Last May 6 to 8, my friends and I went to Ilocos Sur for a 3-day vacation. It was an awesome trip. A very refreshing experience and an opportunity to think things through. While we were bathing in Pinsal Falls and enjoying the awesome view, my good friend, Ervin, asked this question:
Ervin: Limestone ba yan?
Me: Nope. Hindi yan limestone. Iba ang Limestone.
After answering his question, I remembered the first time I saw a limestone during our trip in Mindoro when I was young. It was huge and beautiful. It has different shapes and you would feel small if you're standing next to it. I can never forget the feeling of amazement after seeing one.
During our trip in Ilocos Sur, there were times that our travel from one place to another would take almost 1 hour and 30 minutes. These were the times that I thought about the Limestone. I apologize for my weirdness, I guess we try to find meaning and purpose in the things that catch our attention, thoughts and ultimately our hearts. So there I was thinking about the Limestones. I remembered this conversation I had with Tito Caloy during our trip in Mindoro.
Me: Paano nabubuo yung Limestones?
Tito Caloy: Dahil sa alon. Dahil sa hampas ng alon kaya yan nagkaganyan.
The wonder and the beauty of the Limestones that I saw was caused by waves. Strong and powerful waves. It took maybe (just maybe) a century to shape that huge thing into a Limestone and after all those years, there I was, a kid, being amazed and standing in awe of how colossal and how breath-taking Limestones are.
I realized that limestones are quite similar with how our lives would look like in the future. Our present situations can be far from being "beautiful, breath-taking and amazing". You don't need to go to the news (where people are randomly killed by guns, countries having disputes over territorial issues, media icons being worshipped) to relate to what I'm saying. The thought of deadlines is irritating. House bills. Penalties. Utilities. Food. For others, a slow internet connection (?) or for fresh graduates like me who are into job-hunting. Studied four years (or more) in college and then become a hunter. Hehe. Just kidding. The hard truth is, after meeting the deadlines, paying the bills, finding food, showing up in an interview - the next thing you know, there are new challenges. Newer and stronger waves. Just waiting to hit you.
None of these facts are comforting because we're not supposed to find comfort in these - not on anything that the world would offer to us. That's probably one of the reasons why people get tired and stressed - we hope to find comfort in the wrong things. We experience pain and suffering brought about by these waves and we feel like this will go on forever (it's funny how we use the word "forever" without really experiencing it).
Now where's the reminder from the Limestones? We're getting there.
I remember the feeling after seeing and standing beside a Limestone - I felt small because Limestones are huge in width, length and height. If Limestones are this high, does that mean the water level in the past was also this high? Tito Caloy said "Yes". The water level subsided throughout the years.
Someday when the waves are done in our lives, they will subside and they can no longer reach us because we'll be a lot higher than the height of the waves. We'll be used to them, to the point of playing with them with our feet. When newer and stronger waves hit us, we dare say: There's no way you're breaking me.
While looking at the Limestones, I noticed that it was firmly established on its place. It's immovable because it has a strong foundation - it was being supported by the very rock that we're standing on. If we are a limestone, where would you establish your foundation?
Now here's the reminder of the Limestones:
Romans 8:18
Someday, all these waves will stop and when people will look at our lives - they will not see us nor what was lost or broken in our lives by the waves. But they will see the glory that is being revealed in us. Amen.
Ervin: Limestone ba yan?
Me: Nope. Hindi yan limestone. Iba ang Limestone.
After answering his question, I remembered the first time I saw a limestone during our trip in Mindoro when I was young. It was huge and beautiful. It has different shapes and you would feel small if you're standing next to it. I can never forget the feeling of amazement after seeing one.
During our trip in Ilocos Sur, there were times that our travel from one place to another would take almost 1 hour and 30 minutes. These were the times that I thought about the Limestone. I apologize for my weirdness, I guess we try to find meaning and purpose in the things that catch our attention, thoughts and ultimately our hearts. So there I was thinking about the Limestones. I remembered this conversation I had with Tito Caloy during our trip in Mindoro.
Me: Paano nabubuo yung Limestones?
Tito Caloy: Dahil sa alon. Dahil sa hampas ng alon kaya yan nagkaganyan.
The wonder and the beauty of the Limestones that I saw was caused by waves. Strong and powerful waves. It took maybe (just maybe) a century to shape that huge thing into a Limestone and after all those years, there I was, a kid, being amazed and standing in awe of how colossal and how breath-taking Limestones are.
I realized that limestones are quite similar with how our lives would look like in the future. Our present situations can be far from being "beautiful, breath-taking and amazing". You don't need to go to the news (where people are randomly killed by guns, countries having disputes over territorial issues, media icons being worshipped) to relate to what I'm saying. The thought of deadlines is irritating. House bills. Penalties. Utilities. Food. For others, a slow internet connection (?) or for fresh graduates like me who are into job-hunting. Studied four years (or more) in college and then become a hunter. Hehe. Just kidding. The hard truth is, after meeting the deadlines, paying the bills, finding food, showing up in an interview - the next thing you know, there are new challenges. Newer and stronger waves. Just waiting to hit you.
None of these facts are comforting because we're not supposed to find comfort in these - not on anything that the world would offer to us. That's probably one of the reasons why people get tired and stressed - we hope to find comfort in the wrong things. We experience pain and suffering brought about by these waves and we feel like this will go on forever (it's funny how we use the word "forever" without really experiencing it).
Now where's the reminder from the Limestones? We're getting there.
I remember the feeling after seeing and standing beside a Limestone - I felt small because Limestones are huge in width, length and height. If Limestones are this high, does that mean the water level in the past was also this high? Tito Caloy said "Yes". The water level subsided throughout the years.
Someday when the waves are done in our lives, they will subside and they can no longer reach us because we'll be a lot higher than the height of the waves. We'll be used to them, to the point of playing with them with our feet. When newer and stronger waves hit us, we dare say: There's no way you're breaking me.
While looking at the Limestones, I noticed that it was firmly established on its place. It's immovable because it has a strong foundation - it was being supported by the very rock that we're standing on. If we are a limestone, where would you establish your foundation?
Now here's the reminder of the Limestones:
Romans 8:18
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Whatever it is that we are facing or we will be facing in the future - there are all not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Someday, all these waves will stop and when people will look at our lives - they will not see us nor what was lost or broken in our lives by the waves. But they will see the glory that is being revealed in us. Amen.
