and Mary. The topics will revolve in the lessons behind their lives and is redirected to the connections in the participants’ own life. But just as the Lord uses many visible references we find in our day to day life, the topics will be supported by video clips created by individuals with the intention of opening up someone’s mind. The author does not claim ownership in these videos but highly recognizes their publishers. Also, to further provide a personal reflection setting, the participants will be active in writing down tasks that aims to extract from them deep and stored thoughts that is just treated with conventional reflection methods of meditation, would not be fully achieved. These together with other dynamic activities aims to provide the participants a continuous journey through themselves with God.
1.
For the Participants
II: RECOLLECTION CONSIDERATIONS
The success of a retreat also depends on the volume of participants and the way they are oriented and prepared. Aside from the house rules that they must observe, the following considerations should also be accounted for. a. A good and effective retreat is a game of numbers. The greater the participants are in number, the more that they turn out to be a crowd. Thus, the number of participants should be controlled in a number that is easy for the speakers and facilitators to handle. An ideal group of 50 participants should be observed with a maximum of 80. More than that, the participants should be divided into two or more batches. 2.
Other considerations
The considerations presented above are not fixed. They can be modified or added by the organizers depending on the situation of the retreat to be conducted.
3.
“…when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.” Mathew 6:6
The Lord Jesus teaches us that prayer as a form of communication with God should be done with utmost caution. It should be treated with solemnity and respect even of the simplest form. For, if done otherwise or with no respect and in the intention of adoration from other people, just as the Pharisees is Christ’s time, those prayers are but uttered chants. Such is the treatment to a retreat activity, of which the intention if to provide an avenue wherein the participants could connect with God as they take their journey deep into their selves. The entire retreat or recollection activity, regardless of how small or great, short of span or lengthy should be treated with sanctity. That is why, in this activity, there are some listed considerations to be executed in order to create a holly atmosphere all throughout the affair. It is but important, especially for the facilitators to impose them strictly at all cost.
Suggested Schedule of Activities
The entire retreat is scheduled for a 12 hours activity but can be extended depending on the situation. Ideally, it should begin in the morning and run until the early evening. Here below are two suggested programs. Set 1: One Day Retreat Venue
Persons Involved
Arrival and Registrati on
Receiving Area
Secretariat
Settling Down
Designated Area
Time 07:00 – 07:30 AM 07:31 – 08:00 AM 08:01 – 08:15 AM 08:16 – 08:20 AM 08:21 – 08:40 AM 08:41 – 09:15 AM 09:16 – 09:30 AM
Topics/Session
Stage 1: Let’s Buckle Up Job and Me: What comes in the Journey? House Rules Bola-gaan Game Tara, Byahe tayo! Expectations and Commitments. Snacks and Toilet Break
Lecture Room
The speakers & facilitators
1.
For the Venue
The success of the activity lies in the venue in as much as it does with the speakers who will talk. For a w ell prepared place can set the mood and outcome of the entire activity. Though it is not necessary that the venue should be of a high class retreat facility such as resorts, retreat houses hotels and the like, w ith all amenities already available for the comfort of the participants, although it would be advantageous. But nonetheless, any venue will do provided that the following considerations are taken into acc ount; 1, Privacy; There should be intimate privacy in the vicinity. If the venue is held within a school compound, see to it that the participants will be contained that contact with other individual not involved in the activity is limited or if not, totally cut off during the entire activity. A compromised privacy can result to the participants to have reservations and not being t otally open to the intentions of the retreat.
2, Solemnity; Solemnity is the consideration for silence. The venue should be at an area wherein there is limited or if not totally secluded from outside noises such as vehicles, loud music from neighbors and other distracting noises. If can’t be assured, the organizers should cover up these noises by playing low tone calming songs, melodies and music during intimate activities. This will enhance the mood keep the participants in focus.
Aside from the above considerations, the following physical requirements should also be provided. a. Lecture Room; any room wherein all of the participants can be accommodated comfortably and treated to set the mood for retreat. If possible, the room should have no visible eye-catching decorations that would distract the participants. Classroom decorations should be temporarily hidden or concealed and replaced with visual cues that would enhance the mood such as religious paintings etc. Chairs can be provided but not necessarily needed. b. Prayer Room; a separate room, that will be used for the taize’ prayer. Just as the lecture room, any form of distracting decorations should be concealed and hidden out of site. Within the room, there should be an altar with a photo of Christ, (see attachment), with either the Holy Eucharist or an average size Crucifix. The room should be dark and lighted only be candles set strategically around. There should be a sound system set inside that can be used for the voice over. This room will be restricted from the participants until the prayer activity and be open until t he moment the recollection ends. c. Facilitators Quarters; a room located not so distant from the lecture room to serve as the facilitators rest area, preparation room and etc. d. Mess Hall & Kitchen; In cases that it will be the facilitators who are to provide for the food of the participants it is necessary to allot a space for cooking and dinning. Again, the location must still conform to the two primary considerations. If the venue of the recollection is a chapel or a church, the organizers must see to it that it still conform with the two primary considerations. If not, an alternate venue is prescribed. It is not necessary that the retreat is held within the church, this is in respect also for the not catholic participants.
2.
The Facilitators and the Speakers
A perfect venue can be spoiled by an un-organized group of facilitators. Thus, it is important as the organizers, they must uphold the utmost character during the entire event. The following reminders should be considered by the facilitators.
a. There should be a limited number of facilitators with an ideal ratio of 1 facilitator is to 6 participants. This is in order to minimize the crowd within the group. The logic is that, for the listening activity, that involves sharing, the more private it gets the better it is for the participants to open up. If there are too many strangers looking at them and watching, listening, the more reserved that they become. b. There should be an organized working group in structure headed by a Team Leader acting as the chief facilitator. Under him/her are the rest of the organizers. The team leader is both the over-all in-charge and the time keeper. He can also be one of the speakers in cases may be. c. Committees like, secretariat, logistics, finance and kitchen committees must be created within that limited number of facilitators although, can be modified in the wisdom of the team leader. The tasking shall be assigned also by the team leader. d. During the entire duration of the retreat, the facilitators must refrain from doing unnecessary noise, actions and etc. All preparations, like that of the food, next talks and activities and others must be done far and away from the visual notice of the participants. More so, it should only be the speaker for that moment that should only be exposed to the participants except of that facilitator he need. Other facilitators can only be exposed to the participants and join the group in the activities that requires their presence. This is in order to maintain sanctity and privacy in the retreat. e. For the speaker, it is ideal that there should only be one or two speakers handling the entire retreat. This is in order to maintain a continuity of ideas from one topic to the next. The two of them must collaborate, meaning both of them should know how to deliver all of the t opics and activities that are to be executed. Collaborative speaking means that at any given part of the talk, the other speaker can continuo the talk with the consistency of the idea not compromised but elaborated. This needs training and practice and mastery of the topics.
Speaker: A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. John. All: Glory be to you Oh, Lord. Speaker: (Read John 1:35-39) The Word of the Lord. All: Praise to you Lord, Jesus Christ.
09:31 – 11:30 AM
04:01 – 05:45 PM
Lunch Break / Rest Cycle 2: It’s All that I Have? Counting Blessing not Sheep. Snacks and Toilet Break Cycle 3: God, Me and My Everyday: Finding God in Every Day Stage 3: The Final Stop At The Cross Road with Christ
05:46 – 06:30 PM
Ang Bagong Byahe.
11:31 – 12:00 NN 12:00 – 01:45 PM 01:46 – 02:00 PM
1. After the reading, the speaker shall place the Bible, open, in the pedestal in the altar and offer a prayer. (Below is a suggested prayer) “Heavenly Father, Our God. Through Your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, have proclaimed to us that “Anyone who gathers in the name of Your Son, Jesus, You shall be among them” Father, we acknowledge You today as we gather by the name of Your Son. A humble gathering of young hearts aiming to reconnect with you in your mercy. Dear God, before you stand your children. We are your children Heavenly Father once again coming and calling before you. As we conduct this activity, we start a journey towards deep within ourselves aiming to find its roots in you. A journey towards you, Our Father, aware of the uniqueness that you made every one of us, thankful of the gifts You bestow upon as and anxious to start a day t day life with you as our constant companion. We know Father that you had been with us ever since, but our weakness and proud hearts drives us away from your side often times. With this Lord, we ask for your forgiveness. Forgive us dear lord, our faults, our shortcoming, our malicious thoughts and our sinful perverted ways. Father, in you life begin and in you life finds its fullness. Dear Lord, as we share to one another our life and our experiences, allow Father that it be heard with respect and understanding. As we offer this activity to you lord, grant that its goals are achieved. Bless Father our families we left at home hoping that through this activity, change will come to our ways. Father bless our speakers and facilitators that they may be filled by your Holy Spirit and be able to guide us in truth. Father, bless all the participants, touch their hearts Lord and open up their souls for you and reside inside it. Lord, let this activity fuel the entire journey of life that each of them are about to take soon. Father, be with them all the way and show them how great it is to live by your presence day by day. Heavenly father, this we pray, through the name of Your Loving Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, together with the Holy Spirit, the Blessed Virgin May our Mother, all the saints and angels. To You be the Glory, Forever and Ever, AMEN” 2.
The Activity concludes after the prayer.
Stage 2: The Bumpy Ride Cycle 1: Me, My Self and I; Misconception and Personalit y Communication.
02:01 – 04:00 PM
Lecture Room
Speakers & Selected Facilitators
Lecture Room
Speaker
Lecture Room
Speaker
Prayer Room
The speakers & facilitators
Lecture Room Pack Up and Home-Sweet-Home
06:31 PM
Set 2: One Day Retreat with Overnight Time 12:00 – 12:30 NN 12:31 – 01:00 PM
01:01 – 01:15 PM 01:16 – 01:20 PM 01:21 – 01:40 PM 01:41 – 02:15 PM
02:16 – 04:00 PM
Topics/Ses sion
Arrival and Registratio n Settling Down Stage 1: Let’s Buckle Up Job and Me: What comes in the Journey? House Rules Bola-gaan Game Tara, Byahe tayo! Expectations and Commitments. Stage 2: The Bumpy Ride Cycle 1: Me, My Self and I; Misconception and Personality Communication.
Venue
Receiving Area Designated Area
The speakers & facilitators
Lecture Room/Design ated Area
Speakers & Selected Facilitators
Lecture Room
Speaker
Lecture Room
Speaker
Prayer Room Prayer Room and Open Field
The speakers & facilitators
08:41 – 10:00 PM 10:00 – 10:45 PM
Ang Bagong Byahe.
10:45 – 11:30 PM 11:30 PM 05:45 AM 05:45 – 06:15 AM 06:15 PM
TAPS (Time for All Person to Sleep) Preparation TAPS / Lights Off Rise and Shine Morning Prasie Pack Up and Home-Sweet-Home
04:16 – 06:15 PM 06:16 – 06:45 PM 06:46 – 08:30 PM 08:31 – 08:40 PM
Secretariat
Lecture Room
Snacks and Toilet Break Cycle 2: It’s All that I Have? Counting Blessing not Sheep. Rest, Dinner and Toilet Break Cycle 3: God, Me and My Everyday: Finding God in Every Day Toilet Break Stage 3: The Final Stop At The Cross Road with Christ
04:01 – 04:15 PM
Persons Involved
UMPISA NG PAGLALAKBAY! How to start:
1)
2)
Before all the participants arrive, the facilitators should have already prepared everything, venue, etc. As they arrive, it is advised that songs and music be played in order to prepare the mood of the participants. (See General Songs on DVD) They must first register, indicating on t he form their full name, their nickname, age, section (if necessary) address together with the name and contact number of their parent/s or guardian/s to be notified in case of emergency. (See Forms Annex)
3) After a participant register and be given the recollection paraphernalia, he should be directed to the holding room or area wherein he/she can drop his belongings and wait for the start of the activity. Upon, registration, NO PARTICIPANTS MUST BE ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE COMPOUND of the recollection. This is for security purposes, tricky participant can leave without notice after registering and not actually join the activity. 4) A few minutes before the start of the activity, the participants can now be directed to proceed to the lecture room if the holding area is a separate room. 5)
6)
In case of a late participant, as long as the lectures are not yet on the main cycles, he can still join but he must be oriented of the topics he missed.
The narrative written here are suggested words for the speaker. He can use them as if his own bringing the manual into life. But again, the speaker can use his own words based on the ideas herein presented in order to elaborate the points. MAY GOD BLESS YOU, he who shall speak on behalf of this book.
I: STATION 1; LET’S BUCKLE UP! Welcome and good morning, we are here gathered today for a special event in your life. This is your recollection day, or retreat. Did anyone of you have an idea of what is a recollection or a retreat? Any One? Or did anyone of you attended a recollection already? Yes some of you do attended a recollection or retreat so some of you know already what we are going to do. But for the benefit of those who do not know and have not yet experienced a recollection, let me tell you first what a recollection is.
From the word itself, “recollection” or “recollect” it means remembering, gathering, re-collecting or reminiscing memories and parts of our life. It is an opportunity for anyone to once again look back into the past and evaluate the things that had happened along that way. So a recollection is basically evaluating our life hoping to understand more the things that we do in order to start new. That is a recollection in its simplest explanation.
But nowadays, a recollection had become synonymous with a religious activity wherein one, can be given the chance to evaluate his spiritual life and know possible corrections and advancements. This type of activity is what we are going to do in the next few hours. In this recollection, you are going to connect to your inner self and extend it to God. Later, I will discuss to you the coverage of our recollection activity. But for the meantime, allow me to ask you first. Are you ready? Are you excited? Well, if you do, then let us start.
BIBLE ENTHRONEMENT
Before we begin, it is but right and fitting to start any activity with a prayer. But since this is a spiritual recollection wherein we will be encountering God, we are to elevate our prayer. We will ask God to join us here in our humble hall. What we are going to do is a Bible Enthronement, it is a symbolic ritual wherein we shall acknowledge God’s presence through His words that is the Bible. As the ritual is being done, please observe silence and be one with the activity. For the Facilitators: Bible enthronement is a symbolic ritual done in religious activities. It is holy and sacred for it replicates the Liturgy of the Word during a Holy Mass. This is how it is done. 3.
The Facilitators must prepare within the venue/lecture room a simple altar wherein the Bible can be honored. It must be lit by a candle throughout the activity.
4.
Entrance of the Bible: the facilitators will play/sing “Thy Word” while an assigned facilitator will carry the Holy Bible, opened to John 1:35-39, high up in his head. He will be accompanied by another facilitators with a candle. They shall walk in a slow pace across the room, preferably, if the participants are sited in a “U” shape , the two shall trace their sits.
5. After covering the entire hall, the two shall proceed to the altar wherein the Bible bearer shall give the Bible to the speaker who will read t he theme Gospel of the recollection.
Next is we had also identified the possible problems. The same problems here written on the board will be the same problems that you will encounter in this journey. Now that we identified them, we will prepare for them so that even if you do experience it, it would not be irritating for you.
There is one thing though that we missed to identify? What is that? Or should I say, who are they? One is, the Driver. Right? The Bus driver or the plane pilot or the ship’s captain. Then, there are the crew. Or in a bus, the “kundoktor”, or in a plane, the stewardess and on the ship, the staff. All of them are essential parts of our travel right? Without them, the journey could not begin. So in our journey, who are they? They are us. The Facilitators, speakers and crew. The speakers will be the drivers. We hold the direction of this trip of yours. Although the destination is fixed, later we will know where it is, the directions, how fast to get there, the turns and cross roads depends on the speakers. In this nature, the same way that you put your trust on the abled hands of the driver of the bus when you are travelling, we also would like to request from you that you place your trust on us. Remember and consider that, the mere fact that we stand here in front of you signifies that “we know something that you don’t but you must know”. Be assured that, we are going to do our best in bringing you to the destination of this recollection. Also, the facilitators shall be the stewardess or crew of our trip. The same way that they ensure the comfort of the passengers will be t he same way that they will ensure that you are comfortable in your j ourney. They are here to assist you in the vital parts of our travel wherein you would be needing they help. Also, they are here to be your friends. What we ask from you is respect. They will ensure that you will enjoy your journey and that altogether, we will arrive at our destination contented. Will that be ok? So let us now proceed. As what we had talked about just a few minutes ago, what is the first thing that we should choose before starting a journey? A destination. Right. So we will now know where our destination in this recollection is. Notes: ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ________________________ _________________________________________________________ _____________________ ___________________________________________________________ __________________.
PREPARATORY TALK AND ORIENTATION
At this point, we are now ready to begin our recollection activity, or should I say, “your Recollection activity”. I will ask you now, to settle down, be quite and listen attentively to everything that I will say and be participative on what we are going to do. Who among you here loves to travel? To go on a trip? Like picnic, Outing, shopping, vacation? Most of us loves to travel right. Actually, we all travel from time to time or even regularly. All of you travel almost every day. From your house going to school. From your house to your friend’s house, or to the market when asked to buy goods, or to do some errands, we often travel. But those are usual travels, or the travels we do in a regular basis. There are those travels that we do occasionally for some, or seldom to others. These are travels involving long distances. Like going to manila or somewhere during Christmas breaks or summer vacations. These are long distance travels. Who among you here do that? Let’s talk about those trips. Long distance trips. When you are going to a trip, what do you do first? (ask the participants and work out their answers). The first thing you do, is of course make choices? Right? What kind of choices? (For the speaker, note and write on the board the numbered points using the arrangement on figure 1) 1) We choose where to go first. 2) Then what mode of transportation to take. Choosing where to go is always the easiest part, yet it is the most vital. Often, our destination is fixed. Pre-determined by either of our self and by the one who obliged us to travel. So its fixed, seldom do we travel with no direction at all. It always starts with choosing where to go.
After knowing where to go, we then decide what mode of transportation to take. Yes? We choose from an array of transportation system and services. But basically there are two forms. First is either we commute or take the public transport or we travel privately by our own vehicle. Either of which, we arrive at our destination. Talking of public transportation, what are they? (ask them f or their most common transport service taken) we have three basic categories. By land, by sea or by air. What are the examples of land transportation system? (note their answers) Yes, we have busses, trains, jeepneys and many more. H ow about sea travel? We have boats, cruise ships, hydrofoils, hovercraft and the like, right. And by air, we have airplanes, helicopters, balloons, jet planes and many more. These are all modes of travel available to us nowadays.
Again, whatever mode of transportation we take we will arrive at our destination. There are only a few, variations. One is time. Have you ever consider that, travelling by buss takes longer than that of riding by plane. A 12 hours ride by buss only takes 45 to 50 minutes by plane. And travelling by the sea takes much longer than that. An hour plane ride is often a day of sea travel. So this is the third option we consider. 3) Time. How long do we want our travel be? Then this is followed by another consideration. The comfort. If you travel by any means, you will be given options of comfort by the travel companies. In busses, there are ordinary ride, air-conditioned with onboard wifi, tv and toilet and there are the sleeper’s buss wherein the chairs can be extended to form a bed. If by the plane, there are business class for with high budget travelers, economy class for average budgeted travelers and the deluxe wherein all comforts are given to the passengers. And travelling by sea also have variations. All these comfort options comes with a price. Right? The more comfort it provides, the more expensive it becomes. This leads us to the fourth consideration. 4) Comfort at a Price. How much can we spend, for the ride we choose? So those where the first four points that we consider to choose from before we take our journey. Let’s write it on the board. Before Travelling: 1. Deciding where to go. 2. By what means do I get there? 3. How long thus it take? 4. How much comfort can I take? These are the first four points we often consider when we go on travel, right? Now, how about if you are already on travel? You decided already and you’re inside the transport vehicle. What now? We now experience some problems or untoward events right? Like what? The first one is, 1) Delay. Sometimes the buss takes too long before it drive or the plane flight just get cancelled or delayed due to some circumstances. These makes some of us grumpy and irritated right? Second would be, 2) Uncomfortable seat . Who among you here experienced seating in an uncomfortable seat? Maybe, you want t o seat by the window but you’re at the aisle. Or maybe your seatmate is too noisy, smelly, or moves a lot. A one wonderful, perfectly planned ride turns out to be a long agonizing torture for some isn’t it?
Then, there comes, 3) Hunger, thirst or stiffly bored. Because some of us gets too excited travelling, they did not get the chance to bring food, snack, water or something to pass time while on the ride. Or how about when you are called by nature and you need to do the “thing” and yet the ne xt stop is hours away? What do we feel? Frustrated right? So those are the simple troubles we encounter when we are travelling. Troubles that could have been prepared for that even if they do happen, we won’t get so irritated and frustrated and not enjoy the trip. So let’s write it again on the board next to the first four. Figure 1
Before Travelling: 1. Deciding where to go. 2. By what means do I get there? 3. How long thus it take? 4. How much can I take?
Troubles Upon Travelling: Delays Uncomfortable Seat
Nature’s Call
Hunger, Thirst or Boredom
Ok, so now we have identified some points when we are in a journey. Now, would you agree that we are now on a journey? This activity that we will be doing for the next few hours of this day is a journey. As a matter of fact, our recollection is entitled, “Biyahero! Kabataang Naglalakbay Kasama si Kristo.” This is now your journey. To what? To yourself. Deep into yourself. For you to know and realize that for 15 or 16 or 17 years of your life, there is more in life than what you had been accustomed to. That life itself is a journey and if you think that you know all about it, you are wrong. For there is more to life than what you had already seen and what you had already experienced. A life with Christ, a life with God. Are you ready? The same things that you have identified a few minutes ago that are inclusive in travelling are the very same things that you will experience in this journey. So it is important that we identified them first for us to be prepared. Right? Now let us return to what we have written on the board. First we identified that we are to make choices. Choices involving where to go, what to take us there how long can do we want it to take and how much comfort do we want. I n this journey, your recollection we will also start it with the same questions. We will first settle our self by providing for those considerations. Later on, there will be an activity wherein you will do that.
But God persists, noting that since Job has been asking all the questions, which in reciprocity, God also has a right to question Job; “Would you refuse to acknowledge my right? Would you condemn me that you may be justified (40: 89)?” More unbelievable questions follow: “Have you an arm like God, or can you thunder with a voice like his? … Can you lead about Leviathan [the crocodile] with a hook or curb his tongue with a bit… can you play with him as a bird? Can you put him in leash for your maidens (40:9-29)”? Job finall y relents and admits “I have dealt with great things that I do not understand.” He apologizes and assumes the action of mourning, covering himself with dust and ashes. At this point in the narrative God turns to Job’s “friends” who approached Job with their wisdom about why he should just admit guilt and appease God. He instructs them to go t o Job and make sacrifice for their groundless accusations. If they can get Job to pray for them they will not be severely punished! He does, God accepts Jobs prayers and then restores all that he has lost in a double portion.
As you can see, the story of Job is much more than a narrative about how God punishes. As a matter of fact the story of Job is not about punishment at all. The story of Job is about relationship with God. By no choice of his own Job became a living example, to all, of what it is like to love God unconditionally. Nothing that happened to Job could induce him to curse or abandon God. Not even his good friends who railed at him to just “give up” and admit his guilt. Job knew that he didn’t do anything wrong and that he respected and loved God. These two things are consistent throughout the narrative. Job did, however question the logic of the whole thing. Amazingly, God is so moved by Job’s faith that instead of zapping him with a lightning bolt or simply striking him dead he actually dialogs with him! Isn’t this the typical behavior of a frustrated parent? When a child has committed an act of particularly bad judgment, all the while questioning the parent’s rules or logic, the parent resists the temptation to simply “ground the kid until the age of 30 and be done with it”. A loving parent knows that a discussion will bear more fruit. So God discusses. Job listens and finally admits that maybe his questioning came from a place that lacked understanding. But more than the final discussion and restoration, Job’s demeanor during the entire ordeal is amazing. His attitude toward the God of the Universe is at all times “open”.
TALK 1: JOB’S TROUBLES: What comes in the Journey?
As what we had talked about a few moments ago, we must first identify the destination. Where are we going? Or what do we want to achieve in this recollection? To help us get to that, I will show you a video. Of a man, who experienced life to the worst that it can offer. This man is named Job. Do you know Job? To some, they do. Job is a person who’s life is written in the Old Testament of the Holy Bible. To some of you who do know Job, you would say that it is a story of tragedy, misfortune and tests that we would never wish to experience. If you would read the story of Job in the Bible, you would need a few days to finish it and still it would be hard to understand fully because of its poetic and very long prologue in presenting its points. So to make it easier for us, we will watch a short video that sums up that entire story. Here it is. ( show Job’s Troubles Video on DVD) (The speaker can replay the video the second time if the participants were not able to grasp the story clearly. After the video, the speaker can give some comments, jokes and ad leave about the video and the characters to tickle the attention of the participants. )
Is it not a good story? Yes it is, so now from the video you had just watched, what do you see? Can anyone give me a short reflection and interpretation of the story, its characters, its plot, the climax and the end? (work with their answers)
Narration of Reflection
But there is actually more to the story than what you have just seen. Let’s take a closer look at the Book of Job as well as the man Job himself. Job was an oriental chieftain and fabulously wealthy. He had seven sons and three daughters who likewise shared in his prosperity. He was not Jewish, a chosen one, but his faith, none the less, was a source of pride for the Very God himself.
When Satan appears before God, fresh from his patrols of the earth, God actually asks him “Have you noticed my servant Job, and that there is no one on earth like him blameless and upright, fearing God and avoiding evil” (Job 1:8 NAB). This obviously is a source of aggravation for the devil and he taunts God and supposes that the only reason Job is good is because of the benefits that God has given him. So they strike a bargain, the devil intent on proving God a fool. Satan may tempt Job in any way he wishes but he may not lay his hands on him. So we see that Job is not cursed of God but well beloved by him and even though he does not know it he will be the instrument that tangibly proves God’s generosity and love. As some say, most things are not what they appear to be. The devil takes family, wealth and health from Job. But perhaps the worst thing that happens to him is the people close to him start to make assumptions. His wife complains that he must be guilty of something and that he should “curse God and die”. His friends weep at his condition and can’t even speak to him because they are so shocked at his appearance. But Job does not waiver in his innocence and ponders “We accept good things from God; and should we not accept evil?” (Job 2:10 NAB) He simply refuses to speak ill of God. The book continues as various other friends dialog with Job, begging him to repent and admit his wrong doing. Each time Job’s reply is a window int o his mind and how he reg ards God. Each of his replies is beautifully poetic and contains not one iota of complaint. Job offers nine separate replies to his critical friends who insist that he should just admit guilt and make retribution to the Lord. Job concludes with a tenth “Summary of His Cause”. He never waivers, he did nothing wrong, but contemplates much regarding the situation he is in now compared to what he used to have: “Oh that I were a s in the months past! as in the days when God watched over me, While he kept his lamp shining above my head, and by his light I walked through darkness; As I was in my flourishing days, when God sheltered my tent (Job 29: 2-3 NAB).” His refusal to be bitter and blaming of the Lord is simply extraordinary. However, he clearly acknowledges that something has changed and that his relationship with God is not the same as it used to be and he has no idea why.
At no time does he vow to c ut off communications with God or refuse t o recognize that God is God, p owerful, generous and maker of the universe.
But in his final summary, he does insist that God make clear to him what is the cause of his distress: “ Oh, that I had one to hear my case and that my accuser would write out his indictment. Surely I should wear it on my shoulder or put it on me like a diadem;… this is my final plea; let the Almighty answer me (Job 31: 35-37 NAB)!” He does not ask for a solution but states that knowing what he did would be good enough for him and maybe even a source of pride. Remember that Job was most beloved by God. Job’s fervent request to hear from “his accuser” is answered! God enters into an amazing dialog with Job. God’s immediate address to Job lays out the fact that God Himself knows things and has experienced things that it is impossible for any human to experience. God points out the extraordinary experiences that are his alone, as well as pivotal to the existence of our very world.
He points out that ther e is a “bigger existence” a divine plan or order of which is really impossible for one human to comprehend although we are still part of it. He asks Job: “Who is this that obscures divine plans with words of ignorance (38:2)”? And in a rather funny line he tells Job “Gird up your loins like a man, I will question you, and you tell me the answers (38:3)!” This is similar to a modern equivalent that would go something like this: Hang on to your pants and get ready to back up the statements you’ve been so s assy about making, big shot! [Personal interpretation] God proceeds and offers a series of breath taking questions: “Were you there when I founded the earth? Tell me, if you have an understanding. Who determined its size; do you know? Who stretched out the measuring line for it? ….And who shut within doors the sea when it burst forth from the womb. When I made the clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling bands? When I set limits for it and fastened the bar of its door. …Have you ever in you r lifetime commanded the morning and shown the dawn its place. … Have you entered into the sources of the sea or walked about in the depths of the abyss? … Tell me, if you know all: Which is the way to the dwelling place of light, and where is the abode of darkness. Out of whose womb comes the ice and who gives the hoarfrost its birth in the skies, … Who puts wisdom in the heart…. (Job 38: 4-36 NAB)?” Job is literally struck speechless during this session. Who wouldn’t be? God continues: “Will we have arguing with the Almighty by the critic? Let him who would correct God give answer (40:2).” Job then admits that he has questioned God once and then twice but no more, there is no human answer for the questions that are being asked, no matter how smart you are!
TALK 2: THE HOUSE RULES (After the introductory and orient ation talk, the speaker can call another facilitator or speaker to discuss the house rules although, it is preferable that it is the Team Leader that should deliver. But if the Team Leader is the first speaker, another member of the group should be called.)
In every game, activity, experiments or what so ever, there will always be rules. Rules that must be obeyed. They are set, regardless of how harsh they may seem, in order to facilitate a successful activity. In our recollection, there will also be set of rules for you to follow. Any violation of which will not be tolerated. They are; During Sessions/Talks: * Talk When Asked, if Not, Don’t! * Write if asked, be honest and true! * Hear with your Ear, Listen with your Heart! 1. This room will be your lecture room. All talks and activities shall be done inside this room except for those activities requiring other venues. 2. Before the talk will begin, a music “Itodo Mo” will be played. On ce heard, every participants must hurry up to finish anything that they are doing and proceed to the lecture room before the music end. NO ONE MUST BE LATE! If any of the buddies are late, they shall do a punishment to be given by the speaker. (Punishments can include singing or dancing in front of all the participants.) During Breaks: 1. There will only be breaks for snacks and dinner and all have time limits. Thus, other necessities like going to the toilet, retouching and others must be done within this time period. 2. Once the Session/Talk begun, no one will be allowed to go out until the next break. 3. Toilet breaks during talks will not be allowed except on emergency cases. 4. Snacks and Dinner are packed, this instruction had been given before the recollection so it is expected that everyone is prepared. No one will be allowed to leave the vicinity to buy any food. For those who do not have any food packed, please inform the facilitators. 5. There will be a designated Mess Area (Eating Area), everyone, by buddy are expected to be in that area only.
He never turns his back or opts for other Gods. He does not use any of his resources to seek an “alternative solution”. He addresses and aims his comments and complaints at God the entire time. He does not “look to his own understanding” to solve his dilemma. He questions God and only God with honesty, albeit tinged with his frustration. Job realizes that whatever is happening, no one or nothing else in the universe can “fix it”. He is not distracted by the incredibly strong presence of people around him who have influence. He knows, in his being, that God is the provider and the rescuer no matter what is going on or how much he doesn’t understand what is occurring. These qualities, in essence, are the demeanor of a child who knows that the parent is with them no matter how crazy things get. No wonder that Job is so favored by God that the Father proudly singles him out in the beginning of the narrative! Well then, taking this into account, what can we learn? Can we say that it is challenge? A challenge from God, for us to follow the same faith that Job had in his life? Is it a challenge for us to have the same unshaken relationship of faith with God that no matter how bad things end up in our life, we have no right to question God or more so, to blame God? Is it a challenge for us to have that greedy attachments to earthly wealth that even if we gain or lose it we still have the composure to be faithful? Is it a challenge for us to think not just wisely, but with a faithful understanding when it comes to being someone to others more so in giving them comfort? Is it a challenge to have that kind of relationship with God that God Himself, grants the human being, Job a dialogue on where the two of them could actually speak together? Are these our challenge? The answer my dear brothers and sisters is a big yes. It is our challenge. Therefore, this concept of life will shall be the destination of our journey. Not just for this recollection but hopefully for the rest of your life. For life itself is a journey and our life’s eventual en ding is with God, for we are God’s pro perty in the first place. After our analysis with the life of Job and his relationship with God, we can arrive to four individual yet succeeding points. They are;
1. Job, know who he is, and he knows himself well. 2. Job, knows what he has in life and know that it all came from God. 3. Job, shows who he is to people around him in truth, which even if they see falsely he knows what the truth about him is.
4. Job, so loved God and served God day by day that God Himself favors him.
These are the four important lessons that we can learn from the story of Job. These are principles that must serve as our guide in seeking a life with God. And for our recollection, these four shall serve as the main direction of our recollection. Simplifying them into our purpose, we have the four main direction of our recollection leading to our ultimate destination. (the speaker can write the following on the board one by one in the order presented or prepare an early visual aid. After this talk, the visual aids prepared must be posted on a side of the board and left there until the end of the recollection to serve as reminder for the next topics.))
Four Station Points
1. A realization of who we are, as a person in truth. 2. A realization of the things we have in life as gifts from God. 3. A realization of who we are to others and how we must show ourselves to them. And, 4. Understanding how to establish a daily life with God. Leading to,
The Main Destination
“A Life in Faith, Growing Through God’s Blessings”
Take a look and read them carefully. Are you amenable to these? Do you want this to be our destination? We must. Therefore, let us see to it that we arrive on this destination. I am sure you want to know what are the topics, aren’t you? But, I cannot tell you. Instead, there is someone who will tell those to you. Do you want to k now who he is? Let’s watch this video. (Show Come and See Video. After the video, build the excitement in the participants by telling them that, if Jesus just tell the disciples to just come and see, they too m ust just come and see. A separate discussion of the video shall be given after the entire recollection.)
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Activity 2: Mapa at Bagahe; Expectations and Commitments
Now that you have your t ravel buddies do you think you are now ready to go on a trip? Is everything set? We already have our destination right? (Do a recap) Now do you think we are ready to start the journey? No, we are not yet ready. There are still three important things that we must prepare. Any guess? In any vacation, say you are going to a new place that you have not been yet before, what do you do? What do you need? (Ask them) Of course, we need first a Map, A luggage/baggage, and a driver’s mindset. Right? So we have here THE MAP. (The speaker shall prepare a drawing of a map but with only the roads shown and an empty travelling bag the size of a one whole cartolina. See sample.) Now this map will serve as our guide as we go through this recollection. But as you noticed, it is empty, there are no markings of any sort. It is because, you will be the one to fill it up. This map shall hold your expectations in this recollection. Now, returning to your buddy sharing just a while ago, what are now your expectations in this recollection. For the speaker: Working out first with the map, the speaker must prepare a set of colored papers/bond paper cut into 3 inches by 6 inches and a marker. He then will ask the participants of their expectation. After working out with the given expectation, he will then interpret the answer into an establishment, building, landmark or any structure and draw it into the piece of paper. Example, if a participant answered that he expects to have a deeper spiritual growth, it can be interpreted into a drawing of a church. The following can be the their expectations and the corresponding interpretations; 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
Spiritual Growth = A Church Personal Growth = A Beauty Parlor Family Relations = A House To Meet New Faces and Friends = A Bar To start a new journey with God = A Bus Stop/ A Bus To Unwind and Have Peace of Heart and Mind = A Park or Tress For Experience = A Bike To Have a Change of Old Ways = Two Arrow pointing at opposite direction or a Uturn sign. Other expectations will depend on the participants. In case that the participants gives very little answers, the speaker must be the one to add other vital
For Personal Belongings: 1. NO CELLPHONES, iPAD, MP3 – MP4 PLAYERS, WRIST WATCH, TABLETS OR ANY GADGET WILL BE ALLOWED! During the entire recollection. Anyone who brought them any of the mentioned items must be surrendered to the facilitators during registration. It will be returned after the recollection. In case that your phone rings, a designated facilitator will answer the call for you and if the matter is important or an emergency, you will be notified. Text messages will not be read. 2. Digital cameras are tolerable, but still must be surrendered to the facilitators in some activities. There are activities that must not be taken any pictures for your privacy. 3. In order to avoid anyone losing any item, NO ONE will be allowed to enter the holding room where your personal belongings such as bags are kept except during breaks. Still, a facilitator will be of watch. 4. Only ball pens, towels, handkerchief and water bottles are can be brought during the sessions. Sleeping Rules (For Module 2): 1. Everyone is expected to bring with them their own beddings. No one will be allowed to go home regardless of how near the house may be. 2. There will be a designated and separated sleeping quarters for both genders. Gays can sleep with the girls as well as lesbians. 3. Lights Off will be at 11:30 in the evening. Before that time, there will be 30 minutes of preparation. After that, everyone must be on their quarters and ready to sleep. 4. In the military service, anyone caught doing any monkey business after TAPS is punished by standing by the hallway until morning. Other rules can be set by the organizers depending on the situation present.
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TALK 3: TARA, BIYAHE TAYO! Activity 1: Magkasama Tayo; The Bola – Gaan Game
In every journey, it is always more fun if you are travelling with someone else. A travel buddy so to speak. Someone who you can share your experience with and workout the challenges along the way. Thus, in this journey of yours, you are to have your own travel buddies. We will identify who that would be through a game. Here are the mechanics. 1. The Facilitators have a box filled with compound words like “Kape Gatas, Puto’t Dinuguan, Marian and Dingdong, Etc.”. You shall pick one and in a given time, you shall find the other participant that completes the word. 2. The buddies shall be the partners during the activities of the entire recollection. They must sit side by side during talks and even during breaks. Each buddy must be responsible for his buddy. 3. After everyone got their buddies, (in case of an odd numbered group, a trio can be made.) you will be given five minutes to know each other by answering the following questions. a. I am _____________. b. Who lived at _________________. c. I am expecting in this recollection that _____________. d. I am willing to contribute ______________. 4. After the given time, the game can begin.
5. Settling down the participants, all of the facilitators shall now line up in front. The team leader will hold a ball, and starting from him/her, he must introduce himself by answering the same questions. Then after his turn, he shall pass the ball to the next facilitators doing thereafter the same introduction and the cycle shall continue until all the facilitators had introduce themselves. 6. After which, the ball will now be passed to the participants but now, with a music played. The ball shall be passed around while the music plays, but when it stops, the buddies holding the ball shall stand and introduce themselves with the same format. And the game shall go on until all are done.
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Now that we have our map, the next thing that we need is a luggage or our TRAVELLING BAG. Now just like any travel, we bring a lot of stuff. We bring clothes, hygiene kit, money etc. in our recollection, we too shall bring with us our travelling bag filled with our belongings. And as you can see, our bag is also empty just like the map. It is because you will fill this up by your commitments. In your sharing again with your buddy, what are the things that you are willing to contribute for the success of this recollection? What are the things that you are going to do? What are the things that you can offer?
For the speaker: Just like what is done with the map, the same concept will be done in here only this time it will be the participant’s commitments that will be given a drawn interpretation. Examples are; 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Contribute time = A watch or a Clock Contribute Himself = Clothing or Clothes Con… his heart / attention = A Heart Shape Figure Con… his prayers = A Bible Con… his experiences in life = A Book with the word Diary written on it. Con… his food with other participants = A Lunch Box Con… hi s Ears for Listening = A Speaker or Headset Other answers of the participant’s contribution.
After the discussion on the commitments, the speaker will proceed to another aspect of travel, the Sign Posts.
Right now, we already have our map with your target locations to visit that are your expectations and our travelling bag filled with our belongings needed for our travel that are our commitments. But if you t hink we are ready to move forward, there is still one thing that we have to consider. In every journey, no one can arrive to their destination if they are not mindful of the signs on the road. Unmindful, we might get lost. Road Signs are important reminders as you drive in the road. They provide us with safety tips that ensures an accident free and hustle free travel. In our recollection, we also have similar signs. These are reminders to keep us aware of the things that we have to consider in our journey. Reminders such as, (the speaker must show the individual signs one by one as it is discussed).
1. Listen, first on our sign post is the sign “Listen”. And listening involves more than just the ears but also the heart. Remember that in this recollection we are to discuss topics that are designed to evaluate your life, your status, and direction. That is why, we want you to listen carefully and understand every bit of idea we are giving you. Listening does not only include listening to us speakers but also to your co participants. There are activities wherein you will be asked to talk and share, thus it is important to listen carefully. 2. Silence, listening involves silence. The session will be effective if you know how to be silent in times that you are asked. Silence, when someone is talking is a sign of respect to the speakers and the activity. 3. Respect, next to silence is respect. Respect to co participants, the speakers and the facilitators. It can be shown by not doing any unnecessary and annoying actions during the sessions. Also, this room we are in is holy, we have just made it holy by the ritual we made inviting God to join us. Thus, you must respect this room every time you are inside.
4. Honesty, we also want you to be honest, in what you say and in what you share for it is the only way that this recollection will be effective. 5. Time, another is we want you to be conscious of time. Be punctual during every session. 6. Togetherness (the crossing man sign), in this recollection be mindful that you have your buddies. Meaning you are to journey in this recollection together. Do not let your buddy be alone. He should be your companion in this activity. 7. 100%, in this activity we demand your 100 percent attention and participation. All of the activities are designed to reach our goal, they can be uncomfortable for first timers but be assured and trust us that these activities are necessary to help you. 8. Confidentiality, of all reminders, this is the most important. We expect that you will treat everything we do here to be private and with confidentiality. Since we will deal with your life and the life of your co participants, it is important that what you have heard and experienced be kept inside your hearts and not be vulgarly shared in malice. There, we have the sign post, we expect that you will be kept reminded by these pointers. At this point, to further deepen your consciousness of what we are going through, we would like to show you this video. (Show Over Speeding Video) (After the video get the participant’s reaction on what they have seen and work out on that with the following pointers) The video is TV Advertisement circulated in Australia after an alarming increase of roadside accidents involving negligence of the drivers and over speeding. In Australia, more people are killed in road accidents every year just because of the driver’s negligence of road safety measures and signs. It is evident that negligence or not being focused on where you are going as well as speeding up towards it will actually lead you to nowhere. As we have talked about, you are now in a journey, this recollection is your journey through your life. We know that maybe you are thinking that you have other more fun things to do out side. And this is but a boring requirement for graduation but we ask you to reconsider. At this point, make the decision. “Will you be negligent and over speed?”
Also, there are those actions that we know we are doing. Like, always saying bad/foul words and being rude to others end up being interpreted as a bad guy. Like, not saying “po” or “opo”, not greeting someone, not saying please and thank you and others makes others say that we are ill-mannered “walang ugali”. (Sight other examples.) Also, even the simple acts we think unrecognizable becomes big pictures in the eyes of sensitive persons. Like, not helping during group act ivities, clean ups, waking away when a w ork is to be given turns out t o be irresponsible acts for others. Even mannerisms like, picking up your nose, raising eyebrows, scratching unlikely parts of your body and many more all creates an opportunity for others to say something. All actions we do turns out to be reflections of our personality being seen by others and given interpretations. We can now say in logic that, “Misconceptions are based on actions we do, seen or heard by others.” “Then, the actions we do are reflections of who we are.” “Therefore, Misconceptions are the reflections of who we are to others.”
This makes the comments we heard from others to be relatively true of who we are. But still, relatively. This will now lead us to the issue of Personality Communication. What is Personality Communication ? It is an idea based on how we make others understand our true personality by way of communication true actions and words. From the two words, Personality: Your attitude, essence of one’s self, morals, values or “The fullness of who you are” Communication : the process of exchange of ideas, thoughts, information between two or more individual via an understandable media.
Therefore, Personality Communication is the exchange of someone’s fullness as a person between two or more individual. The t ruth about the person is the one being shown by the person, the truth reflects in his actions thus, the interpretations made by others ends up to be the real meaning. No Misconception.
II: STATION 2; THE BUMPY RIDE CYCLE 1: ME, MYSELF AND I? Misconception and Personality Communication For the Speaker: Before starting this talk, it would be good if you would ask the participants to recall and try to discuss what was the previous talks was and work on that for a few minutes.
We are now in the real part of our recollection. The previous topics are preparation for the next three topics and subsequently, it will lead to our climax. The next three topics will revolve on the evaluation of yourself, the way you see your life and your relationship to God. Just like in any bus ride, there’s always that bumpy ride and in our recollection, the next topics will be bumpy. So I hope that you are ready to take it. Before we start we are going to have an activi ty, this is entitled “Ako? Hindi! Sila Sila!” in the first activity that we did, you introduce yourselves to your buddies and to the rest. Now, we are going to have a different form of selfintroduction. Activity 3: Ako? Hindi, Sila Sila; Turn the Table Game. Mechanics: 1. The participants will be grouped into 5 to 6 pairs or buddies. Each group will then be given a designated area within the lecture room to sit down and form a small circle. 2. They will then face the center of each of their circles and look at every one of their group mates for a few minutes. 3. Then, opening up the first page of their Recollection Diary on the page with the title “What I See, is What I Say.” In there, they are to fill the blank phrase “What I See of ________________? With the owner’s name. 4. Once done, the participants will now pass the diary on that same page opened, to the participant sitting next to him clockwise. Then, on the diary on their hand, the participants are to write a “One Word or a Short Phrase” about their initial i mpression of the owner of that diary. Just one word or phrase. Be it negative or positive. 5. Then, the paper will be passed to the next participant on the group turning clockwise and the one holding the paper will again write his impression of the owner. Continue and repeat the process until the paper returns back to the owner. 6. To make it exciting and faster, a lively music can be played. The participants should be done before the music ends.
DEEPENING For the speaker: the n ext discussion will be a deepening of t he activity just made. There are suggested guide questions below, you can use them to extract the participant answer and impose unto them the logic of the activity. It will be up to you on how you will work out with their answers. It is important to get the deep emotions of the participants as the questions are asked. For some of the questions, you can ask one participant to defend his/her point and allow that to be rebutted by another. At some point, the discussion can end up to a debate or argument, it is ok, but control their reactions.
Let us now analyze what are written on your diaries. Let me ask a few questions. 1. What can you read from what your group mates had written on your diary? 2. Are there flatteries, or are there good to hear comments? 3. Are there criticisms or a little bit negative to read? 4. What are more numerous, the flatteries or the criticisms? 5. What do you feel about it? 6. Do you accept what was written? Why? 7. Do you agree to their impressions? Why? 8. Do you think that what they had writt en means you or does it support who you really are? Why? 9. If not, Why? The words we hear or read about our self affects us so much is it not? We feel bad every time we hear negative comments about ourselves. Or any comment that we find not exactly true, or in contrast to who we think we are. We say deep inside that they have no right so say anything like that because they do not know us. (Give some examples or ask for examples). There are those situations wherein we hear that we are being talked about “Tsismis” behind our back. Usually, if their topic about us is alarming we end up in a fight. Right? Any one experienced this? Also, there are those situation that some people would make some comments about you based on what they just see of you. Often, these comments are negative, we again arrive into a confrontation and we say to than they don’t have the right to say such words because they do not know who we really are. To t een agers, these are very common.
Ever experienced being sent into the principal’s o ffice or the guidance office for the fight you had been into? It’s alarming, but we also see it in the TV. Have you seen the video on YouTube of the girls in school uniform pulling each other’s hair trying to drag the other on the road? Is if fun in the Ph ilippines or what? (The speaker can continue sighting some examples or ask the participants for similar examples.)
Did you noticed that all these things happen because there are people who see very different of who we really are? It is called “Misconception.” Or being falsely interpreted or represented. By simple terms, misconception is being misrepresented or misinterpreted by others. In all its sense, misconception is something we all had experienced. Some, every day. It happens when people say something that is not totally true of who we are. Like our attitude, personality, actions and even our choices. We may witness it being done to us or said to us vulgarly or in silent gestures of others. Either ways, it hurts us right? Who among you here had ever experienced that? (The speaker can ask a participant to share what he/she had experienced.) When we experience it what do we usually feel? Some people just ignore it but for others, the pain turns into anger. We feel betrayed, especially if the one who did it is someone who is close to you. But, the reality with misconception is that, it is based on “actions seen”. People say something, because they see something or heard something. Meaning, what they are saying about us, the flatteries and criticisms are based on what they had seen from us. Right? Of course, only a hard liar c an just invent a stories but not all people are hard wired to telling lies.
That is the logic of misconception, it is a comment based on what was seen or heard of someone’s actions only that it is given an inaccurate meaning. Therefore, misconception is relatively correct for they are based on actual actions. Only that, w e know that the interpretations made of that action is not fully accurate of what we know is the entire truth. Unfortunately, it is said that, what we do is what we are? We do something because that is something we feel like doing. Examples are our mannerisms. Some of us, unconsciously do something. Some of us unmindfully walks gliding so people say that you are “Maarti”. Some of us unmindfully ignore other people so they say that he is “suplada/suplado”. (Sight other examples.)
Some of you would still ask, why should we know our self? The answer my friends is because, you should be a friend to yourself first, before you became friends to others. It is because, you have to know your identity in order for you to have a sense of direction. Many of the young people who end up being addicts, trouble makers, criminals are those people with no sense of direction in life. They don’t know who they are, therefore they don’t care whether they end up in jail or not. Later on, you will know the importance the more. Going back now to the process of communication. Provided that you already know who you are. Say from the beginning, because of writing to many slum book and diaries, so you pretty know who you are. The next question t here would be, “How do you show yourself to others? Is it positively or good to see or negative and hard to look at?
My friends, the way we portray our self to others is as essential as knowing who we are. And the measuring tool there would be is t he response that others would give. Say for example, you show yourself in pretention or negatively, then others would give you a negative response. Right? Or if you show the real you, in truth, then definitely other people would give you good comments. We will know whether what we portray is positive or negative based on the reactions of others. There are those instances when even if we become true to our self, others could still say bad about us. But t hese situations again are based on how you made it c lear in the beginning. People have different standards in viewing life, but these views are still based on our own knowing of our self.
Misconception will not happen if we would only learn how to properly communicate our self to other persons. How will we do that? What should be done? Let us first define and learn what is communication and its factors involve. In communication, there are three important aspects, they are; 1. Sender: The source of information. 2. The Receiver: The recipient of information. And, there will be no communication without the third, that is, 3. The Response: the Cycle of Communication Communication is also a cycle. After one idea is sent, the receiver picks it up and gives his response in turn becoming now the sender and it continues until ended. But what is most important in the cycle of communication is the part played by t he sender. The initial information being sent and the responded information by the receiver being the new sender. This information hold the direction of the communication. Say for example, in any conversation. When you talk to someone, and it is you who talks first what you said becomes the bases for the response of the one you are conversing with.
The question will always be, “Are you being true to yourself? Are you hiding or pretending? In your actions, gestures, words you say are you being true?
And whatever that response is, it becomes the bases also of your next response and you goes on. S ometimes, there are so many topics being talked about leading to a lot of new informations arising from an original topic. Ever experienced when you are talking to a friend, there are a lot of t poics that you talked about, sometimes you would ask, “How did you arrive into that topic?” and then you’ll realize, things just fly by. That my dear friend is how communication works.
Do ask yourself. And after asking that, ask again, “Is what I am showing to others good? Is it right? (In tagalog, “Tama ba ang mga ginagawa at ipinapakita mo sa iba?”.
The same is with personality communication. The only difference is that what you are conversing, instead of any ordinary topic, is your personality. How you show who you are to others.
Many of the youth nowadays clings t o the changes of the season. Many thinks that speaking in “gay lengo”, jejemon, doing belat with added extending of the tongue or a slap on the but or even saying “fuck you” with the three fingers, is a good thing to do. But seriously, is it really right? Is it appropriate? Ask you self.
In this idea, the actions you show whether consciously or not becomes the initial information. How you show it is being received by others and in turn create a response. And if what you show is the untrue concept of your personality then, it will that concept that people will be giving comments at. Then misconception happens.
As the Sender;
Connecting now the three basic aspect of communication, the sender, receiver and response let us look deeper. We say that, a good communication depends on the sender. Therefore, as a sender of your personality, I’ll ask you, “How do you portray yourself? Is it in truth of who you are, or you assume that it is who you are? To be a sender of information, the very first thing that you’ll do is to know the information to be sent. We send information that we only know right? Say if you will give someone an informa tion, the information you’ll give will be known to you. In our case, our personality. On your part, “Do you know who you are?” I am sure that a philosophically minded person would say, “Off course I know who I am. My name is like this and like that.” But the truth? Do you really know who you are?
How deep is your understanding of yourself? Ask yourself, do I really know me? Knowing your name is not the point of the story or where you live and what are your likes. There are a lot of k ind of people. There are therefore a lot of different kind of personality and no one will be exactly the same. There are instances that we say we already know who we are but as it turns out, we are living a life that is not ours. Remember brothers and sisters that there is more to life than the earth, wind and sea. So is with personality. What we t hink is the truth about our self can turn out to be not entirely true.
Did anyone of you was asked to write on a slum book? In high school that is very common. What are the information asked there? (Let them share) Commonly a slum book would contain information like, your name, nick name, address, favorites, crushes, ambitions and etc. Many of us feels uncomfortable writing in a slum book. Especially the boys. Many say that it’s a girl’s thing and it’s not a macho thing to do. But you are wrong. Writing in this form of diaries are a good way of starting to know who you are. Unknowingly, you becomes aware of your likes, your favorites. Colors, TV shows, cartoon characters, movies, actors and actresses and many more. By this w e know who we are that otherwise would not be known to us. Also, there are parts where we will be asked of what will be our dream or ambition in life. Some would write very boldly, a doctor, a nurse, an engineer, an architect, a singer etc. By this, again, we become aware of our life plan. For some, the same ambition they wrote becomes their goal in life and eventually end up being like that. Successfully. The reason why writing in slum book is a good instrument of knowing our self is that, it offers an opportunity for us to “Talk to Our self”. You would say, why in the world will I talk to myself? Am I nuts? My dear friends, how will you know who you are if you won’t talk to you own self? When we are courting a girl, say for boys, in order for us t o know that person well is to talk to him/her right? Or a friend, in order for us to know well our friends we talk to them. The same is with our self. We can only know who we are if we would offer time to talk to our self.
You will ask, “How will we do that?” Simple, give time to yourself and yourself alone. We talked about slum book, well it is one of that. Give yourself a time wherein you can be quite and alone and it will be only you there. Slowly, as if talking t o someone, ask yourself some questions and answer. Trust me, you would be amazed how good it would feel to talk to yourself.
Why do this happen? It is because of the shallow understanding of the person of his true personality or being. Some people get amazed when they realize something about themselves that t hey thought to be not their kind. Some even ask after that, “Is that really me? Or Did I really do that? Have you experienced this?
Here is a simple technique to start. Find a very quiet place. Maybe by the river, the beach, on the field, or in you room as long as it is only you in t here. Then slowly, free your mind and ask these question, “Who is ____ (your name) ____?” then answer it by actually talking. With words coming from your mouth. As if in an interview, ask many questions as you can and answer them. Soon enough, you would know who you are.
It is because, there is really more to know than what we had already learned. Communication begins with knowing yourself. And you can never show yourself to others in truth, if in the first place you have a shallow idea of who you really are.
But in any conversation, it should be done frequently. You have to do it often. You can talk to yourself at night when you’re in bed before going to sleep. On every time you are alone. Or, you can write a diary.
As the Response: Let’s now talk about response. After an information is sent, then the receiver listens, the receiver will now be the sender giving off the response. Thus, the process of communication is established. In any communication, the response should always be bull’s eye or exact and accurate to the in formation received. If not, there will be no communication at all. If you are asked what’s your name then don’t answer I live in here and there. For communication to work, responding “FULLY” is important. We must respond in full and not with partiality.
In text messages, Texter1: Hi, may I know your name? I’m Tom. Texter2: Jerry. Texter1: Where do you live? Texter2: There. Texter1: have you eaten already? Texter2: nope. Texter1: Do you want to join me? Texter2: (‘_’) Texter1: Come join me. Texter2: . . .
Is there a conversation there? Yes there is. But is there a communication there? Surely there’s none. Many of us are like this. When someone is speaking to us, if we doesn’t like that person we try to ignore and don’t respond at all. In personality communication, responding fully and truthfully is a must in order for you to understand one another’s personality. Remember that if a person is showing himself to you truthfully, that person is giving you a lot of t rust. The least you can do is to respect him and give a truthful response.
Proper response involves full responses out of respect and trust. If you would respond fully and properly to what you see that others do, then in your own action, others will respond the same.
My friends, even the way you show off to the public also ask if it is correct. When you have a new dress, a new phone, a new gadget is it right to show off? Raising the phone high as if looking for a signal when the truth is the signal spikes at number four already. Playing the mp3 so loud that a disco sound system would be ashamed to play his speakers. How about that time when someone attended a school activity or the mass wearing an extravagant outfit that seems to be designed by an alien. Much worse, those almost wearing just a thread in overly thin outfits. My friends, the way we act becomes the reflection of who we are. If it is bad to the greater public then you end up to be marked as a bad person, with bad attitudes and personality. And people would no longer give you the chance to defend yourself. Some of you would say, “What can I do, this is really who I am. There’s nothing I can change.” Wrong, you are not made to be like that. God formed man for goodness and to do good and right. It is the choice you make that made you like that. It was you who choose to portray those negative things, right? Maybe there are those who influenced you, but still it was you who made the choice.
If we would choose to act negatively, and do the wrong ways, acts that are contrary to what is morally correct, then therefore, it would only be natural that the people around you would say also differently. Am I right? Why then are we choosing to do it that way? Get the point? Ask now yourself, what are my actions that are not right and incorrect? Are my daily habits, mannerisms, lifestyle righteous? Are they meant to be done that way, or I am just eager to boast and is thirsty for att ention? Surely, you will see that there are things that we do that should be done with prudent and not just driven by desire and emotions.
As a Receiver or Listener;
Returning back to the topic of communication and its pointers, what we have just discussed is all about you as the sender of your own personality as information. Now, how about as a receiver? What kind of a receiver am I?
A receiver is usually the listener in a conversation. As the information is being delivered by the sender, the receiver listens. Usually, listening is amongst those often misunderstood words. Usually many people just really gives an ear to the speaker and not actually hear w hat is said. To us Filipinos this is common, we listen in one ear, and out it goes in the other. But there is more to listening than just hearing. Listening involves two important reactions from the one listening. First is “silence (pananahimik)” the second is “comprehension (pag -unawa)”. The two are different in nature but must go together when it comes to listening. A good listener knows how to be silent or quiet when someone is speaking and as he is silent, he listens with utmost comprehension and understanding. For it is only by being like this that the listener can give a truthful and accurate response to the information received. Many of us fails on this test. Most of us when someone is talking gets busy doing another. Saying yes I am listening when in fact, it is only the body that is present in the conversation while the soul is still lost in the wilderness. Who among you experienced this? If this would always be the case, surely all speaker would slap the listener with a hard broom. Now when it comes to personality communication, let me ask you, “How are you as a listener? As what I have said, listening entails silence and silence involves the heart that listens quietly as it beats and not the mind with the mouth shouting loud all that the brain thinks.
Also, listening intently is followed by comprehension or understanding. And listening with comprehension involves searching for the truth. One listens trying to understand whether or not what is said is real, honest, and truthful or not. In simple terms, Listening involves – Silence – leading to Comprehension. Silence = listening with the heart Comprehension = listening for the truth
Thus, Listening involves listening with the heart and for the truth.
On your part, when someone is talking to you do you listen intently with your heart? When someone is doing an act, his ways, manners, attitudes, do you look at it silently with your conscience? Or is it with an eyebrow raised? Or when you see someone doing something, do you listen with the intent of knowing the truth or just t o criticize? Do you do the effort to know the truth behind the actins made by that person? Or do we extend the effort to find out whether what we see/ hear is true or not? Most of the time we let time pass by and what our eyes see ends up being photos, snapshots of events that sticks to our memories. But there should be more to be done when we are witnessing someone showing his/her personality to us. Showing who you are is a very hard and challenging task for it involves bravery. The courage to show the reality of one’s self, thus we must do the same feat valor in order to just understand that person. We also want to be understood, right? Why can’t we understand others? It is really a simple task to do. In order for us to properly listen with comprehension we must do the following steps. 1. Open your Heart, 2. In order to understand, and 3. Take time to verify.
The moment we see an act, we must first open our hearts and make it an understanding heart. Then, in order to understand, take the effort to know the meaning and reasons behind that ct. by asking the doer himself. Not in confrontation, but is compassion.
To be a good listener, you must a. Be sensitive b. Be just c. Be truthful Often, just being silent is the best form of listening.
In general, which category has the most answer? Is it in the likes or dislikes? Most of you wrote a lot of things on what you hate than on what you like. It is actually normal that you wrote more on what you don’t like than what you like. Because, at your age, you are in the state of discovery and confusion. Most of the youth nowadays see things in life the way that they are presented. Materialistic, egoistic, ridiculously conscious of appearance and worst of all hard headed.
Like physical appearances, most of the youth nowadays are very conscious of what they look like. Many of us live your everyday based on what we look like. Many fees tro ubled when there’s a large pink pimple sticking off our nose or cheek. If we have a large nose that seemingly turns into red when blushing. Many also feels bad when we have large ears, very curly hair, thick eyebrows and so on.
Summary:
Misconception is the Reflection of who you portray yourself to others.
To eliminate being misconceived, you must perform the Principles of Personality Communication, that states; 1. Know yourself and who you should be. 2. Listen with your heart and in truth as others show themselves to you. 3. Respond truthfully
Also, when we are fat or supper slim. When super tall or very short we feel bad. Most of us wished them to be replaced. Am I right? Who’s guilty? To some of us, what we look like affects us very much that it becomes the basis of our life. The way we think and the way we interact with people becomes rooted in this shallow reason. Just because some of us think that we have something physically that is not so appealing to others we becomes indignant with it and eventually our very self. We hate it up to the pint that many would go to miles just to get rid of them. Heard of people that are slightly dark in skin color who desperately wants to get snow white? How about those girls born with kinky and curvy hairs who tries everything from straitening irons to poisonous chemicals just to stiff it up? I know that some of you are amongst them. But is there a problem with it? Some might say, none, it’s perfectly normal to get conscious of how you look. And it is true, it is normal but there is a point when it gets out of hand. What does it mean? For many youth in this generation, these physical imperfections per say becomes a barrier between them and the world around them. Some of us who experiences temporary physical deformities feels so bothered that most lock themselves inside their homes and never let anyone see them. Seemingly being cursed, that many people don’t mingle to others, hide constantly and avoid crowds and gathering just because of these physical problems. There are teen agers who even hates themselves because of that and end up being miserable. Tell me, are you one of those aren’t you? Yes many of the youth nowadays experience that. They create a prison to lock themselves up and penalize themselves in isolation.
Concluding Activity 4: Please Listen, This is Me!
At this point, we will now exercise what we have just discussed. Do you want to be misrepresented again? Of course no one want to. Do you want to be heard as you show who you are? Yes, we all want that. We will have an activity that will give you an opportunity to show who you are as a sender, listen carefully as a receiver and offer the proper response. Our activity is entitled “Please Listen, This is Me”. This will be the mechanics; 1. You will now return to your small groups, the same group at the start of this session. You will form again a close circle facing the center. 2. There will be a facilitator that will be assigned to you, he will be bringing a set of items and place it in the middle. 3. At my command, I want you all to take a closer look at the items without picking them yet. Look carefully at every item, its color, texture, shape and etc. 4. At my command again, you are to pick one or two items from amongst those before you that best represents who you are as a whole. Select the item that speaks about your life, experiences and your personality. Be very careful in selecting, choose only the item that really reminds you the most.
5. In case the item you choose had already been selected by another of your group mate, it’s ok, you can still wait after his turn. 6. After every one had chosen an item, I will give the signal to start the activity. 7. One by one, you are to share to the group what you have chosen, what is its connection to you and who you are in reality. Before you share you must first say “Please listen, This is Me.” 8. After one finished sharing, another will soon follow until all is finished. 9. When someone is sharing, everyone in the group must listen carefully and be silent. 10. No one will be allowed to leave the group t o go to the t oilet.
CYCLE 2: IT’S ALL THAT I HAVE? Counting Blessing not Sheep. (For the Speaker: This session will be using visual references such as videos to serve as the kick off point for the reflections. Thus it is necessary to have all the technical equipment ready for a smooth discussion. Before discussing the topic, it is best to recap the previous topics by letting the participants discussed what they had learned from that session.) We are now on the second cycle of your journey. If in the previous topic we talked about ourselves or your selves, this time we will go deeper. But before we start we will have first an activity. Activity 5: My Likes and Dis Likes
Mechanics: Did you understand the instructions? Well then, we will first pray. Everybody please stand. (Play Video: Prayer of Saint Francis. After praying the facilitators assigned per group can now enter and join the small groups. When everyone is settled t he activity can no w begin. As the sharing goes, play “As t he Deer for background music. Not too loud that it can distract the participant but just enough to cover unwanted noises. After all the participants in each group finished sharing, let them stay in their circle and wait for all groups to finish before giving them a short break. This session end with this activity.)
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1. On the next page of your Recollection Diary, you will find t he page with the title My Likes and Dis Likes. 2. There is a table with blank cells only the headers. 3. On the left part of the table, is says “What I like about my…” then three sub cells with titles “Physical & Personality, Family and Life Situations”. Directly opposing that is a similar table that says the same content but with the title “What I hate about my…” 4. You will be given 10 minutes to fill up this cells with as much answer as you want. 5. On the table “What I like about my…” you are to write what you like about your physical features, face, color of the skin, hair etc. Also, what you like about your family, your parents, brothers and sisters and relatives. And on Life Situations, what you like about your life status. The way you live, the kind of life t hat you have at present. 6. Then you are to do the same with the opposing table of your hates on the same category. 7. Ones done, we will discuss what you wrote. Analysis of Answers
PHYSICAL DISLIKES: Now that everyone is done writing, we will now analyze what you wrote. (At this point, ask the participants to re ad loudly what he wrote on each t ables. Three to five participants is ok. As one is reading what he had written, the speaker can work out their answers making comments but not relating it yet to the topic to be discussed.)
These things makes us so upset that sometimes we even curse our parents, want then dead or have them replaced. Some even gets stow away just out of discontent f their families. But, what would you feel if you see t his video. (Play Video: Silent of Love) Deepening: Question, “What did you see in the video?” Who are the character s, how do they interact with each other? What did you notice about the att itude of the girl? His relationship to his father? (Ask the participants and extract their answer in every question before deepening the point.) In the video we see that the girl wanted to have a different father. She wants a father that can speak, that can scold her, can give her pointers a father who cares. But unfortunate for the father, he can never be for he was born mute. He can never speak. So, what now? What do you prefer? We don’t like our parents who are minding our every business (pakialamero) and we also don’t like if they don’t mind us at all. Where then are parents would place themselves in our life?
The problem is this, none of us understood the reality of who our parents are. Let us look at it in two points, First, in the video, the father is “born mute”. He can never speak. Only God can make him speak. But the girl fails to see that. She can’t see that her father is born that way. Instead of understanding her father, she condemns him. And this closes the girls mind. She can’t see that even if her father is mute he still loves her. In the later part of the video we see that the father wrote trying to explain everything to his daughter. That even if he can’t speak he still loves her and cares for her. Relating it back to your life. There are instances wherein we don’t feel proud about our parents. We feel ashamed if their work is not that appealing like a house maid, a farmer, laundry laborer and domestic worker.
Sometimes, there are those children who really and verbally speaks of wishing to have their parents replaced or wished to had been born to a different family. But the question is, “Have we ever think that what if they are really like that?”
But what would you feel is you are like t his guy? (Show Video: I Love Living Life) Deepening: Question, how do you feel after watc hing that video? (Let them answer before going deeper) in the video we see Nick, a man born with no arms and no legs and yet he is living his life to the fullest. Seemingly, he is like a normal human being when it comes to what he had been up to in his life. But how? How in the world do you think Nick could live with that knowing that he is absolutely not normal? It is because, Nick is not looking at his deformities as a curse and an anomaly to be troubled about. But rather a special condition given by God to make him especial. For him, his condition is nothing mor e but a physical challenge in doing his day to day affair but not a barrier that hinders him from doing it.
Often, we have something that w e don’t like in our body and as a result, we, by the way we see it, creates a barrier between us and life itself. And it is this barrier that affects the most important aspects of our life. That are;
1. The way we interact with others, 2. How we live our life, and 3. How we plan our future. These three are the very essence of being alive. And life itself revolves in these three principles. Many of us wants to live their life to the fullest but ends up being unsatisfied even after 80 to a hundred years of living because they fail to live life the way it must be lived. Life is not about consuming food every day, it’s not about being super rich, it’s not about being very beautiful that even the characters of mythology would get envy at you. Life my friends is about the people you meet and the life you build with them. It is about t he way we live every minute of every day. It is about how we see ourselves in the future and working it out all throughout the way.
For some of us, because of the physical dislikes that we have, we feel that we are less worthy of living life. But that is totally not true. Going back to Nick we see that he himself had seemingly had been neglected by nature the moment he was conceived. He has no arms and no legs. How in the world will he then should live? How will he eat? Can he go to places to places? How? Would others criticize him? What will be his future? These are the questions that would fill the mind of anyone who would see Nick. But Nick himself don’t see it that way. For Nick, his body, the way he looks is not important. What is important for him is that he is alive. And that very idea had been his motivation to try and do what a normal man would do with all his appendages. He plays games, eats his favorite food, he even go to school and even finish college. For him what is important is that he has his life. A life that is a gift from God and whatever this gift looks like, he loves it just the same. And even if he falls down, he gets back up without a frizz because for him, if he did not try to get up he won’t get up. That even if he fails a hundred times, what will he do? He will get up a hundred times. For life is more than what we see in who we are and what we look like. Life is about seeing what is good in it and not the bad. Remember the story of Job? Job said to his wife after all that’s good was taken from him and all that’s left are agonies, he said, “Must we only accept the good and not the troubles?”. Life indeed is more than what we see. Life is all about being thankful of all the good that comes and still, the more thankful for the bad that comes. For with this bad circumstances, we tend to be much closer to God and appreciate what He had given to us. I will ask you? When was t he last time that you stand in front of the mirror and said, “Lord, thank you for this gift I see”. Is it not that many would rather say, “What a handsome man I see. Or I’m so pretty I thank God I’m not ugly”. Or how about after seeing that you have a dark colored face, uneven skin tone, dark eye lids and so on, you would press thick powder and make up just to hide them. Did you ever spend time thanking God that at the least you have a normal face that could see, hear, smell and feel. When you wake up and see the sun and everything around you, you should be thankful for some are blind and had not ever seen what you are seeing.
When you breathe and smell the fragrant odors of the flowers, the air and nature be thankful for some breathe their last. When you walk, or run or enjoy playing games with your feet be thankful for some uses wheel chairs just to go around. The worst, some have no legs. Every time you can hear music, be it a noise to you or a soothing melody be thankful for some can’t hear. They live in absolute silence. When you talk, or sing be thankful for some don’t even have the ability to make a sound. It is hard for them to converse.
The lesson in this part of our recollection is for you to realize that;
1. Physical dislikes should not hinder us from interacting with people, 2. We must still live life to the fullest, day by day and be thankful for it, and 3. It should not stop us from dreaming, m ore so, being with God.
FAMILY DISLIKES: Now let’s go to the second cell in your diary. What do you hate about your family? (ask a participant to read his answer) most of us in simple terms hates it when our family gets into our ways. (Nakikialam masyado)
Would you agree if I say that most of us feels irritated when our family members becomes the hindrance that keeps us from doing what we want? I’m sure you do. Such as; Your tuck in bed, on the high pitch of sleeping then suddenly awaken and asked to do some chores. Or you are enjoying texting or playing video games on your phones when suddenly asked again t o do some errands. Many feels angry when they are busy gossiping with friends when suddenly asked to go home. We hate it when our parents, usually our mother talks so much and scold us so much. We hate it when there are visitors ten suddenly our parents would interrupt and talk about your first walk, first talk and other embarrassing memories from childhood.
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What if your parents are just vendors, or a farmer? What if your parents did not study the same that you do that’s why they are illiterate? What if you mother is really a high toned speaker that everything she says seems to be in shouting? Did you ever think of that? For sure, that they too, if given the chance would change the way they are now. But what if destiny dictates that they should be like that. Did it ever occur to you to take some time to understand their situation? Or is it that it is only but yourself that you are thinking that you wish them t o be someone that would fit your illusions? Second, in the video even mute the father still loves her daughter so much and cares about her just as much. We have seen that even if he is handicapped, he did his best to work just to give her a good life. The father services her to school every day, he works endlessly and even cares to buy a cake just to show he loves her. He did not let her deformity to hinder his role in being a good father to her. Still the girl fails to see it. Now in your life, have you ever tried to look at the efforts made by your parents to give you a good life amidst their poor and unconventional situations? Have you ever thought that, even if your parents works as a laborer, a fisherman, a farmer, a maid and other blue collar job they work hard just to sustain your family’s daily needs? Or that even if they are illiterate, they try their very best to send you to school to reach what they did not able to reach? Have you ever thought that, the reason why your parents brag your childhood to your guest is that they are so proud of you? In every day, have you ever thought that the reason why they push you to do chores is because they want you to learn the skills you need to have in life? Or have you ever thought that the reason why they are so strict with you when it comes to your friends, textmates, companions and acquaintances is because they are protecting you from harm?
Have you ever thought of that? Often, we just feel what we want to feel about it. But we fail to feel what they would feel about it. Our family is God’s gift to us more than anything else. All that is in it is of God’s choice and He know that it is the perfect family for us. Thus we must always remember that;
Thank that you have enough of what you need and occasionally have more than what you can have, for others barely have something to keep them alive. Life is full of wonderful things to be happy of and be thankful for. Because we have a God that provides us with all the things we need.
Concluding Lessons:
We may never have the perfect parents and family, but our parents and our family will always love perfectly.
1. Value who you are and what you have. 2. Be thankful of all you’ve got and praise God 3. Remember that others don’t have what you got, thus value every bit of it.
LIFE SITUATION:
Now how about your dislikes in your life situation or status of living? What do we often don’t like in our life? Often, we becomes so accustomed to the material possessions that this world can offer. That the moment we don’t have one, or any of t hem, it seems that for us, life no longer has meaning. Many of us our problems goes with having no new shoes, new dress, new gadget, fancy food, money and the rest. But somewhere across the world, some people are less fortunate than you are. Watch this video; (Play Video: Across the World. Because of this video, this topic is selfexplanatory for the participants. No further discussion is needed except the emphasis of the pointers below. Nonetheless, the speaker can add points and examples related to this topic t o further enhance the discussion.) You see my friends, there are more things that we should be thankful off in life than what we agonize about it. Let us thank that we are alive and we have a body and is capable of doing many things. Be thankful that we have a family that cares and takes care of you, every day more and more kids grows without a family.
Before we end this topic, we will have another activity to see whether or not you truly understood what we just talked about.
Concluding Activity: Activity 6: There’s More that I have
Mechanics: 1. At the start of this session, you wrote on your diaries your likes and dislikes on certain aspects of your life. You will do it again, only this time, the idea is different. 2. On the opposing page of the one you have just wrote on is a blank table similar to the ones you have written already. On the top blank, write “What I am thankful of in life.” Then on the three cells, write Wellbeing, Family Life and God’s Gifts in my Life. 3. After writing the titles, fill up now the cells with as much as you can. 4. After writing, you will be given another ten minutes to share it with you buddy. (As this activity is being done play in background The Power of Your Love Repeatedly until all are done.)
At siyempre hindi pahuhuli si Ara; ang beautyqueen ng kalse. Ara sa eskwela, Armando sa bahay. Hindi maikakaila kung anu siya at anung uri niya. Tao padin naman, kaso para sa kanya siya ay dyosa. Lahat na yata ng gay beauty pageant ay kanya nang sinalihan, Miss Gay Underworld, Mutya ng Kagubatan, Bb. Undas at kung anu ao pa. tangap niya kung anu siya kaya naman push lang ng push ang drama. Ang mali nga lang ay ang kanyang mga gawi. Naninigarelyo, naglalasing, sa magdamag ay gising kung saan saan napapadpad para makaquota. Kaya naman, di sya tangap sa pamilya. Daily habits; Bahay – eskwela – lamierda hangang mag umaga. Yan si Ara, kabataang Pinoy. _______________________________________________________________ _____________ Analysis and Deepening: At this point let me ask you, how did you find the activity? How do you find the characters? (One character by one character, ask them about the personality of each of them) Do you see them every day in our community? Yes we do can. There are a lot of young people out there with the same story as of that of our characters. Now, saying it that way, can we say now that they are a reflection of the youth nowadays? Are there some similarities in you? Who do you think is your character from there? (Ask a few participants) How? The reality is that, the life of each of those characters reflects the life of each and every one of us. In one way or the other, we can relate our life story to their story. In the drama we have seen different types of personality. (Ask them what those are) Somehow, we can relate our self to either one or more of t hem. Maybe not directly or exactly the same but with big similarities. (Ask some participants for similarities in their life.) Also, we have heard about their daily habits and again we see some similarities. (Mention the daily habits of every character and ask the participants of similarities with their own habits.) So you see, our life is really colorful isn’t it. Full of different drama. This time, I would like to know your own daily habits. Because, it will serve as the basis for our topic’s discussion. We will have another activity and this time, you again will write.
CYCLE 3: GOD, ME AND MY EVERY DAY : Finding God in Every Day. (For the Speaker: This part of the recollection will be the main jump off point for the two remaining topics that are focused primarily in the youth’s relationship with God. The challenge i s to convince the par ticipants with the points and lessons presented in here in order for the next topics to go well. This talk will start with a dramatization activity to be followed by another writing activity before the main talk is discussed. Unlike the previous two topics, the ending or closing activity of this topic will take place after the last topic is discussed. That is why, it is important to maintain the mood set by this session until the final activity.)
(Recap of the previous sessions) We are now nearing the climax of our recollection. As what we call it, your journey. We are about half way t hrough. In the previous topics we talked of who we really are and what we should be together with the realizations of the things in life that we should be thankful off. Now, at this topic, we will discuss your daily life. We will discover what your daily habits are, your daily business that keeps you busy. We will analyze whether these habits are good or in contrast to what e should be doing. But before that, we will have an activity just like what we had been doing in the start of every session. But this activity that we are to do is a lot different than the previous. It will be more fun. Shall we begin? Activity 7: Ang Kabataang Pinoy (For the speaker: the narrations’ herein used are in Filipino for better understanding. Here are the mechanics for you. 1.
Seven facilitators should be selected to participate in this activity. Two girls, four boys and one gay or at least a boy to act as one. 2. The speaker shall read a narration of each of the character’s life. As their character is being presented, the acting facilitator must act out the character in with actions that correspond to what is read. Just like a charade, only t his time, there will be a narrator. 3. As the activity goes, the song “First Day High” should be played to serve as background m usic. After the last character, the speaker can call once again all of the cast.)
Ang Kabataang Pinoy
Sinasabing ang high school ay ang pinakamakulay na parte ng buhay ng isang estudyante. Samo’t saring larawan ang makikita, mga karanasang nagbibigay aral, mga taong permanenteng nagiging bahagi ng kanilang buhay at kung anu-ano pa. Tulad nalang ng Batch ___ ng (Name of school). Talaga naming kompleto rekado ang buong klase. Pnu ba naman, talo pa nila ang mga telenobela sa telebisyon sa kulay ng kanilang kwento. Yan ay dahil sa mga estudyanteng may kanya kanyang kwento. Andiyan si Janella; isang kense anyos na nagdadalaga. Kahit bata pa, ay hindi ito nahahalata dahil sa laki, tangkad at ganda niya. Maganda, sexy at malakas ang dating, lalo na sa boys. Dahil ditto nakuha siang majorette at mula noon, nagging chrush nan g bayan. Isa rin siyang fashionista, and a young socialite. Kapag free time, ay past time nila ang mall. Palaging nasa mga gimikan at nagpapaka happy kasama ang barkada. At ang kanyang porma di basta basta, sapatos nya Natasha, damit niya signature at pati na mga make ups. Sa sobrang galling niya magdala, maraming boys ang humahabol sa kanya. Pero may boyfriend na siya, apat pa nga sila. Dahil nga sa hilig sa barkada lahat na ng gimik nagawa na yata niya. Umiinum ng alak, naninigarilyo at reyna ng kalsada. Dahil ditto, napapabayaan na niya ang kanyang pag-aaral. Pero ayun sa kanya, ay ayos lang, mayaman naman si pa’pa’. Daily habits; Pag gising sa umaga facebook agad ang agahan niya. Papasok sa eskwela para rumampa. Pag naboring kay sir, ititext ang tropa at gigimik na sila hangang mag-umaga. Yan si Janella, Kabataang Pinoy. ___________________________________________________________________________ Si Arthur; 16 years old, ang varsity player ng tropa. Guwapito, maganda ang katawan at malakas ang dating. Hilig niya talaga ang basketball, para sa kanya buhay na niya ito. Dito siya masaya. Wala siyang bisyo, paminsan minsan umiinum pero hindi sa puntong nalalasing ng sobra. Pero si Arthur, mainitin ang ulo, lalo na pag nasa game. Nang minsa ngang may nakasikuhan siya sa laro ay sinuntok niya ito agad. Ayun, natangal siya sa game ng maaga. Daily Habits; 04:00 am palang ay nasa court na, pagkatapus saka lang mag aalmusal at papasok sa eskwela. Kahit nsa klase na, pagdidribol padin ang nasa isip niya. After class, court ulit hangang gumabi na. Yan si Arthur, Kabataang Pinoy.
Si Ruben; ang boy genius. Valedictorian mula kinder at sa dami nga awards ay wala nang mapagsabitan ng medlya ang bahay nila. Para sa kanya, kailangan niyang mag-aral para mabigyan ng magandang buhay ang pamilya niya. Ang kaso, mukhang nasusobrahan naman yata, panu ba naman wala na siyang ginawa kundi mag-aral, nakabantay kasi si nanay. Daily habits; Home-School-Home, Yan si Ruben Kabataang Pinoy. ___________________________________________________________________________ Siya naan si Sarah; ang dalagang pilipina. Mala Maria Clara dahil sa hinhin at pagka konserbatiba. Pero napakabait na bata at napakasipag din. Araw-araw lagging nauunang maglinis ng paaralan, pati nga ball ground ay nililinis na niya. Hindi dahilsa may grade, kundi dahil sa gusto lang niya talaga. Sa bahay ay napakamasunurin talaga, marunong sa gawaing bahay at maasahan ng iba. Kaso, hindi siya mahilig makibarkada, ayaw niya kasi sa maraming taong pumapaligid sa kanya. Ang tanging alam niya lang pag lingo, ay mag samba. Daily habit; Bahay – Eskwela – Bahay – Simbahan. Jan si Sarah, kabataang pinoy. _____________________________________________________________________ ______ Eto naman si Jun; ang gangster. 15 years old palang siya pero siga nan g kalsada. Wla pa naman siyang napapatay pero dahil sa tulis ng kanyang nakatayong buhok at angas ng asta, pati aso ay takot tumahol sa kanya. Bihira na din siyang pumasok, araw – araw din sa barkada, madalas nasa lakwatsa at kadalasan dahil sa sanganong ugali niya, sa presinto at barangay hall ang bagsak niya. Kung tatanungin mo mga nakakakilala kung bakit ganun siya, ay dahil daw sa pamilya. Daily habits; Bahay - Barkada – basgan ng ulo, yn si Jun, kabataang pinoy. ___________________________________________________________________________ Eto naman si Boyet; ang country boy. Laki sa bukid at di masyadong pala barkada at napakasipag na bata. Kapag walang pasok ay tumutulong sa bukid para magtanim, mag-ani at sa bundok, para mag-uling. Mapangarap siyang tao, gusto niyang maging engineer baling araw para maiahun sa hirap ang kanilang pamilya. Ang problema, di niya alam kung paano, hindi naman kasi siya kayang papag-aralin sa koleheyo ng kanyang mga magulang. Kaya pinapasa diyos nalang niya ang lahat. Daily Habits; Eskwela sa umaga – tabaho sa hapon at gabi. Kapagka sabado at lingo nasa bukid. Yan si Boyet, kabataang pinoy.
There is a story of Father Armando Gunigundo, the Parish Priest of Antipolo, Rizal. He noticed that, during June, September and December there are a lot of young people going to their parish carrying pencils to have them blessed. He would ask why and what are those for, and they would answer it is for their board examination. They believe that if those pencils where blesse they would pass. He do blesses the pencils, but a few days after, only a few return to the church to thank God. The problem with us youth nowadays is that we ignore God. We replace God’s company by the modern technologies we have now. Many spends time playing games on computers and their phones without even praying. Many spends their Sundays at the computer shops, at a friend’s house or in a gimik than going to church. The worst, many of us don’t even know why we are Christians, or Catholic. Some just say its because t hat is what we were baptized into. But mind you brothers and sisters, friends, our parents just did what they know is the right thing to do at those times, that is to let you be part of their faith. But now that you are of the right age and mind, it is now your responsibility to live what you are baptized for. And that is to be with God and live life w ith God.
That is what we are made for. To be with God. Lesson: Welcome God in your Daily Affairs and let Him dwell inside. Serving Jesus:
In the story we see that after welcoming Jesus Martha and Mary immediately tend to the needs of Jesus. Martha specially, got busy preparing the food. Question, in your life, what do you do after you welcomed Jesus? Do we make the effort to keep Him in or we return to our norms as if nothing happened? We have talked about the acts of welcoming Jesus into our life. Returning to them, provided that you had already welcomed Jesus, what do you do after? do you serve him? Serving in its basic definition simply states doing something for the benefit of others. Mary surely did that in the story. She knows that Jesus and His company had been in a long journey so they must had been hungry so she prepares them food.
Activity 8: My Daily Schedule
Mechanics: 1. On your Recollection Diary you will find the page with the title, “My Daily Schedule”. Notice that you will find a blank week view calendar with corresponding time of the day. 2. You task is to write your daily schedule every day in a week. Be honest and truthful. 3. You will be given 10 minutes to finish writing and another 5 minutes to discuss with your body your daily task. Later on, you are to read them before the group. 4. (For the speaker, as the participants write play some background music.) After all the participants are done, ask a few of them to read their daily schedules in front. Deepening:
Look carefully to what you have written, notice the redundancy? Is there something that you always do? What are these? What are its nature? Is it personal activities or something you do by yourself? Is it with family or friends? Or is it with God’s? What is most numerous? (For each of the cat egory, site the examples written by the participants) What you have written are the things you often spend your time at. As what we have seen, most of them are personal affairs and activities done with friends. Right? A few are with your family and some, or even none, are things we do with God. Our session is entitled “Finding God in My Everyday”, because we are all Christians and we are demanded by our faith to live with Christ every day. But this is often the hardest part to do. This is where we often fail. Why? It is because we have no idea of how to do it. We always say yes Lord, I will follow you every time you are asked but a short moment thereafter, nothing happens.
On your life, it is very clear that you yourself have no idea of it. You don’t even include it in your daily activities. Why is that so? Often we spend times with our friends but with God, we don’t and others, they just cannot. Not to worry though, we will be discovering how to live life day by day with God. But before that I would like to introduce to you two people who, their life will serve as our inspiration. They are the sisters, Martha and Mary. Do you
Martha and Mary; Friends of Jesus
We will be reading from the Holy Bible, in the Gospel of St. Luke, Chapter 10, Verse 40 to 42. (The speaker shall read this passage from the Bible itself to add to the overall theme of the recollection. The proper reading must be observed. The passage can be read two to three times for better comprehension of the participants. After reading, follow up the participants if they do understood what was read by asking them about the story.) “Martha burdened with much serving, came to Him and said, ‘Lord do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.’ The Lord said to her in reply, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many thing. There is only a need for one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” Luk e 10:40-42
The story of the sisters Martha and Mary is one of the best reference I understanding how to live life with God. What they did, are acts of being with God. These are;
1. Welcoming Jesus – both of them did 2. Serving Jesus – Martha did 3. Listening to Jesus – Mary did
Welcoming Jesus:
The story that we have just read is about, the sisters Martha and Mary welcoming Jesus and His companion into their home. But before we go deeper, let us first know more about this two sisters. Martha and Mary are Jews, they have a brother named Lazarus whom we know that Jesus brought back to life. They are probably orphans for nothing is mentioned about their parents. They have no spouses yet and are fairly young. Probably according to Biblical scholars, they are just below 20 years of age. Meaning they are also teens. Of the two, Martha is the eldest. They are quite abled for they have a big house to accommodate a lot of people. And Mary, we know her to be the woman who was to be stoned but Jesus rescued. By her gratitude, she bought a nard, a fragrant oil that she used to was the Lord’s feet. At their time, when you have guests, it is customary that you prepare their food and offer them to eat and drink wine. Usually it is the women’s job to prepare the food and it is only the men who are allowed to study. Let us now review the story. We have heard that Jesus would have been so close to the sisters that Jesus sees to it that every time He is around the area He drops by their house to rest. In the story we see that both of the siblings, Martha and Mary show hospitality to Jesus by welcoming Him joyfully. Martha served Jesus by preparing Him food while Mary seated at the foot of Jesus and listened t o him talk. This alarms Martha that while she is busy in the kitchen her sister’s in the living room talking to Jesus. She complained to Jesus to ask Mary to help her, but Jesus responded that Mary did the right thing. Is it not confusing?
Relating it to your life, how do you welcome Christ in your life? Or do you ever welcome Him into your life? In your schedule look carefully, which one is an act of welcoming Christ? Do you recognize that Christ is around every day trying His best to enter into you but you don’t notice? In the story, Martha and Mary welcomed Jesus by letting him dwell inside their home. On our part, what the passage tells us is welcoming Jesus in our life, in our heart and letting Him dwell and reside in there. But do we do that? There are three acts of welcoming God into our life, 1. Going to Church every Sunday, 2. Praying 3. Recognizing God in the daily affairs. Like during breakfast or every time you eat, do you pray and give thanks to God for your food? When you go to school, do you ask Jesus to join you to school and be your guide? When you are at school, do you ask Jesus to help you in your studies as if he is your mentor? When you go out, going somewhere to do things, do you ask God to be with you? When you are with your friends, do you ask Jesus to join your affair? When you do your chores, you do your assignments, you live your day, do you Ask God to be with you? Or do we only recognize God when we are in trouble?
That is a conversation of a boy and a radio announcer. The boy was about 7 years old but he can read the signs that God is telling him. So is a young boy, we say innocent could read t he signs and maintain conversation with God, why then can’t we?
Say after attending the mass every Sunday, of course, the preacher gives us lessons and challenges to do in our life. The chance to change old ways but what do we do? Often, we forget what we just heard, and the moment we step out of the church, as if nothing had happened.
My dear young friends, finding God in our every day is the motivation that we must all have in journeying through life. For without God, we can go nowhere.
At school, provided that you asked God to be with you along the way and as you go to school, what do you do after? many of us once at school we becomes ignorant that we fail to see the real lessons being thought to us. Study hard, be industrious, be courteous, be kind be gentle. These are basic values taught to us right, but why is it that once we leave the premises of our schools we change? As if we learned nothing. Ever heard that from your parents said to you? You learned nothing?
Conclusion: Our life is made only for one thing!
“And that is to be with God trough Jesus Christ.”
(You can continue adding more examples to give emphasis)
And we now know that being with Christ is;
1. Welcoming Him 2. Serving Him 3. Listening to Him
Finding God in every day is what we should do. If Christ sis with us we are; 1. Happier 2. More Contented 3. Have more friends 4. Open minded and mindful 5. Successful 6. Holy
We now reached the climax of our recollection. Unlike the previous topics wherein we have a closing activity after every session, this time we won’t have it until the next act ivity and session is done. I would j ust like to remind you, don’t forget what we have talked about in this session for in the next activity, it will be your ticket. You will know what I mean later. (The participants can now have a short break in order to prepare the lecture room. While on break, restrict the participants from going into the lecture room and wondering ar ound.)
We must do the effort of keeping God in and not pushing Him out again. In the story Martha prepares the food, she got too busy and tired that when she noticed her sister not helping her, she complained to Jesus, ad w hat did Jesus replied? ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many thing. There is only a need for one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” Jesus told Martha that she should not busy with her so much with troubles while he is in their home. For she only asks one thing while he is with them, and Mary did it so it won’t be taken away from her. What is it exactly? What did Mary did that is better than the service of Martha? Mary, she listened to Jesus.
Listening to Jesus:
After Jesus enters their house, Mary probably lead Jesus to a comfortable seat and talked to Him and listen as Jesus speaks. If you are going to your friend’s house for a visit, what would you expect from him? Would you demand him food? Of course not, we simply wants to spend some time with us as we visit. Right?
This is what happened to Mary, as soon as she welcomes Jesus into their home she talked to her because probably, Mary know that that is what Jesus wants. Someone to share His travels, journeys, experiences and the things that had happened to Him and would happen soon. Is it not what we do too? We want a company to just simply to talk about? That is why, Jesus rebuked Martha and affirms Mary for Mary did what is better service to the Lord. Listening to what He says and maintaining a conversation. Relating that to our life, after welcoming Jesus, do we maintain a conversation with Him? Or we don’t talk to Him at all? There are two categories of listening to God. One is, by having a sense of consciousness, prudence and morality. We can have t his by
For those who won’t, as you face the real world you would see and realize that the real life lessons taught in school like being industrious, patient, attentive and clever minded will be your arsenal and if you have not acquired such sk ills, how will you survive and keep up?
At home, is God is really with you, He would tell you to listen to what your parents are saying. Listen to their teachings, love and respect them, don’t be the idiot making annoying faces when talking to, obey their commands and you will think properly. In your daily habits, god would tell you to stop your vices and many of your none-sense affairs that either brings you harm or lead you to nowhere. (at this point show the video: Smoking Kills)
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Reading the Bible Attending the Holy Mass Listening to the Teachings of Others Wise Counsel of Other People
Will you continue now that you know God is telling you to stop? Also, if God is really with you and you are talking to Him He would tell you to,
The second is by being mindful of the signs that God Himself is showing us. This is done by; -
Learning from what we experience Observing carefully what we see Minding the present situation
God uses any of these ways to talk to us and tell us what He wants us to do, all that it tales is for us to listen.
- Love your neighbors, - Learn to forgive easily - Respect your friends and don’t lead them to harm - Be mindful of your words and actions In short, God would tell you t o have a heart, be mindful of d oing what is right and live a morel life. In your daily life, if God is really with you, he would tell you that,
In your life, in your everyday, after you w elcome God in, do you listen to Him and talk to Him? When you are at school? If Jesus is really with you and your talking with Him, he would tell you to listen to your teacher. Now, do you listen to your teacher? Or are you one of those students who do a lot of stupid things while in class? Making drawings, minding their hairs more than the lessons, after attendance, exit immediately and during exams, the neck extends like a giraffe. Christ would tell you to listen and learn for it is for your future. Some of you would go to college some don’t. for those who will, you will see that college is much harder and if you bring with you your high school easy go lucky attitudes it will be you who will be in trouble.
- If there are a lot of fallen leaves on the yard, you should sweep it o ff. - If there are a stock of laundry and your free, you’d wash it all, - If your parents are out for work and they’ll be home late, you would prepare the food for all of you, - If you would see your parents so busy with a lot of chores, you would help immediately, - If you see someone begging on the st reet the least you could is show compassion, - If you hear people talking of gossips about someone else, you would know first the truth. In short, God would tell you to read the signs that He is showing to you.
1.
The Transport: this will be the transfer of the participants from the preparation room to the prayer room. It will imitate the actual encounter with God wherein in the motivation, they will be asked to go on a journey with God.
2.
The Prayer and Encounter: the main prayer activity itself. It is a modified Tezae’ Prayer focusing on the use of inspiring music and songs with reflections on different parts of the participant’s life. In here, the goal is for the participants to have an actual encounter with God as they evaluate their life. As the prayer goes on in the prayer room there should only be a very limited number of facilitators watching. Only those who can assist once a participant goes on hysteria and faint. Water and emergency fainting kit should be prepared. The moderator at this part shall play the pre-identified songs in the order presented and give his reflections in emotional and realistic ton e.
THE MOTIVATION: (As the participants enter the room one by one, the moderator should not say a word. Your face should be serious but not angry, this is in order to immediately inform the participants that the session is a serious activity. You can direct the participants in their scattered seating arrangements by simply pointing your finger. Only when everything is settled that you must speak and give the motivation. The suggested talk is in English, but can be translated into Tagalog. The reflection in the motivation and the prayer proper is in Tagalog. Be mindful of the mood.)
We are now in the second to the last activity of our recollection. As you enter you might have noticed that everything is silent and the mood is serious. It is because, this is a serious activity. Earlier you had laughed, this time, there will be none of that. So I request from you that you too should be serious and treat this activity holy. Why? Because our activity is, Prayer. As we start this recollection we have identified that the final destination of our travel will be with God. To meet God and to talk to God. Do you want to talk to God? Of course you do, right. We all do. But before that let us first discuss a few pointers about prayer. What is a prayer? How do you pray? (Ask their answer)
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4.
STATION 3; THE FINAL STOP ACTIVITY 9: AT THE CROSSROAD WITH JESUS ; An Encounter with God For the Speaker: This is now the climax of the recollection. A Prayer activity. The following are the mechanics and the things to prepare. The venue: 1. There will be two rooms that will be used in this activity, the preparation room and the prayer room as previously identified. The preparatory room i s where the initial talk regarding t he prayer will be done befor e the participants are transported to the prayer room. It can either be the lecture room itself or a separate room prepared just for this purpose. 2. The room should be dimly lighted, preferably let only the light from the candles scattered on the floor be the source of light. 3. Windows should be opened to allow the air to enter. The succeeding proceedings are intense in emotion so proper ventilation is required. But do not use electric fans. 4. Inside the preparatory room, the participants must leave their sleepers outside and the only thing that they should bring is a handkerchief or a towel. 5. Their Recollection Books and ball pens should be surrendered temporarily to the facilitators. 6. A low volume music should be played. The instrumental music of “As the Deer” is recommended. See DVD. 7. During the entire activity, solemnity, silence and caution must be observed, strictly.
The Speaker/Moderator: 1. In this activity, the speaker will assume the role of a moderator. For instead of imposing ideas, your role will be centered on motivating the participants and directing the flow of the activity to reach an atmosphere soothed for prayer. 2. Unlike the previous attitude towards the participants wherein you are assertive, in here you should be mellow and gentle. Soft in speaking yet with conviction until the prayer proper wherein emotion is required. 3. A good voice is only a small factor to consider, it is now the ability of the speaker to talk with full emotion that is needed. But, the moderator must not sound fake in speaking, it must be natural and convincing.
The technique in achieving a well-motivated prayer activity is in the speaker’s ability to motivate the participants and guide them into a r eal encounter with God. Remember, it is God who will be the speaker in here, it is the role of the moderator to prepare that. 5. At the preparatory motivation, the moderator should deliver the talk placidly and concise. 6. Just like the previous topics, there will be a narrative reflection g uide to assist you.
The Facilitators: 1. For this activity, the facilitators will serve as the transporters, guiding the participants from the preparatory room to the prayer room. 2. Since the participants will be blind folded, the transporters will be their eyes. But it is important to remember the following, 3. Limit the touch. The transporters will only be allowed to hold the participants hands and the top back (Batok). This is to avoid inconvenience in the part of the participants as well as avoiding foul touch. 4. Guide for Safety. As the participant’s eyes, the transporter must watch out for obstructions that would harm the participants. Avoid bringing the participants to paths that would deviate their focus from the activity. 5. No Talking Allowed. The transporters should never talk to their guided participants unless giving direction whether to step up or step down. Regardless of how much the participant talks to try and know your identity, you must keep quiet and not answer anything.
THREE PARTS OF THE PRAYER The activity will be divided into three main parts. 3.
The Motivation: in here the mood will be set for the prayer, held in a preparatory room. A short discussion of the prayer activity will be given and will be immediately followed by the preparatory prayer session. The participants will enter the room silently and will cautiously select a spot to sit. The seating arrangements of the participants should be well spaced to facilitate an easy pick up later in the transport. The motivation will start with asking the participants to close their eyes and bow their heads open up their senses and pray not knowing that their prayer will turn out to be an encounter with God, personally.
For the Moderator: At this point, the mood is set and the participants are ready for the transport. One by one, the moderator and an assistant will slowly and carefully blind fold the participants starting from the one nearest to the door. Slowly, the moderator will call the transporters to pick up the participants and assist them on the transport. When all the participants are blind folded, the moderator can now proceed to the prayer room and let the transporters pick up the rest of the participants. The main prayer activity will begin right after all of the participants are transported to the prayer room. The same wide spacing of seating of the participants should again be observed. No participants should touch one another or seat too close that they could reach to one another. As they enter the room, the same music that is played at the motivation should be the same music played for continuity.
For the Moderator: The main prayer activity is divided into stages of reflection using the following arrangement of music and videos to be played;
Evaluation of Self: Evaluation of Life Situation: Reconciliation
Shallow as they may be, these reasons why we pray are all true and they are correct. In fact, we cannot say that they are wrong because again prayer is a conversation with God. And God entertains every communication effort made to reach Him. But there is more to prayer that what we know and w hat we do. Prayer is actually a response to God’s call. Simply put it t his way by using the cellphone as an example. When God wants to talk to you, H e would dial up your number and try to call you. When you answer, there will only be a prayer. Some of us think that prayer is us calling to God, but it is not entirely like that. Most of the time, it is God who do the calling. And He always calls, the problem is that we seldom answer. Sometimes we hang u, other times we ignore and in worst cases we put down the call in the middle of the conversation.
PRAYER PROPER:
Enthronement Evaluation of Relationship with God: Evaluation of Life-Family:
People often see god as a problem solver that is there to run to when in a big trouble. Some people pray when they are going to undertake something and they need God’s blessings. (sight other examples)
Ama Namin Huwag kang mangamba Ugoy ng Duyan Hindi Kita Malilimutan Sino Ako Sayo Lamang Tanging Yaman O Hesus, Hilumin mo Father’s Love Letter Akoy Iyong Iyo
Presented here are suggested reflections, the moderator can create his own set of reflections based on the suggested themes. The reading of the reflections should be timed accordingly. Watch the proper timing. The first reflection should be read shortly after the enthronement and while the next song is playing.
In the Bible we could read that in all cases, the prophets prays to can only talk to God if God calls them first. Like Abraham in the pasture fields, Moses in the burning bush, Joseph in his dreams, Elijah in the dessert, Jeremiah in the temple and many more. God is the first who do the effort of calling us. Why is that so? It is because we humans are so busy with our life that we find no time to talk t o God. But since He loves us so much, He do the effort of calling to us. That is how God loves us. Jesus said that, before we pray, Our Father in Heaven know already what we are going to pray. That there is no need for any long elaborate and ritualistic praying. We simple have to recognize Him and answer His call. Most of the time, we pray at the Church, at our bedroom before we sleep and anywhere that is quiet. But there is more to the simple venue of praying. Since prayer is a response to God’s call at a given moment, and God can call us anywhere that we could be at then wherever we are we can always pray. Be it inside the jeepney, inside the classroom, as you walk in the street or ride a bike you can pray to God. Even as you eat, in your mind you can pray to God thanking Him of the meal or talk to Him about anything. For God does not mind the place, but he merits the sincerity.
Jesus said that, when we pray we must go to a room, close it and pray in private. What is the most private room? Our hearts. If we could only open our hearts and find peace in there we will have a very suitable place for us to pray. But the problem you might say, is how to recognize whether God is already calling you or not? The answer is, opening up your senses and what we have talked in the last session, being mindful of the signs. As what we have learned in the last topic, God is everywhere and He speaks to us in many different ways. All we have to do is be sensitive and open minded to see and read the signs. In this prayer activity that we are going to do, we will give you the chance to answer to God as he calls for you. He i s here now with us just waiting for you to come and speak with Him. Once you do, tell Him all you want to say for He is eager to hear from you. All your heart’s content, your worries, your troubles and your supplications say it all to Him. He is your Father, Our Father, don’t be ashame d to speak to Him. Are you ready?
Pakingan mo ang tibok ng iyong puso, ang marahan nitong pag pintig na wari nakikipag usap sa iyo. Naririnig mo ba?. (Pause Ngayon naman, nais kong buksan ninyo ang inyong kaisipan at imahenasyon. (Pause) Isipin mo ngayon na ikaw ay nasa isang kalsada, mabato, pero patag na kalsada. Sa pag tingin mo sa malayo, nakita mo ang isang burol. Sa taas nito ay may isang malaking puno ng mangga. Dahan dahan, naglakad ka paakyat sa burol at palapit sa puno ng mangg a. Habang ika’y lumalapit, ay tumitingala ka upang pag masdan ang laki ng punong nasa iyong harapan. Malalaking sanga, mayayabong na dahon na tila ba sumasayaw sa bawt pag ihip ng hangin. Nakaka mangha hindi ba. (Pause) Sa iyong galak, ikaw ay naupo sa ilalim na puno at pinagmasdan ang napaka lawak na kabukiran. Mga tanim na palay na sa kahinugan ay tila gintong dagat. Suamsayaw habang umiihip ang hangin. Kay sarap ng dampi ng hangin. Habang ang mga ulap ay marahang naglalakbay sa kalangitan. (Pause)
Reflection for the Motivation: “Sa sandaling ito, ais kung maupo kayo ng maayos at komportable. Iyuko nyo and inyong ulo at ipikit and inyong mga mata. Maari bang inyong ilapag sa sahig ang mga hawak ninyong panyo at alisin sa inyong paligid ang anumang sagabal sa inyong katawan. (Pause) Dahan dahan, palayain ninyo ang inyong isipan, huminga ng malalim at dahan dahan. Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale. Hayaan ninyong ang akig mga salita ang inyong maging gabay. (Pause) Buksan ninyo ang inyong pandama, at pakiramdaman ninyo ang inyong paligid. Naririnig moba ang huni ng mga kulisap? Kay ganda ng kanilang awit hindi ba? (Pause) Damhin mo ang malamig na hangin na pumapasok mula sa mga bintana at dumarampi sa iyong balat na animoy haplus ng mga kamay. Kay sarap hagkan hindi ba? (Pause) )
Sa iyong pamamahinga sa ilalim ng puno at pagtatanaw sa kabukiran may napansin kang tila ba naglalakad papalapit sa iyong kinaruruonan. Tiningnan mo ng mabuti. Habang siya ay palapit ng palapit. Palapit ng palapit. Hangang sa unti unti mong naaninag ang kanyang mukha. Abah, ang Panginoong Hesus pala. (Pause) Si Hesus ay lumapit sa iyong kinauupuan at tumabi sa iyo. Tulad sa isang magaang mga kamay, kanyang hinawakan ang iyong balikat, tinapik ito at siya ang ngumiti. Ikay napa luha, tinanong ka niya, “Bakit anak ko? Bakit ka lumuluha?” Hindi mo siya masagot, patuloy ka lang sa pag luha. (Pause) Si Hesus ay tumayo at inabot ang kanyang mga kamay. Nais ka niyang dalhin sa isang lugar na tanging kayo lang ang naroroon. Upang makapa usap. Sasama ka ba kaibigan? Ngayon na ang oras para makipag-usap sa kanya. Sasayangin mo pa ba? Kausapin mo si Hesus, handa siyang makinig sa lahat ng nais mong sabihin.”
ACTIVITY 10: THE NEW JOURNEY, My Commitment to God
Reflection Guide for Prayer Proper:
This is now the last part of our recollection. Finally we are nearing the end and we are now about to see our destination. What is it again? (Ask them to recite it loudly). All of our activities and talks are all directed in reaching that destination. Now, you will make t he final decision.
(Huwag Kang Mangamba) “Sa mga sandaling ito, kapiling mo ang Diyos. Siya ay nasa iyong harapan, hawak ang iyong mga kamay. Nagtatanung, “Anak, bakit ngayon ka lang? Bakit ngayon mo lang siya naisip lapitan? Alam mo bang Mahal na mahal ka niya? Bakit di mo siya ngayon kausapin. Nakahanda siyang making. Sabihin mo lahat ng nais mong sabohin sa kanya. Mga problema, pighati, hirap, saya lahat. Ikwento mo sa kanya. Handa siyang making. Mag kwento ka. (Pause)
We have told you that in our recollection, considering it as our journey, we will be the drivers. And we had driven this train up to this part. soon, we will give to you the steering wheel for you to drive your life on your own. At the start of the recollection, before we start this journey you have watched Jesus, saying “Come and See” to the disciples of John who followed Him. Now let us watch that again. (Play the Full Video Clip) After finding out where Jesus lived, what did Andrew found out and what did he do? Andrew and the other disciple found the Messiah, the Son of God, the Christ and Savior. They had been so overjoyed that they stayed with Jesus the entire day and the next day for the rest of their life. And Andrew introduced his brother Simon to Jesus. And we know what happened after. all is history. Now, on your part, you have just been through an activity wherein you meet Jesus personally. Did anyone o who here who did not? None. All of you did. Now that you found Jesus, what will you do? Will you live and forget everything as if nothing had happened? Or will you be like Andrew and the other disciple who upon meeting Jesus stayed with Him forever? Andrew found God and wanted God to be with him, so he never leaves the side of God. In your part, will you leave God and return to your old way of life? A life with no direction and no meaning? A life that you said is not right? And once you found God, will you keep Him for yourself? In the Bible Andrew introduces Simon to Jesus and both of them stayed with Jesus. In you, will ypu share your experience with God to others so that others too will be changed? This is now the challenge as you walk to your life after this recollection. For you to do the effort of staying with God for as long as you live. Life is too short to be wasted and lived with no meaning. You are young, more is waiting for you. Without God in your life, you will never have life and experience life to the fullest.
(Ugoy ng Duyan) Sa puntong ito, nais malamn ng Diyos, kumusta ang pamilya mo? Kumusta ka sa kanila? Ang relasyon mo sa iyong mga magulang. Sa iyong mga kapatid. Nagging mabuting anak kaba sa kanila. Ekwento mo. Naalala mo pa ba nung bata ka pa, lagi mong takbuhan ang iyong inay. Ang una ninyong laro ng iyong tatay ng iyong mga kapatid. Mga awayan, biruan. Kaysaya ng kabataan hindi ba. Kay sarap balikan ng nakaraan. Ikwento mo sa panginoon. Ang iyong mga kapilyuhan noong bat aka pa, lahat. (Pause)
(Hindi Kita Malilimutan) Ngayon naman, tinatanung ng Panginoon, kumusta ka sa mga magulang mo? Nagging mabait k aba sa kanila? Bakit kapag ka inuutusan ka, e nagdadabog ka? Bakit mo sila minumura kung nagagalit ka? Bakit mo sila sinasagot sagot? Nagpapangaral langnaman sila sayo diba? (Pause)
Hindi mob a sila mahal? Bakit hindi mo ito pinapadama sa kanila? Nahihiya ka ba sa ibang tao dahil ganun ang magulang mo? Mahirap lang? bakit? Nasabi mo na bang Mahal mo sila? Nasabi mo manlang bas a kanila na Mama, I love You, Papa I love you? Kelan mo gagawin yun, Kapag wala na sila? Nagtatanung ang Panginoon. Kelan mo ipapadama na mahal mo sila? Kapag wala na sila? Kapag malamig na silang bangkay? Huli na ang lahat. Aantayin mo pa bay un? Sumagot ka.
(Sayo Lamang) Ngayon naman, nagtatanung ang panginoon. Kumusta ang sarili mo? Ang katawan mo? Ang kalusugan mo? Magkwento ka naman, anu anu ba nag mga pinagkaka abalahan mo? Madals kasi, iba ang kasama mo. Bihira kang lumapit sa kanya. Ikwento mo sa kanya kung papano ka unag nadap, umiyak. Mga nagpapasaya sayo. Lahat. Nagtatanung ang Panginoon, bakit bihira kang maglingkod sa kaniya. Palagi nalang, nasa lakwatsa ka. Di ka manlang nagsisimba. Ni magdasal di mo ginagawa? Anu bang pinagkaka abalahan mo? Naninigarilyo ka din, umiinom. Alam mo bang masama yan sayo? Bakit mo g inagawa? (Sino Ako) Alam mo bang hiram lang sa Diyos ang buhay mo? Bakit mo pinapabayaan na masayang lang? andami mong ginagawang mga walang katuturang bagay. Alam mo bang hindi sa iyo ang buhay mo? Hiram mo lang sa Diyos? Bakit hindi mo ginagamit sa paglingkod sa kaniya? Kelan mo aalagaan ang sarili mo? Kapag huli na ang lahat? Ang mga bisyo mo, kelan mo babaguhin? Kapag may sakit ka na? Kelan ka maglilingkod sa Diyos? Kapag wala ka na? kapag, hindi mo na kaya? Kelan? Sabihin mo sa Diyos. Kelan? (Tanging Yaman) Ngayon naman, nais malaman ng Panginoon ang mga problema mo sa buhay. Mga hirap na iyong dinaranas, mga pagtitiis nais niyang malaman. Anu ba ang mga bagay na nagpapa lungkot sa iyo? Mga bagay na nagpapahirap sa iyo? Ano bang dinaramdam mo sa mga sandaling ito? Nais niyang malaman. Bakit kapagka may problem aka, mas una kang lumalapit sa iba. Sa ibang tao, sa kaibigan mo, ka klase. Bakit hindi mo muna nilalapit sa kanya? Nahihiya k aba sa kanya? Nais niyang Malaman. Ikaw ay kanyang anak, ang kanyang tanging yaman. (Hesus Hilumin Mo) Alam ng Panginoon na ikaw ay nagdanas ng matinding pighati. Kaguluhan sa isip at puso, mga pasakit sa buhay. Sa murang edad ay madami ka nang pinag daanan. Ibaling mo sa Diyos ngayon ang iyong attension at hayaan mo siyang ikaw ay paghilumin. (Father’s Love Letter) No Reflections is Needed for this part.
(Ako’y Iyong Iyo) At this part, the participants can now remove their blind folds and direct their sight to the altar in front. To the image of Jesus, and once again make a conversation to Him, face to face.
(Pagsibol) Let the participants cool down. You can direct them to go to their buddies and join them, hugging each other and comfort one another. The lights should now be opened. The prayer activity ends at this part. After a few minutes, when they are cooled down, you can direct them to return to the lecture room once again for the final activity.
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My Redeemer Lives Nicole Mullen Who taught the sun where to s tand in the morning? And who told the ocean you can only come this far? And who showed the moon where to hide till evening? Whose words alone can catch a falling star? Chorus: Well I know my Redeemer lives I know my Redeemer lives All of creation testifies This life within me cries I know my Redeemer lives The very same God That spins things in orbit Runs to the weary, the worn and the weak And the same gentle hands that hold me when I'm broken They conquered death to bring me victory (Chorus 2times) He lives to take away my shame And He lives ,forever I'll proclaim That the payment for my sins Was the precious life He gave And now He's alive and There's an empty , Grave! And I know My Redeemer lives I know My Redeemer lives let all creation testify Let this life within me cry, I know My Redeemer lives Let all creation testify, Let this life within me cry I know My Redeemer I know My Redeemer He lives I know, I know My Redeemer lives I know My Redeemer lives He lives.
Whatever happens, know that God is alive. And that He is always with you. Whatever obstacle you go through as long as God is with you, you can overcome it. Just like Job. He knows that there is God and that he is a righteous man. That God will never leave him and that all is just a t est. Yes he did question God why did it all happened to him but still, God was not angry for Job admits that he is nothing compared to God. Such is what we must do in our daily life. To do what is righteous and trust God in all things in life. Our redeemer lives. And whatever we experience in life we can push it through with God. Allow me to share this inspiring video before I give you your final activity.
(Play Video: My Redeemer Lives)
Did yu see the efforts of the father for his son? The father is willing to endure every pain every hardship every obstacle just in order to make his son happy. He always say yes. The father in the video reflects the attitude of our own Heavenly Father, our God. The Lord loves us so much that He in all His holiness and might will go miles and miles just to provide all our needs. God Loves you, more than you have ever imagined. He is your redeemer, Jesus your savior. Now, take back your Recollection Diaries. Open it on the page with the title “My Journey Begins”. Write now your commitment to God. What will you do in order to live a life with God. You face your buddies and help one another in writing. Remember, this will now be your vision board. It will serve as your reminder of the destination of your life. You will be given enough time to share and write.
(Give the participants 20 to 30 minutes to write. After all is done. play again the video of My Redeemer Lives and ask the participants to join singing. Repeat the song two more times in order for the participants to familiarize the song.) Before ending the recollection, the bible should be exited.
