Spacious Space

"He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me." Ps 18:19
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Since its Christmas season, not to say I gained a lot of pounds due to my negligence to exercise, I needed to take control again. Though there is a gym right where I am working, I preferred to stay out of my workplace on my rest days. I have tried brisk walking from my place in Boni Mandaluyong and a few laps to Mandaluyong Circle and at 4AM, I can still breathe the 70% pollution instead of the 30% fresh air. So on this next round, my destination is the Powerplant Rockwell. I wanted to experience the freshness of morning air while doing my regular meditation. Yes, it was an invigorating experience. Although I anticipated that I would need to pass by eye sore sights of the busy streets of Mandaluyong and JP Rizal, going to my destination is enough inspiration for me, plus the fact that I need to loose some pounds of course.

So there I go, with my jogging pants, sport shirt, hair all tied in a bun shirt, a head band, small back pack to carry my face towelette, keys, petty cash and cell phone. I was on my way to my morning adventure. While sprinting my way, I remember the word given to me by my mentor, Myla the first time I asked her to be accountable to me. She spoke about me traveling in a compact horse carrier ready to be released in a spacious place. Yes, I was the horse in her vision. But what refreshed me was the fact that all the restrictions I was experiencing during that time are just temporary and necessary because I am being taken to a spacious place.

The same was my experience early this morning; I needed to pass by narrow, busy, stinky, wet streets in order for me to go to my destination. Before Rockwell, I can see the glimpse of that spacious place while in JP Rizal, the road became wider and more promising as I pass through the bridge and meet the fresh air of 4AM.

Entering the Powerplant territory, my heart wants to jump up and down like a kid. I was like let loose in a beautiful rare garden and the air turned 200% pure. The roads are not just wide but you can lie down. I love that there were still stars, there were no more than 5 people walking and doing early morning exercise, there were a lot of quiet, secret places I can meditate while enjoying the wonderfully built gardens while basking in the glory of its beautiful ambiance. Not that I haven't been to Rockwell because I frequent this place for four years, but the fact that it was my first time to go by myself early in the morning to do my morning meditation, there was an air of excitement. I know I would hear from God.

From a sprint, my pace turned slow and relaxed. I was photographing each turn, each moment in my memory. I was talking to my best friend inside my heart, enjoying everything I have seen and what I have desired days before I planned this morning adventure.

Stopping by the unlit giant Christmas tree, I was planning to lie down in one of the Bermuda grass so I can enjoy the stars and enjoy that moment. I decided to lie down the bench in front of the giant Christmas tree and just bask in the glory of early morning while the dawn hasn’t come up yet. AH! It was absolute rest, peace, beauty, and eternal bliss!

I had all the time I need to stay there and decided to stay for another 30 minutes since I have already walked more than an hour to go there. And a thought came in. Like most of us who are in a restricted, busy, ugly place in life, that should not deprive us from looking forward to a beautiful place in life. A spacious place that God has prepared for us.

The ugly things we need to go through will just be a speck of dust compared to the splendor of what is to come. That is the destiny of anyone who believes in Christ, that should propel us to walk in victory and always stand in hope that our temporary suffering on earth are short lived but the glory of the future and the grandeur of God’s plans far outweighs our sufferings and longings.

The reality is, we need to go through that ugly place. Because life is like a pilgrimage.

I was deeply humbled while I remembered a beautiful scene in the film called Nativity, where Mary on her 9^th month of pregnancy was traveling uncomfortably on a donkey and Joseph’s feet were sore from the entire dessert storm he needs to face just to reach Bethlehem. Both of them were given grace to endure hunger, gossip, doubt, fear of what is to come. They both obeyed and carried the will of God which brought peace in their hearts and the whole world.

How many of us, would endure to fulfill God’s will even if it meant inconvenience? And I was one of those people inspired by that story as it played in mind while watching the stars, there basking in front of the Christmas tree in Rockwell.

After I have received the new spirit I needed to go on, I started my way back while it was still dark so I can avoid the rising sun and enjoy my one hour back home.

Reaching home, I have a lot of saved memories of my encounter with God and another object lesson that I lingered over his goodness as I slept the remainder of that early morning.

Everyone should try this when they need to clear their mind. God will not judge us when we come to him but would welcome us with open arms. All of us need to be pampered with his love so we can go out again and love other people.

I am approaching that spacious place, I will linger and I will stay when I have reached it.