"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)
Our whole class went for a retreat since Friday (December 9) until Sunday (December 11). We were all excited because #1. We were all excused from hospital duties (THANK YOU LORD! ^___^), and #2. We were all going to the Monastery of Transfiguration in Malaybalay, Bukidnon, an estimated two-hour bus ride from our city! All of us battered clerks were very much looking forward to this trip since ... well, since the beginning of this crazy school year. O__oAnyhoo, it was really quite an experience! The place was beautiful! There were so many trees and flowers and mountains, and you could really hear the sound of silence. The air was cool, the water was freezing! ^o^ The rooms were cozy. There was no pressure at all to wake up early or to attend to patient’s needs or to prepare for morning endorsements or to run like crazy when your ward is paging for you. In fact, when Momin shared that it was the first time since a very long time that he felt NORMAL again, I almost cried. It’s true. We have been physically, mentally, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually harassed, trampled upon and overworked for the past nine months. We’ve all been living like zomboids the whole time – catching some quick sleep but never really sleeping, eating canteen food but not really tasting anything, attending to so many patients whom we hardly even know, doing things like NGT insertions or gastric lavage which seems like the weirdest things in this world to do, reporting during morning endorsements but seemingly mindless while doing so, exceptionally tired but still running around and carrying out orders, existing but not actually living… For nine months we have been to hell and back (actually, we’re still not back yet…). So at least for three whole days, we were able to take a relaxing break from this crazy and incomprehensible lifestyle we’ve chosen. Indeed, THANK YOU LORD! Words are not enough to thank God for such a refreshing time off from our usual stressful days. At least during the retreat, in the stillness and calmness of the surroundings, where time seems to be slowly moving in its own pace, we were able to get in touch with God, and with our own selves. We were able to pray, and reflect on our own lives. We were able to meditate and contemplate. We were able to rest, but at the same time have fun with friends. Yes, for THREE DAYS we were NORMAL INDIVIDUALS. Not senior clerks. For three days, we were energized, revitalized, empowered, regenerated, rejuvenated, enlightened…
For three days, we were free...
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