To live meaningfully on earth one has to have strong convictions on “WHO” he is and “WHY” he is. These convictions are usually the result of one’s personal experiences, readings and interactions with people.
One of the statements that keep lingering in my mind is from the Dutch Catechism which says: “We live together in this world; we ourselves a part of this world; but endowed with some spirituality.”
While we Christians have been taught by Christ thru the Church Officialdom that we are children of God and our destiny is to be with God forever, one has still to grapple with these two fundamental questions and elicit an answer that he has mentally digested and made a part of himself.
As for me, the image of a PILGRIMAGE has been a constant inspiration. Seeing people travelling together towards a common destination and helping each other to be able to reach their destiny is, indeed, very heartening. Because of this I have viewed life on earth as a PILGRIMAGE – each and everyone of us travelling.
Where are we going? This is a question that people answer in different ways, depending on their points of view. As for me, time and again I have reflected on the tenets of our Christian Faith and at this point in my life, I have arrived at some convictions which I am ready to die for, if necessary, by the grace of God.
Briefly these are my convictions.
1. The world we live in must have been created by a Supreme Being we call God, Who is all knowing and all powerful.
2. We all came into existence thru the power of this Supreme Being, and we can remain in existence only thru His continued sustaining power.
3. At present there is only one planet, we call the Earth, where all of us live.
4. In God’s infinite Goodness He has destined us to live with Him forever.
5. To live with God means to really love Him.
6. Since love can only be given freely, God has given us the Gift of Freedom to be able to love Him in return.
7. Our life on earth is then a time for us to decide on whether to love or not to love God in return.
8. Those who have made up their minds to love God in return are on a Pilgrimage towards their predetermined destiny – To live with God forever.
9. We who have made this choice are on a Pilgrimage to Heaven.
10. As Pilgrims, it is a corporate responsibility for us to help each other reach our destiny.
Meditating on the aforesaid convictions, I have been challenged to live in such a way as to help, with the grace of God, everyone who comes in contact with me to reach his destiny. Deep in my heart I believe that anyone who in one way or another has given a helping hand to someone so as to enable him to reach his destiny may be assured of his eternal salvation.
By: Salvador "Buddy" Cagurangan
Date: October 25, 2009
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