Spiritual Awakening: The Change Of The Tide!!!
The year was 2002 and I was a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in Buang La Union, Philippines I was well into my path of self discovery and experiencing a spiritual awakening when I discovered the power of the changing of the tide. I had walked about 5 KM from my host family’s house up the beach stopping at a resort to have a snack when I sat peacefully on the seawall watching the waves ebb and flow when I noticed that one of the banka(fishing) boats was coming in and that the crew would struggle to get it to shore so I jumped of the seawall and met the boat a sit came in and the filipino crew seemed frightened at first as they weren’t used to getting help from a stranger but I told them I can help I am pretty strong I lifted the front of the boat and with a few pulls and help from the crew we brought the boat to shore. The fishermen paid me with an offering of their catch which I brought to my host family to cook. As I reflect back on this moment I am reminded that GOD will put is where we are meant to be so as to be of service and value to others. Through out the next several months while I served in The U.S. Peace Corps I would have many encounters that would revolve around the change of the tide. There would be days when I realized that walking back to the host family’s home would be challenging because of high tide and having to dodge waves. It was in these moments that I learned that you can either wait for the high tide to pass or you can adjust accordingly.
Many a night while in The Philippines this would be my view on my way from The Regional Rehabilitation Center For Youth where I taught Math, English, and Livelihood Skills to the at-risk youth assigned to the center. I would sit on the chair by the water realizing just how grateful I was as not everyone gets to fulfill a dream of traveling to another country and helping other people excel. As I watched the tide come in an out I began to realize that the water represented a flow of life and at anytime that tide can change. As I became more and more aware of the power of the tide and the vibrational forces of nature i became more productive as I kept myself centered and grounded.
As I at on a seawall one afternoon in the twilight hour at Bali-Hi Resort I came up with the idea to teach swimming to the residents of the barangay and I had the resort agree to allow me to use the resort. The first class went well people came and I was able to explain my credentials and show them some basics. Things were going great and I got sick and had to go to Manila and that was when the tide changed as I had to early terminate my service due to the medical issues I was having. The Peace Corps Sent a representative to get my stuff from the host family and tell the resort that I was going home. I was sad but understood the impact that I had made and saw just how the experience had impacted me. I boarded a plane to come home in February 2002 and as I traveled I remembered one of the lessons that The U.S. Peace Corps Teaches and that is to be of service and value in all you do. I arrived home and was surprised that my mom, who has since passed away a sshe was called home to GOD on July 5, 2012, was waiting at the airport for me. I arrived home and went to bed and the next day had one of the best conversations with my Mom as I explained why I joined the U.S. Peace Corps and the lessons I had learned. It was at that moment that I began to get a grasp of the spiritual awakening process and the lessons that I am still learning. In the last 13 years I have learned that the tide will change in your life and it is up to you to follow the messages sent from GOD so that you can adjust accordingly.
Bauang, La Union will always have a special place in my heart a sit provided lessons that have allowed me to grow personally and professionally. Find that which will enhance your life so that you can change with the tide. Stay Positive!!!
