And the Team Leader is...

Timelines:

        July 13, 2005 - I've decided to start my own journey to climb my own private Mt. Everest -- to take on the challenge of "reaching the top"; to prove to myself that I can make it on my own and to succeed in this thing called "life".

        September 10, 2005 - I've learned that it takes teamwork to scale new heights; much more if the mountain I am going to climb is Mt. Everest.  It takes a good team leader to lead and to show the way to the top.

        October 11, 2005 - Three months into my journey, I am still (very, very) far from reaching the top, taking my time acclimatizing and enjoying the scenery around me.  This time, however, I found an unexpected companion in my climb.

        It was Him.  He was there all along.  Observing me.  Silent, never complaining, but ever present and so patient with me.  He helped me along when I stumbled, He reached out and encouraged me to go on when I wanted to quit, and He even carried me sometimes when I was too tired to walk.

        Jesus was with me all along in my journey.  Of course I knew Him already, having been raised in a religious family and having studied in a Catholic School.  But I suddenly woke up from a dream and came to an enlightened realization that it wasn't enough to just know Him and to know about Him.  It also wasn't enough just to believe in Him.  I had to accept Him in my life, to know Him personally and to have a relationship with Him, and to invite Him into my heart so that I don't have to struggle everyday in my "climb".

        Suddenly, i't's no longer about mindlessly climbing the mountain trying to reach the top.  It's no longer about succeeding in life.  It's too mababaw.  I know that in due time, I'll reach the top anyway.

        My perspective has changed. 

        It's now all about LIVING life.

        And it's now about climbing the mountain with Jesus as the Team Leader, accepting Him to lead my life and trusting Him to bring me to a mountain far, far higher than the highest Mt. Everest I could think of.

        The journey unfolds itself...  And I'm enjoying it now more than ever :-)