Life on a Train

PAST REVISITED REFLECTION # 7: Life on the Train

(In one of our on-going formation sessions, Fr. Phil Estrella, OMI introduced to us a beautiful youtube video entitled Life on the Train. It is a must see for all, especially for us living in a multicultural setting – Notre Dame University.)

The youtube presentation compares life to a train ride or a series of train rides… I did watch the video and listened attentively and jotted these things for our communal reflection…

Our journey begins …

“We get on;

We ride;

We get off;

We get back on and ride some more;

There are accidents;

And there are delays;

At certain stops there are surprises;

Some of these will translate into great moments of joy; and

Some will result to profound sorrows.”

Reflections:

1.  When we are born and we first board the train, we meet people whom we thin will be with us for the entire journey. Those people are our parents.

2.  Sadly, this is far from the truth. Our parents are with us for as long as we absolutely need them.  They, too, have journeys they must complete. We live on with the memories of their love, affection and friendship, guidance and their ever presence.

3.  There are others who board the train who eventually become very important to us, in turn.  These people are our brothers and sisters, friends and acquaintances whom we learn to love and cherish.

4.  Some people consider their journey like a jaunty tour. They will just go merrily along.  Others will encounter many upsets, tears, and losses in their journey.  Other still will linger on to offer a helping hand to anyone in need.

5.  Some people on the train will leave an everlasting impression when they get off.  Some will get on and get off the train so quickly, they will scarcely leave a sign that they ever travelled along with you or even crossed your path.

6. We will be, sometimes, upset that some passengers, whom we love, will choose to sit in another compartment and leave us to travel on our own.  Then again, there is nothing that says we cannot seek them out anyway.  Nevertheless, once sought out and found, we many not even be able to sit next to them, because that seat is already taken.

7.  That is okay… everyone’s journey will be filled with hopes, dreams, challenges, setbacks and good byes.  We must strive to make the best of it, no matter what.

8. We must constantly strive to understand during our journey, any one of our travel companions can have a weak moment and be in need of our help.

9.  We, too, nay vacillate or hesitate even trip… Hopefully we can count on someone being there to be supportive and understanding…

10.  The bigger mystery of our journey is that we don’t know when our last stiopmill come..  Neither do we know when our travel companions will make their last stop, not even those sitting in the seat next to us.

11.  Personally, I know I’ll be sad to make my final stop.  I am sure of it.  M separation from all those friends and acquaintances I made during the train ride will be painful.  Leaving all those I’m close to will be a sad thing.  But then again, I am certain that one day, I’ll get to the main station only to meet up with everyone else.  They’ll all carrying their luggage, most of which, they didn’t have when they first got on this train.

12.  I’ll be glad to see them again.  I’ll also be glad to have contributed to their baggage and to have enriched their lives, just as much as they will have contributed to my baggage and enriched my life.

13.  We’re all on this train ride together. Above all, we should try to strive to make the ride as pleasant and memorable as we can, right up until we each make the final stop and leave the train for the last time.

14.  ALL ABOARD, FOLKS! SAFE JOURNEY1 AND BON VOYAGE1

Jun Mercado, OMI

NDU – July 21, 2000