The Ministry and the University Mall
~
So I’ve been able to rush all the work I could possibly do so far and now I’m finally left with idle time. Perhaps a good time to write but no, I think I got burned out from the company projects and reports that my system is now rejecting my computer. Ok… take it easy, just relax, slow down… start rambling…
~
I recently found myself visiting the UST Center for Campus Ministry. I could’ve sworn I felt I was being drawn towards the as I finished a project needs analysis with a client somewhere near the area. I just had to visit the place. Work has been way in all over my head I desperately needed to land on safe ground. Perhaps on this case a sanctuary.
A book once said everything you needed to learn in life, you already learned in kindergarten but I have to strongly disagree. You don’t meet your most trusted friends in prep or kindergarten. You don’t get to fall in love and get heart broken that young either. You don’t get through tough emotional pressure when you’re below 7. Basically, behavioural psychologists would agree that when a person finishes high school, the traits and personalities that person has developed will likely stay that way until that person dies. Unless a major life-altering event takes place.
The campus still felt the same – home and safe. Until I noticed the huge new buildings abound. God, they now have a mall inside the campus. And I am not exaggerating. Not only do they now have a building filled with food shops like Taco-Bell, Dimsum and Dumplings, Kimchi, a grill house, a Mc Donald’s and (best of all) a KFC chain, the mall also has mobile phone shops, RTW’s, a bookstore and so on. If that’s not a mall I don’t know what is. Oh, the 3 level parking area attached to the building easily gives it away.
Anyway, I was able to make it to the campus ministry. No, I am not an atheist as you probably have concluded. I used to spend 70% of my time as a student being a volunteer. That was more fulfilling for me than getting top marks. And yes, I believe in a god or gods or even a goddess. If some religions like Shintoism believe that there might be more gods and goddesses to represent ethereal beings then I respect that and I can also take that principle in. So I may be agnostic. If it means that I can respect other religions and relate to their principles, then for me, it’s a good thing. The world needs more people like me so that war can be averted.
The campus ministry office still felt the same. It is a bit more cramped than ever but it’s still home. I went through the photo albums of our time and laughed at the pictures while I was there. There we were on the pictures, young and serving under one faith. Perhaps some volunteers by now would have developed other personal or Gnostic principles and theories about their religion but I know that once, the place was their home too as it had been mine and God was there.
--
So I’ve been able to rush all the work I could possibly do so far and now I’m finally left with idle time. Perhaps a good time to write but no, I think I got burned out from the company projects and reports that my system is now rejecting my computer. Ok… take it easy, just relax, slow down… start rambling…
~
I recently found myself visiting the UST Center for Campus Ministry. I could’ve sworn I felt I was being drawn towards the as I finished a project needs analysis with a client somewhere near the area. I just had to visit the place. Work has been way in all over my head I desperately needed to land on safe ground. Perhaps on this case a sanctuary.
A book once said everything you needed to learn in life, you already learned in kindergarten but I have to strongly disagree. You don’t meet your most trusted friends in prep or kindergarten. You don’t get to fall in love and get heart broken that young either. You don’t get through tough emotional pressure when you’re below 7. Basically, behavioural psychologists would agree that when a person finishes high school, the traits and personalities that person has developed will likely stay that way until that person dies. Unless a major life-altering event takes place.
The campus still felt the same – home and safe. Until I noticed the huge new buildings abound. God, they now have a mall inside the campus. And I am not exaggerating. Not only do they now have a building filled with food shops like Taco-Bell, Dimsum and Dumplings, Kimchi, a grill house, a Mc Donald’s and (best of all) a KFC chain, the mall also has mobile phone shops, RTW’s, a bookstore and so on. If that’s not a mall I don’t know what is. Oh, the 3 level parking area attached to the building easily gives it away.
Anyway, I was able to make it to the campus ministry. No, I am not an atheist as you probably have concluded. I used to spend 70% of my time as a student being a volunteer. That was more fulfilling for me than getting top marks. And yes, I believe in a god or gods or even a goddess. If some religions like Shintoism believe that there might be more gods and goddesses to represent ethereal beings then I respect that and I can also take that principle in. So I may be agnostic. If it means that I can respect other religions and relate to their principles, then for me, it’s a good thing. The world needs more people like me so that war can be averted.
The campus ministry office still felt the same. It is a bit more cramped than ever but it’s still home. I went through the photo albums of our time and laughed at the pictures while I was there. There we were on the pictures, young and serving under one faith. Perhaps some volunteers by now would have developed other personal or Gnostic principles and theories about their religion but I know that once, the place was their home too as it had been mine and God was there.
--





oh! CCM sa Main Bldg! who was that long-haired guy who's been there for ages? i hope by now he's graduated from college. hehehe! ;-P
Posted by
beng |
7/11/2006 07:11:00 AM
yeah.. i miss those days of being a volunteer at CCM.. *sigh* the morning sessions with father dennis.. organizing recollections and masses.. teaching the action songs.. hehehe.. and most of all, just simply hanging out and having chitchats with the other volunteers..
o yeah.. i was one of the fortunate students who got to go to the very top of the main building.. right by the cross and the 0km mark.. kewl huh.. =p
and yup! twas very fulfilling..
heya beng.. i think you're referring to kuya art.. am i right lei?
Posted by
jane |
7/11/2006 07:42:00 AM
yes, i think that was Art. jane, naaaliw nga ako nung tinitingnan ko yung pics natin sa "blue cross" eh. parang ang saya-saya, parang you really reached the pinnacle of your voluntter career :D
Posted by
simplyjessie |
7/12/2006 05:23:00 PM