WYD Kuwait - retreat 2007

just a simple reflection...

a kind of instant reflections i guess
of what we experienced
in the desert or
in the wilderness huhh...
or maybe this is just a journal
and a few notes..

another journey? i hope...

the retreat
was very simple
and casual i may say
not the typical one
yet very nice and meaningful
we were just being our 'selves'...

we started late of saturday evening
because of the accident of orson's car
and the treasure hunting
of the place itself
where they have to be guided by some
symbols and signs on the roads
in order to find the place in the desert...
somehow lost in the wilderness
without and within... lol or smile :)

so before they (the late night group) arrived
we already ate our dinner by the fire
under the first quarter moon with the
magnificent fireworks afar & just beneath our tents
with the chilling cold wind and air.
but the night was calmed by the music
of the flickering bonfire
together with our neighbor's
play, dances and music
while we just watched them & the half moon
by chatting and grilling...
waiting.

when the group arrived
we started another bonfire
followed by the debate
after they ate their dinner.
the debate was so revealing
and enlightening yet so simple.
we simply define God... (simple?)
we begin to know
what is prayer...
what is the borderline between
serving yourself and serving others...
of altruism and egoism...
we didn't noticed the night
and the fires
until we felt the chilling breeze
and the desert dew of the midnight
and when the moon vanished by the clouds & fogs.

boys and girls went to their tents
for the rest of the night...
for the boys it was a joyful sleep
because everytime someone snore
almost everyone will giggle & laugh :))
until morning....
so the boys woke up early because of the recording
of this morning sound.
then we had our breakfast by the strong winds
and when angie (the neighbor) arrived
picked up by fr. wendell in the early morn
we started the first activity of the day
after their breakfast...

we had our song and dance
as our intro and exercise
animated by angie & precila...
then fr. read the Holy Scripture
as our guide for the reflections.
then angie started the image identity
as our first activity that day
some question like;
'think or choose of an image that reflects you' and the like
and everybody had their revelations...
we'll try to innumerate them all maybe next time
or someone will do it here later...
after we share our images
fr. wendell, jeb & deck went to nearby fastfood
to get our lunch, mixed of vegetarian & meat...
we were full and there were 3 or 7 basket still left.

after our lunch we continued
the activities. this time
orson's treasure hunting..
we simply ransack the whole camp.
and at the end while orson was being chased by the winners
he was caught by the wire of the fence
and was painfully enjured by it
while running and bump on it...
(again? this time it's him not his car)
hope & pray that he's ok now.

the treasure was as always,
the teachings and life of Jesus
in the Bible... the real one.

the last activity was what we called
silence...
we need this in order to focus & concentrate
and it is the source of our creativity,
from mind to word to action...
that's why we told them to be still for few seconds
in order to recognize something.
so it goes like,
simply feel the shapes inside the box
and define the shapes by drawing it on the paper.
after drawing all the shapes inside the box
we'll solve the puzzle by creating
the real image or religious symbols of the puzzle...

i was reflecting on this activity
because it was also related to the first one,
about image identity...
i remember that one group
assembled the puzzle into another image.
as it should be a cross & a star
they came out an image of a fish & a sail boat.
which can also be right... (at least for them or others)
but many times we really need to follow or immitate
a very important image that really
reflects a true identity.
we have to follow the image in the puzzle
or i may say it is simply following the image of Christ
rather than another image of your own or others
or things
totally different from Jesus...
different from that puzzle image.
that's why we really need to be still in times of trials,
of confusions, of creating...
we need more focus... disciplines in order to follow
the creativity that God plans for us.
we have four mirrors in our selves;
one is the image we know about ourself,
two is the image we don't know about ourself,
but our friends or family knows it
three is the image both we and our neighbors know about ourself and
fourth is the image that God knows about us and for us.
but with this retreat
i discovered that there's the fifth image
and that is the image that we build by us,
made by our self...
the image that we want to build
even distorted by our own
vices and wickedness...
so we have to find the borderline,
in order not to be lost
between selfishness & generousity...
and to find that treasure/s
that will really make us happy &
peaceful.

from sorrows to joy.. :))

so we end our retreat
by the children play
the father and daughters holding  hands
chasing their two boys... i mean sons
with the dance of
boom tarat-tarat on top of the table
by another son...

 playtime of the family.

until up to the highways of kuwait
with the speed of 120 to 160
still dancing the boom tarat-tarat
led by the van of deck and company... ;))

cheers

greens
blues &
safrons


we'll try to make another tent by the pool
in summer this year
pray that we'll be illumined
by another lights in the night & day.

see you on saturdays
in silence & prayers
to treasure our true image
through the sign of the cross
and hopefully the star... too

again our heartfelt thanks
to conchita for the beautiful
tents in the wilderness!!!
for her grateful heart too..

cheers!

jong
prayers
:)

(feb. 24-25 '07)