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
