breakfast at 4:45am

Waking up at 3:30am is just a normal and usual time that the monks in my community(including me) wake up for the first prayers at 4:00Am. Immediately after Vigils, I had to go to the dining room (called the refectory) to assist the monks in their early morning breakfast.
This experience was a tough one and taught me the virtues of patience and perseverance. Today, I would say, I have the right amount of patience and perseverance in dealing with the rudiments of my work as director of activities in a retirement home in North Hollywood.

the crossroad of life

The day was quiet. There were no clouds up the sky. The temperature was neither hot nor cold. It was a very fine day. It was a weekend. I was taking a walk to the 24-Hour fitness gym nearby my apartment and happened to meet an old friend way way back in the Philippines when I was still teaching in San Beda College Grade School. She was on her way to Wal-mart for a weekend shopping.

We had a nice conversation. In the course of our exchanging of updates, she would address me as Dom Lawrence, and she was all excited from her stories reminiscing our days as co-workers in San Beda College. 

Ditas is her first name and we became friends in the course of time because in my frequent visits to the library, she was the one who  would gladly assist me in the reference books that I could borrow for the day. It was one day  in year 2001 when she suddenly did not report  at  the schools' library anymore and from then on, I never heard from her until this day at the crossroad. 

Who would have thought that we will cross our paths at the crossroad of Van Nuys and Roscoe after so long a time. Ditas lives nearby St Genevieve parish Church and is very active in the Church as choir member.

living the life

One of the many teachings that I learned from my superior when I was still in the monastery, was to learn how to adapt and empathize with those who were experiencing difficult moments in their life. One resident in the facility where I work, was having difficulty accepting the outcomes in his present life. By the way, he is Mexican and a ninety-three year old guy. His past glories in his life included a champ in the lightweight boxing in Mexico (years and years ago). At times, he would tell me that he wanted to go to the gym and spend time in practicing his boxing skills. One time, he was up earlier than the usual and went to the lobby looking for the boxing stage. I had to redirect him and invited him instead to go to the activity center and sit for a tv-watch.

ramblings

It is just one trivial day today. There were no rains. The temperatures are becoming more unbearable now. Here in the Valleys California, we had temperatures of up to 99° in the afternoons before the slow cooling down began at nightfall. Now the temperatures are between 85° and 95° and that is a lot easier to live with.

Life is often a series of challenges outside a monastery and particularly when a former monk has to get something done working hard for his own living and his family's! That is how these rambling writings come to you. Outside the monastery, life is not that easy and is indeed complicated and not many of the brothers inside a monastery realize that until they themselves try to live it outside the Cloister. An ex monk must pass through all these challenges and know how to make life work. The virtue of patience and the virtue of perseverance kick in.

blue sea

I have always loved going to the beach for a swim in the sea or walk at the seashore. In summer of year 2001, I went to Mindoro island for a day of beach walking, swimming and seafood delight. This was the last time I went to the beach because in February of the next year, I flew to the USA and joined the monastery.

fireworks

Fireworks in SM Mall of Asia. Very memorable to me. Very romantic to me. Very dear to me was with me this night to watch the fireworks at the baywalk back of the complex. Whenever I see fireworks, I remember this night with my one and only woman in my life.

starting over

This was the day when  I left the Philippines after staying with my mother for nearly  six months beginning January. This was the day when I considered starting my life over after deciding not to continue with my seminary studies and not come back to Saint Vincent  anymore. This was the day when I decided to plan to settle in California upon arriving in the US.
The rest of what happened to me was a history and a story of  test on faith, hope and love of God.