All my Bags are Packed

9:38:00 AM





“So I will allure her; I will lead her into the wilderness and speak to her heart” – Hosea 2:16
I came to reflect on this verse a day before I left Philippines, now that my 86 days here in Taizé, France come to its end; God indeed allured me and spoke in to my heart.

In a nutshell, my 86 days spent in communion with God and with others; are days of Seeking God, Dwelling in Him and Sharing Him. Life is lived simply here; we eat, work, pray and have fun. The basics of life that the world seems to forget thus it looses its balance.
meet Monica (Poland), Patricia (Germany), Cote (Chile) and Rupal (India)
they woke up at 4am just to say goodbye. they are so lovely! 
Spending three months of my life here in Taizé made me closer to God, to myself and to others. I fell in love with my God even more, I came to accept and love myself amid its ugly scars and wounds; and with the mastering of these love, I came to embrace people as they are. It is not everyday that I am happy here, but never a day that I was not joyful. In my deeper communion with God, He fulfills the longing of my soul. Taizé is such a beautiful place that it is so tempting not to leave.
It is so strange that “going home” makes me scared. I am afraid to go back to the real world uncertain of what is in store for me. In my dwelling here, something in me has changed but the place that I am going back does not change; it remains the same. Then I was pacified in one evening prayer, I realized that as I grow spiritually, my calling remains the same because the world’s need of deeper meaning and deeper happiness does not change and it can only be satisfied by our God who does not change. So what I am afraid of? Whatever it is that is beyond my human limitations, there lies God’s grace.

I am not yet ready to leave but I cannot wait to go home. No one can be ready to leave a beautiful place but it is time to go. I feel so filled, rejuvenated and more ready for the next adventure.


 Before Jesus ascended to Heaven He told His disciples, “All power in heaven and on Earth has been given to me. Go, therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of age” – Matthew 28:18-20

This morning in the prayer, I looked around the church and counted how many people I will surely miss when I leave this place then I think all of you in the Philippines and all others who are waiting for my coming then I came to realize that I may leave a hundred of people here but there are a thousand who are waiting for my coming. I am now at peace. There is always an appointed time for everything, it is time to go home and my heart is filled with gladness as I leave this beautiful place and finally be in a place where I can call home, a place where I will  continue my journey with  God, a place where I am called to proclaim God’s greatness. Hello Philippines!!!! 

Praise God for a place called Taizé  where I spent  the best three months of my life! 
Praise God!

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2 comments

  1. AnonymousJanuary 23, 2013 at 12:04 PM

    Goodness ateShayne!
    I absolutely love that Hosea verse. I was reflecting on that verse as well a couple of months ago.
    And I'm so happy that you were able to experience Taizé. I'm more than slightly jealous of you. I've only experienced a Taizé prayer service twice here in Dubai and it's quite the experience.

    See you in April. And I hope that you'd be able to bring it in the Philippines too!

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  2. Shayne FuncionJanuary 23, 2013 at 1:09 PM

    Apple dearest! the best three months of my life! You can also experience it really! you can spend three months there and experience life in taize.
    I would be glad if you will experience it too! Actually I was thinking about you, Chinkee and Thea during my stay there. :D
    See you in April! yehey!

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