It’s not an Accident (1 of 4)
(This is 1 of 4 column compositions which i wrote in the recent academic year published in the Weekly Sillimanian, the official student publication of Silliman University, in which I served in my capacity as the Editor-in-chief)
My position in the tWS has a story behind it.
I was awarded an exchange student scholarship to Japan, supposedly for September this year, but something unexpected happened. During a routine x-ray for my health certificate requirement last February, I was diagnosed to have Category I Tuberculosis (TB). I was deeply disheartened. Why would God give me this scholarship on a silver platter, get me so hyped and excited about it, only to find out that I might not be able to leave for Japan anyway?
I was bitter. But even if it didn’t make sense, I chose to seek and hold on to my faith in God instead of wallowing in self-pity. I was sure that my prayers were heard and that He would continue to be faithful just as He’s always been. The series of events that followed were nothing short of miracles.
I held fast to Romans 8:28: "…God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." I then believed that my affliction is no accident and that what was going on with me at the time was only a piece of a greater puzzle.
After my diagnosis, I was recommended to undergo a 6-month mild chemotherapy short course treatment under the Silliman Medical Center’s TB clinic. To my amazement, the treatment I needed (worth around Php13,000) would be free of charge since the clinic was part of a nationwide government program. Luckily for me, there are currently only 5 TB centers in the entire Region VII and one of them happens to be conveniently located at the SU Medical Center - just 5 minutes away from where I live. Then again, luck isn’t the right term for it. I believe that God’s grace was behind it. But it didn’t stop there.
I still had to wait for the University Scholarship Committee’s decision regarding my scholarship to Japan. At this point, I was ready to bite the bullet. The possibility of being denied of the scholarship could become a harsh reality. In a week’s time after my TB diagnosis, they made a final decision. They said I was an exceptional case since as far as they could remember this is the first time (since the start of the scholarship in the 70s) that the scholar’s medical examination results undermined the chances of entry into Japan. But God is faithful. The committee unanimously decided to offer me the slot for the Japan scholarship in September 2008 provided that I fully recover from TB.
Just when I thought God’s faithfulness would end there, another door of opportunity came my way. When I broke the news to the tWS staff, a number of them encouraged me to apply for the Editor-in-chief position the following year. I was hesitant and my template reason was, "I can’t because I’m sick!" Furthermore, it’s a position I never really considered since I assumed that I would be Japan-bound by September this year. But I did give it much thought and prayer and I asked myself, "What if God has a purpose for me if I decide to pursue this position?" So, just before the application deadline, I submitted all my requirements and entrusted to God whatever purpose He might have in store for me.
To make the long story short, the University Publications Committee appointed me to be this year’s EIC.
Looking back, I realized that had I not been selected to leave for Japan, I wouldn’t have discovered that I have an early stage of TB and then later on be called to lead the tWS. To be honest, this is the very first time in my whole life to be at the helm of anything this big. You may think that these are isolated consequences of events but I don’t believe so. I believe in what God promises in Jeremiah 29:11-14: "’For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me, I will be found by you.’"
Indeed, I believe that there is a good purpose in store for me. I admit that I may lack in talent and in skill, but God has blessed me with a very supportive staff in the tWS this year. I know that my position holds a very heavy burden attached to it. But still, I look forward to the promise of Ephesians 3:20: "Glory belongs to God, whose power is at work in us. By this power He can do infinitely much more than what we could dream or imagine."
