Ei guys! I haven't been able to post much here in the blog and again largely in part of me being busy with work but hopefully I could get around to posting some more personal stuff over the next couple of weeks.
I've just gotten around to setting up my studio again after rushing to move everything up to storage in my brother's place because of an impending flash flood due to heavy monsoon rain. Thankfully we were not hit, unlike last year where our house was submerged in neck deep waters and my studio was a total wreck.
As it was raining heavily and I was taking my quiet time I realized how angry I was when we were hit by Habagat last year. I was just about to start around 3 projects then when the flood hit. I was really angry at the Lord for allowing that to happen to us, especially when the rescue boats came and rescued my sister-in-law who was 8 months pregnant, my sister and her daughter Bella who was 2 years old then. I cried when I saw my niece crying frantically as she was taken by the rescuers. It was more painful when I learned that the rescue boat got punctured and they won't be able to go back to take my parents and Manay as they had originally planned. I was confused, mad and dead tired. I feared a repeat of Ondoy and while I laugh at that experience 4 years ago and how I jest about how much comics I lost during Ondoy, when the water was rising, I was afraid for my life and Manay's. I was not ready for a repeat of last year and with my whole family gathered here at the house I began to feel really really afraid for everyone else.
This time it was different. After last year's Habagat I realized a lot of things. Habagat made me realize that even if I lose my clients and my work my family will always be here with me. I had a deeper appreciation of my bonds with my siblings and my in-laws and I saw how God acted in spite of the rising waters. No one was harmed. We were safe, we had a house to return to and the projects were restored. I was amazed at how we functioned like a well oiled unit then and I knew that should things like this happen again we would be able to brave them as long as we don't lose faith and allow God to see us through.
As I was getting ready to pack my studio stuff the other day I prayed and told God that this time I would not be angry. I honestly did not know why he would allow the floods to come again but we were ready and I knew that he had greater plans for all of us than what we can see. My perspective is dwarfed greatly by how God sees things and in his divine plan I have learned to trust even if I don't understand.
Whenever personal tragedies strike I remember these two verses:
"Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
-Matthew 11:29 to 30
Perhaps the greatest lesson and grace I received from Habagat was that God is God in spite of my circumstances. This means that he is in charge and he will take care of everything. It is hard to accept this in light of suffering but trust me when I share with you that if you do surrender tragedies will turn into blessings and the realizations after our painful circumstances are worth every ounce of pain that we go through.
