Saturday, April 19, 2008

Finding life beyond the tragedy of Mt. Pinatubo

Mt. Pinatubo erupted 16 years ago, devastating whole villages and destroying many lives and cattle. The river has become filled with lahar, a type of mud flow from the volcano. It has rendered the area grey, desolate and lifeless. It is the image of tragedy.

 




Humans though have this resiliency to survive and bounce back. And so the locals found the easiest trail back to the mountain through Capas, Tarlac. And life began again.






For the last three (or four) years, 4 x 4 vehicles traversed the lahar-filled river. They bring in tourists to a short but steep pass. This would take them to a trail up to the mountain. A trail that is filled with sand, pebbles, stones and rocks, with foliage and water in various parts.



Weighed down by a backpack filled with water bottles and snacks, going against the pull of gravity, blinded by bright sun and scorched by the hot sun, we traveled for one hour through the arduous trail.

 


The fatigue was all worth it when you reach the look-out post. To marvel over a beautiful lake at the crater of the volcano. To ponder how such majesty could be created through a catastrophe. To be awed how these people who became victims of nature have now found a way to earn their living.




My friend clearly said it. We do not know the plans of our Father. We often cry against Him for the tragedies in our lives. But at the end of the journey, once we see the lovely resultant, we realize that He is always at hand.



May I always remember what I have learned from Mt. Pinatubo’s transformation and from my own challenging yet fruitful climb of its trail :  from any trial, expect a marvelous gift from above. 

2 comments:

Unknown said...

So that's where you went kaya di ka pwede last week. Was it an overnight stay?

Jen said...

day trip lang. Di ko sure kung may tutulugan. Kaya mo gawin to, ang pag-akyat. May nakita kaming isang lola (na pinapayungan pa ng alalay nya! ) at mga guys in their 50s. :- )

Lion Chaser Manifesto

Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshiping what's right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze new trails. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don't try to be who you're not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away.

Chase the lion.

In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson (www.evotional.com)