Stories and Trees

This roller coaster life can take us up to the highest of our emotions and to the lowest of days. But what helps you get through the toughest times? What keeps you up at night? And what helps you spring to your feet and go through life with full speed?

These are the questions I asked myself these past few months that I didn't have a job. It's been a challenging 6 months—dire, sleepless, filled with anxiety, and just not the best time for me. But I'm not writing this piece to pour out my sorrow. Instead, I'd like to focus on something that brings me hope and joy: stories and trees. These are what kept me grounded in the midst of life's unpredictable rides.

People walking out an outdoor mall

So, stories!

I've always been a lover of stories since I was a child. I was 7 years old when I learned to read. When we would go to the mall and they'd lose me, my mother knew exactly where to find me—at the bookstore. As I got older, my love for reading grew—fiction, non-fiction, and everything in between. But at times when I get overwhelmed with words, I just go to a public place and watch people as they pass by. And I realized that there are stories there too—real ones.

• A father holding his child by the hand as they walked down the street

• A pregnant mother who's queuing at the bus station waiting for a ride home

• A working student who's always sleeping at the back of the classroom during my Research class

• A child selling flowers and candles at Sto Nino.

They're character caricatures (perhaps, our personality arc fully develops when we die) of God's great story of humanity. When I started doing missions in 2018, I finally got the chance to really listen and respond to the stories of people with empathy and service. And it's been a great joy.

However, I also encountered stories that were too heavy for me that I got overwhelmed. These are the times when I couldn't do anything to help or even just fully listen as I'm struggling myself. During these moments, I just retreat into myself, pray earnestly, and take a good long walk (or run) in nature.

Trees to the rescue.

Light seeping through the trees

Green, verdant spaces have been a source of healing for me and a stark reminder that life has its seasons. Sometimes, it's rainy; sometimes, it's sunny. Everything will pass. And what remains is hope—a seed that grows. God's miracles are silent and often overlooked.

• A child's smile

• Sunshine after a storm

• Rain after a long drought

• A tiny flower that grows by the wayside

• A vegetable garden ready for harvest

The rhythm of nature teaches me that when everything is said and done and there's nothing that I can do, there's a Greater Power that holds everything together. And He never fails. I just need to have faith and be a seed ready to die and grow. Then, my cycle of life continues—eat, pray, work, sleep, read a book, or hug a tree!