i accidentally deleted my Japan pictures and in the betweens

 I am in transition, again. I took the time to organize the files I have on my laptop and as a resolve, I bought a new HDD to have a new home for them. I don't know what I was thinking but instead of just putting my files in the new HDD, I copied them from the old HDD and even if it did not transfer well, I erased all the files on the old HDD. Later I realized that ALL of the documentation I did for the Japan trip last year was there, unbacked up. 

So yeah, here I am thinking about the what-ifs and making sense of the possibilities of having new space for new memories just to ease the disappointment. I still keep my hopes up that I will get to visit Japan again, soon.

Jesus is God

Yes, that’s what the bible says. It doesn’t matter what I think, what other people think. What the world says, even. This lent, I got into a journey of, for lack of a better word, examination of my faith. It started with a movie entitled “Magdalena” which told a story in the perspective of someone who was freed by Jesus from bondage. What a bummer when the following night I was confronted again with the reality of my weakness. It led me to assess the reality of the relationship I have with him which started a lot of years before. When the reality of these weaknesses resurface, I have learned that the only way I could make sense of the situation is when I return to the decision that started it all, and reiterate to myself the Gospel. 

Reading the book He Chose the Nails by Max Lucado started the search in my heart, and led me to remember the frailty and of the stubbornness of it. I remember swaying in the hammock outside our house, reading the words carefully crafted by the author, examining each motivation that God has for his plan for mankind— which is to save them from their sins. And as I draw closer to the realization of my own frailty and filth, all the more I am convinced again that this soul needs saving. 

Being at home in a world that seemingly stopped, the silence of the otherwise hustling surroundings loudened the need of my heart to stop and listen to remember the gift of life Jesus offers— through a paradox of his death. Sensing the awakened desire to dig deeper, I watched Magdalena again the following day as I gave myself the time to meditate upon the events of how Jesus walked that road to Calvary. The Good Friday that succeeded was a much needed rest, not just for my body but for my mind. I continued reading the same book, and realized that the desire to know more about Jesus just increased. 

The following day, I watched the American Gospel: Christ Crucified documentary and again got mindblown by the presentation of how costly it was for God to redeem mankind from its pit of sin. And that was when I was reminded that the life lived in safety is never what God wanted for me to have. The call to follow Jesus has always been that of risk because Jesus did not come to make people comfortable. The ransom that God had to give to appease His wrath for mankind led a sacrifice willingly given by God himself. As I wrapped my mind around that truth, I realize that one cannot just agree and do nothing. There has to be change. That change for me turned out to be a subscription to an RZIM Course to aid my continually hungry mind to understand and know God.

My mom watched certain parts of that documentary with me, and while we were at the dinner table I did not expect her to ask a follow-up question of what she heard from that film. She asked if that movie was about Christ's death on the cross, and I answered with a swift yes which then ensued a discussion of the purpose of that film. I then explained the essence of how I understood it which was basically about the reason why Jesus had to die on the cross, and how it is the greatest and only expression for mankind's ransom for a death punishment. Which sadly, many are having false preachings about this beautiful exchange. 

The succeeding Sunday's commemoration of Christ's resurrection opened up a whole new lens for me. I started the apologetics course I took the day before and was ignited to know more about defending my faith. Though as Ravi Zacharias expounded from Peter's letter, I have to first set apart Jesus in my heart, then proceed with the noble task of giving an answer when asked about that which I deem important. Delving further in this world of apologetics reminded me that it's not just giving answers to questions that a follower of Christ should be pursuing, but to be concerned about the person himself as he tries to ask questions, which are just a glimpse of what's really happening inside him. 

As I continued with the first three courses, I was reminded with the way how I should view suffering and how I should familiarize myself with different lenses to view life with, yet still be assured of Jesus' absolutes. Later on today, I watched Jesus, a two-hour stage play. It was deep in the night but considering that tomorrow will be a start of another week, I thought indulging the remaining hours to remind myself of the lenten season won't hurt. So it's just quite funny how I'd tear up on certain scenes when Jesus' character was being magnified. Such ones were about his healing of the blind man near Bethesda, and how he defended the prostitute who was about to be stoned to death. I felt just poked to the heart as I was reminded of the character of the God whom I worship, and how I should ask him to give me the same heart that he also has! Oh how different this Jesus is, and how ironic that I might be one of those who might sneer at him if I were in that timeline! Strangely though, the principles which stood out to me were also those which I learned from my courses as if to be reminded about and to be emphasized to me again— the part where God left the ninety-nine to pursue one and how we ought to answer questions with regard to the real state of the questioner himself. 

This weekend was anything but stale. I could enumerate different reasons why but I could only pinpoint one thing: God's glory and His sovereignty. He desires us to know him more as much as He wanted to reveal himself to us. Isn't it comforting to know that this God whom we wanted to pursue is also in the business of committing himself to pursue you first?

Won't you wanna get to know this God? Let's talk. 

A Year-end Essay in February

The past year was full of transitions. I could write a lot of melancholic thoughts about letting go and settling in, or adapting to a new but familiar place, but I guess all my posts are just like that. I figured it might be time to try something new. Something upbeat. Something else. Something else that could capture what makes my 2019 different! But let me see if I can keep the pace. 😏

I entered 2019 with a hopeful heart for what God will do. I readied myself with a mindset that there might be big changes, but I never really imagined things would be like this until they finally happened to me. One of them was the fulfilment of a daydream of serving in whatever capacity God has designed me for. It also includes leaving a certain lifestyle into somewhere else which I never knew I would enjoy and embrace well. That's just the start. I guess you'd have to read on if you'd want to know the details. 

As for my highlights, I've selected these which are either new or too impactful that they changed the trajectory of my life. Big ones include my resignation from my first job to work as a digital nomad and starting up communities of faith and tech here in my home city. Some of the photos show the people whom God allowed me to meet as I transition back here. I am grateful and privileged that I get to cross paths with them!

What does faith and tech look like in Iloilo?
Here's a first. #indigitousph (c)Mikeel 

We praise God for the new coffeeshop with which we met for #digitalmissions.
Thank you, Riverun Craft Coffee! Photo grabbed from them too.

On the other hand, I praise God for proving that He really cared about friendships! When I relocated to Iloilo, He led me to a set of Christians who I think identified with my burden (and the blessing) of being a digital nomad. We are a mix of people from different occupations who were brought together by serving God through Indigitous #Hack Iloilo. On a side note though, I find it amusing that we lived in a really small world of connections because our friends somewhat know one another. Working together for #Hack led us to open up topics in life-to-life experiences, specifically relationships. It was actually just one session in our chat conversation but for some reason which was beyond me, we decided to form this group (which I am still grateful to God for!). We called ourselves the Shipmates— navigating the seas of “-ships”... together. Cheesy, I know.

The Shipmates (c)Mikeel

Of course, travelling has been one of the best experiences this year. But it's by God's grace that I got to be in places where I have never set foot before. Adding Addis Ababa to my visited cities was like a bucket list accomplishment for it was previously a city that I just get to read from the list of timezones! Bonus part was meeting inspiring brothers and sisters there, and getting encouraged in what God is doing in Digital Missions! Here are some shots from my travels:

A Taiwan-derland visit to Ying De University from Meteor Garden, among others, with the #FirstbornSquad.

Coffee roasting is made before brewing and a sidewalk seat with the locals is just a treat in Addis.

Made a new friend from the US during a trip to Singapore.

Went to see Japan autumn to reminisce the old and make new memories.
また日本へ行ったことは本当に楽しかった！

Also during this year, I decided to go back to my hometown. I lived again with my family after being independent for almost thirteen years. Independence surely grew into me, so it was challenging to unlearn and relearn habits. It's quite weird to go back to a really familiar place, especially now that I know that I am not the same person anymore. I sometimes wonder if relocating to a new place altogether would be so much easier. But no complaints! I am grateful for this chance that God has given me to be back here after such a looooooong time. This season also brought me back to reconnect with good old friends who were a part of the younger me.

A shot I took in my hometown while on a motorcyle.
Notice the canopy of mountains!

Iloilo City means co-journeying with these ladies again!

I mentioned about transitioning from a season of my life into somewhere else, and working with a Christian organization with which I was a part of since college made it unexpected. Indeed there are situations in life where the timing of how things happen convince you that there is something more than just coincidence. It has really been God's grace, and I thank God for this privilege to work here. What more, I get to work at home, travel at times, and rest in the identity of being just the child of The Creator of the Universe! It has been a privilege waking up everyday, being excited about getting to know Him and serving Him in this capacity that He also designed me for.

Faith and technology, they fuse so beautifully.

To top it all off, here's a 1SE (one second a day) video of what my year looked like. Not all 365 days were filled, so you'd see random selfies there (sorry about that!). January 1 opened with an immediate flight from Manila to Iloilo. I left Japan from a business trip a day before and arrived just hours before the new year. I got into a fix with my transportation, and feared being left by my plane! But all was well that ended well. Whenever I watch this video I get reminded of God's faithfulness through every season. You could notice the transitions as people enter and leave the frames. I guess you'll have to see for yourself (it's roughly five minutes)!

Apologies for some selfies. They were supposed to be fillers. 😂 

One day I might look back and see which of my life experiences brought me much change. For each and every reason I will be grateful to God in remembering that it will be this 2019. 🐳

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

James 4:13-15

P.S. I felt so "vulnerable" writing these memories down. I usually post online but I guess this one's under my category of rare. In this age of data privacy, it's ironic I had to post mine out. 😂 

Five years in a blink (and what an airport corner does to you)

I am here at the airport, waiting for a flight in an hour.
Came from a visa appointment where I got denied (though I am at peace about it), and now on a favorite coffee place in a corner of a slightly busy airplane terminal.

It's been a while, really a while, since I posted on this blog. Many a thing bloomed, some withered, others were cut off, but the bottomline is that there is growth. I have resigned from my first job after graduation and I am currently working as a freelance software developer. Even if I am not yet employed at this time, I am quite busy (and happy) with how things are going. I get to keep the part-time role as a life coach with a good addition of building communities around missions and technology.

If I were to ask myself about the current place I am in, I would say it's nothing short of amazing. Cliché you might say, but yeah, it might be, but I won't take it back. I guess there's this intersection of profession, passion, vocation and need. Some people call it ikigai but I think it's God's grace. For how long this will continue, I don't have an answer. But this movement and life of surprises is a good force to keep me hoping for the future and trust God with one day at a time.

Yes, I live with my family now, as I went back to my hometown. Our place is a good one hour and a half ride from the city. With it's share of green, leafy roadtrips, it's a bit colder there than the urban proper. I sometimes dread leaving my wee bit of comfortable working space to go meet people in the city, but I still do, because why not. More often, I get satisfied from the good conversations and realizations found from spending time with others on this season and batch of people. There are actually interesting ideas and topics that I get to immerse with at this point in time. But then before I get into the melancholy avenue, let me stop it.

I also realized that when I went back home, I first thought that it's me who will do all the adjustments. But lo and behold, people who are with me at home also did too! And while I say it was hard for me to get used to the vulnerable lifestyle after living with myself, alone, pretty, and funny, I think you realized those two adjectives aren't really part of the normal train of thought. So where was I... I think it was also hard for my immediate family members to adjust with me being there at each waking day of their lives right now. I often comfort myself into thinking they must also be thankful I am there again, but there also are times that I doubt such thought. Though it is really a good observation that they somewhat are comfortable with me being back at home.

It's funny though how I just got to start writing down these thoughts as my flight is getting close, and my bladder's acting full. I think it's a first for me to just candidly write down my thoughts and honestly, I got pretty surprised by how it turned out. I enjoyed it, too.

So before I go and leave this cozy corner of mine, let me know what you think at the comments below. I might just be at a good start of trying to dig up that voice. Alright, ja ne~

An Unposted Last Day

Today I opened my drafts. I looked at the unfinished piece that apparently went unfinished because I got distracted. I had a chuckle when I read it, so I decided to just put it out there.
I know I can't control you, but don't judge me. *nervous chuckle 

This year has been much of a roller coaster for me. I have had heartbreaks, I have had ecstatic heart flutters, and I have yet to embark on one of the most important journeys of my lifetime: passion and calling. I honestly have not been able to prepare for this post, but because I have prided myself to be able to post once a year, I should not let this LAST opportunity pass. It's December 31, and tomorrow's never gonna let me bring back this day. So while I am still fresh of the nostalgia this year brings, let me cite the lessons which God has opened and is still opening. There are alot! But this year, let's see the top five I remembered. First is vulnerability. Second is, hard work. Third,  urgency. Fourth,  stewardship, and last but definitely not the least: integrity.

I know right. Have a good day ahead!

Upward Falling

"I touch the sky, when my knees hit the ground.."

Touch the Sky by Hillsong

I suppose I could put a dramatic entry here about why my definition of regular blogging became yearly (quite amusing), and how I have arrived to a deep realization about things happening in my life lately, or even post pictures of how I have transformed throughout that span of time! Which actually I realized, I needed to put something new here, or at least an update about anything.

After two years of being in the real world, I could testify that it wasn't a joke leaving your home and live in apartments/boarding houses/condo units with other people. Plus the weight of responsibilities which meant doing laundry, cooking your meals, mamalengke, paying bills, creating a budget (and keeping it!), making sure hindi sobra ang OT and dealing with emotions (ok, that escalated a bit). Adulting is not a walk in the park! Well, it could be, but a park with dinosaurs and booby traps. But I swear, I learned a lot! Especially in how my relationship with the Lord has been tested and proven, but sometimes questioned and being answered as well. Confusions help lead to clarification, and when I usually ran away from them before, I learned to embrace them now.

There has been adventures and misadventures in my life for the past two years, and I am thinking about narrating some highlights here in my blog. It was fun revisiting them in my journal, which even refreshed my memory of the lessons which I think could benefit others when shared.

That's why starting this week, I will be posting a series of stories we could learn from, or even a picture or two. Until then!

of typographic art

As an art fanatic, I personally have been in touch with my "creationist" side. Typography has been one of my interests where I have been volunteering in as well. Just this morning while browsing some internet sites, I have been reminded that to be able to pursue typography in a higher level, learning about it and really knowing about the principles behind it comes a close second to simply doing it.

From the difference of straight and curly quotation marks to tips on what fonts to avoid, I was delighted with the fact that the author made sure that the site would own up to the topic it was about.

Creating this post was simply to share with you this site. Go, check it out:
http://practicaltypography.com/