I Love — Through Listening

By GELO

I ATTEND The Feast and in one gathering at Valle Verde, Pasig City,

I came to know about the Light of Jesus Pastoral Care– through a one-fourth size bond paper flier invitation about the Ministry’s Journey to Personal Growth (JPG) seminar. I inquired about the seminar but I was told that the event was postponed.

Months after, I saw an update on the event on The Feast’s Facebook page. So, I did sign up and I was able to attend the two-day JPG live-in seminar in a retreat house in Taytay, Rizal.

I then continued to attend the next seminars and workshops on basic facilitating and counseling skills. I also accepted the invitation to further be trained in Pastoral Care led by our directress, Sis. Ditas Español (left).

I have a day job and because of time constraints in my work, I could not commit 100 percent to the Ministry. But I made it a point to be present in the weekend activities at the LOJ Pastoral Care Center.

On March 16, 2020—my birthday—the LOJPCC office had to be closed to follow lockdown protocols to prevent the spread of Coronavirus Disease (COVID). So, that day was the last day of my training on face-to-face pastoral care.

But one day, Sis. Ditas called for a meeting announcing that we would continue the Ministry—by transitioning from face-to-face to online meetings.

Amid the COVID onslaught, there has been a greater need for pastoral carers as people reeled with anxiety, stress, varied emotional roller coasters, and other uncertainties as the Pandemic continues to this day.

By God’s grace, I finally became an official pastoral carer right on the LOJ Pastoral Care anniversary in July 2020.

Called Through The Feast

In hindsight, I believe God has mercifully called me to be a pastoral carer — through The Feast.

I learned about The Feast through my professor in graduate school. She’s a Feaster, and she shared in our class about the excellent talks and sessions we can attend– for free– at the world-class venue, the Philippine International Convention Center. But I simply forgot all about it.

After about a year, I accidentally saw on Facebook about The Feast, tagged as The Happiest Place on Earth.

Curious, I searched for details about it through The Feast website. I found out the nearest Feast where I live is at Bluewave, Marikina. I got interested, and as the jargon goes, the rest is history.

Depending on where I am based and my time schedule, I’ve kept on attending Feasts, hopping from one venue to another– at Sta. Lucia East, Robinsons Galleria, and Valle Verde.

Before the Pandemic lockdown, I was also a regular attendee at The Feast Light Araneta in Gateway Mall, Cubao, every Thursday night. There were already plans for the launching of a full-blown live Feast Cubao in Gateway. I was already supposed to be part of a Feast Ministry but unfortunately, COVID-19 put the launching on hold.

But again, by the grace of God, I’m now a regular attendee at The Feast Ortigas at Novotel Hotel.

Passing Through Stopovers

I believe that being in Pastoral Care–for me to be able to fully serve– there were many stopovers that I passed through. But then, the right and the perfect time came for me to dedicate the best I can to this Ministry.

The world has a great need for listening ears especially amid the Pandemic.

I myself have had to grapple with my own issues — especially since I was just starting living a solo life.

It wasn’t easy. It was lonely. It was fearful. It was sad. But the Ministry I’m in has also sustained my sanity. That despite all these struggles, my imperfections, and weaknesses, and my not feeling qualified—just obeying God will put things in place.

Just be willing to invest the little capital you have. I know that through my service, I also have become an extension of the love, care, and mercy of the Father, especially to His broken and wounded children.

I am simply also allowing God to let His grace flow in my cracks and brokenness.

There are also times—if not many times—that I wanted to stop serving, and I feel I can’t bear the burden.

Listening is difficult and tiring.

Sometimes, I doubt myself– if what I’m doing is going anywhere. And besides, there are so many who are more qualified for the Ministry.

I honestly want to say, “No more, Lord!”

But service and ministry are going beyond one’s comfort zone. It’s giving your commitment to the Lord—with what you have, and what you can offer.

I just tell myself to say, “Here I am Lord!”

So, when I enter into the suffering of the other person through listening ears, and with great attentiveness, I also encounter the great love of God– He who suffered for us. That love is really profound when you are there being present, and suffering with another person.

That love—is really something worth suffering for.