awkward but enlightening :)

Okay, this has to be the most awkward situation I've been subjected to. Add funny. And embarrassing. And it was at my expense!

Anyway, here goes...

I met someone familiar at the retreat. You could say someone related to the past. :)

So Coney and I were walking back to the swimming pool, where the baptism will take place. I accompanied her to their cabin so she can change (Yes, Coney just got baptized during the BIG4 Retreat... Woohooo!). Upon passing the other cabin, I suddenly saw a pretty lady that looked really familiar. So when we reached her, I went to her and cheerfully said "Hey, kilala kita!" I even made beso-beso (feeling close talaga eh... hihihi).

Guess what?

The pretty lady smiled politely and said...

"Saan nga ulit tayo nagkakilala?"

Wahahaha!!!

No, I didn't mistook her for someone else. She just didn't recognize me.

So I told her, without flinching, still maintaining my cheerful attitude, and still with my unwavering smile, "Ayyyyy, nakalimutan mo na ako?"

"Ako yun ex ni Scep."

See, the familiar girl is Scep's cousin. She was really sweet and nice to me whenever I met her before. So honestly it was a surprise that she didn't recognize me.

But anyway, she said it must be the hair (yeah, I just had another trip to Fix salon last week)... and she said "Blooming ka ah."

We exchanged a few more chit-chat then we left.

Wasn't that funny? :)

Let's analyze the incident. (As if this is an english class and you just read a literary story and now you have to interpret it.. hehehe)

Here's the facts:

1. I used to runaway from confrontational encounter with Scep-related persons such as this one. Countless times I've seen his sister & her husband and sometimes his auntie and cousins at CCF Sunday services. I would always always either go the other way or keep my head low if I'm in their way. But for this particular incident, ducking away did not cross my mind.

2. Just a glimpse of someone from the past will send legions of butterflies in my stomach. I'd get nervous to the point of my knees starting to shake. But not this time, I was composed the entire time. Not to mention really cheerful.

3. For the first time (I think), I get to say "Ex ni Scep" out loud. Without flinching. Without my voice cracking. Without a feeling of shame.

Having those in mind, I believe the Lord is impressing something in me. And that is... I have finally closed that book. That past is indeed the past. Gone are the uneasy feelings about Scep. The heart-wrenching pain is no more. The lover of my soul took all those away and have replaced it with something else... The joy and serenity of knowing I just need Jesus in my life.

And I just have to comment when she said "Blooming ka ha!"

The thing is... there is a different glow when Christ is in you. :)

"A happy heart makes the face cheerful"
- Proverbs 15:13a