How Do You Usually See God

MARLA TENCHAVEZ

How do you usually see God? Perhaps when something good happens to you, for instance, you get a good grade in a subject you’re having a hard time in, or maybe when if your friends help you out when you’re going through something hard. Or even during your hardest of times, like when you try something completely new, and you are forced to step out of your comfort zone. Yet, I saw God through an event that was completely new and unexpected. I accompanied my dad to Quirino Grandstand when the Pope came here for his Papal visit. This experience was where I felt God present in my life, but the events surrounding that may have been a bit different from when you expect it to be.

            My batch and I were preparing for our First Holy Communion back in grade 3. On Thursday, before my first Holy Communion, my mom said that I was supposed to attend a parent-daughter activity. But when that day finally came, my parents said that they had a surprise for me. During breakfast, they told me I was actually going to the papal mass in Quirino Grandstand because my dad got two special tickets from his friend, Argentina’s ambassador. Instead of my mom going, I was going to go with my dad!

Time skip to when my dad and I finally got to Manila. We started walking to Quirino grandstand since we could no longer use the car after reaching a certain spot. While we were walking, I felt this cold, thick splat fall on my head, then another, and another. Suddenly there was a downpour. Luckily, my mom packed a raincoat for me. During this cold and long walk, I was able to see the city of Manila from a different point of view. My dad was soaking wet but was just worried about me the whole time, but he just kept asking if I was ok and just wanted to go home. But I said I was ok and we kept walking. Nearing Quirino grandstand, my dad and I spotted my ninang and tita in the crowd. There were hundreds of people lined up outside, patiently waiting to catch a glimpse of the pope.

After walking for a while longer, we finally go to our seats, but the rain had only gotten stronger. My dad and I got there an hour early, so we just sat down and waited there in the rain since we’d gone too far to go back now. About 20 minutes had passed, and all I can remember now was the sound of the thick rain splats on my coat. Everyone was running in the rain seeking a roof so that they would not get wet. About 30 minutes have passed, and my dad finally asked me if I wanted to head back home. Being the persistent person that I am, I declined. So then we waited for about 10 more minutes.

Finally, it was time for the mass, but the rain persisted. We’ve been under the rain now for three hours. I was cold, my hair, shoes, and pants were drenched, and I just thought to myself, “Can’t the rain stop? Why does it have to rain, especially now when we are outdoors with no roof and dad has no raincoat?”

Unexpectedly, things got better. About 3 minutes later, someone offered my dad an extra raincoat, and a female guard offered me and my dad seats near the entrance since it was a covered area. The people there also offered my dad and my snacks, such as sky flakes and some candy. We stayed there the entire mass until the Pope was going to ride his Pope Mobile around. My dad and I rushed to the front to see the Pope in the best view possible. When the Pope reached the side we were staying in, we got a magnificent view, and we were so close to him, approximately 1 meter away! Based on what my dad said, I had the biggest smile on my face.

On the way to dinner at around 8 o’clock, in the car, I realized that God was in every detail, be it big or small. During this unforgettable experience, I saw God through my dad because he endured it and made sure I was ok despite feeling cold and getting soaked in the rain. God also revealed Himself through the people around me because, even though they were also cold and soaked and hungry and tired from walking, they still offered me their seats, the snacks they brought, and their spare hand towels. That moment showed me that God really does work in everyone and everything. He can be in the weather that day, in the people around you, or even in the events that happened to you. God showed me that He is everywhere and will be there to help us get through what we are going to have to face and that if we continue to have faith in Him and trust Him, good things are to happen to us.

Before I finish, I’d like to note that we shouldn’t only see God during our up moments, but also during our down moments. I did not expect this experience to turn out like that, but that makes it special. God showed me that He is everywhere, even in a three-hour rain, and will be there to help us get through anything if we continue to have faith and trust him. If we get to a point wherein we feel like going back and restarting again, then maybe it’s a way for God to show His way to you in that situation. During these hard times, your faith and trust in Him must not lessen but continue to grow because He is with us no matter what and that all this is a greater plan for us.