ABOVE ALL, TEAMWORK
A
highlight of our latest pilgrimage to the Holy Land was climbing the
heights of Mount Sinai, where God handed down to Moses the tablets of
the Ten Commandments. Of the 31 pilgrims, eight of us decided to do the
climb, for which reason our pilgrimage group began referring to us as
the “Eight Beatitudes.” We woke up at one o’ clock in the morning and
equipped ourselves for a temperature that could range from 10o Celsius at the foot of the mountain to 4 o Celsius at the top.
Under
cover of darkness, with only the stars to brighten the skies, we were
introduced to Joseph, our Bedouin guide. While we trekked to the camel
station to mount our respective animals that would take us half the
route going up, Joseph began orienting us about some very important
rules: “The camels are safe and they know their way even in darkness. In
fact, they are frightened by sudden lights, like flashes from cameras.
Better avoid using the flashes. After a ride of around one hour, we will
negotiate 300 steps of zigzag trails made of big rocks, then a steep
climb of around 700 steps made of uneven, boulder rocks. Do not hurry to
the top, and do not try to reach there
first. Everyone will reach the top. Rest when the call for rest is
given, and climb when the signal to proceed is made. Together, we will
reach the top.”
The
experience of climbing Mount Sinai, an unfamiliar and challenging ground
for us, taught me that being a team was a great source of strength to
keep each of us going without counting how many more steps we still
needed to make it to the top.
In
instructing the disciples to go in pairs to new and distant mission
grounds, Jesus could have considered the encouraging and empowering
effect of persons accompanying one another. Indeed, in many
circumstances in life, we draw strength from one another’s presence. Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP
REFLECTION
QUESTIONS: What circumstances in life make you prefer to have persons
around you? Why? Who are the particular persons you wish to be with you
when these circumstances arise?
Lord Jesus, help me to always remember that in unity, there’s strength.
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