Do you believe in horoscopes? The kind of horoscopes you read in the malls when it's Chinese New Year? 

I don't. But a few coincidences in the past, like how it predicted my break-up last year and so on and so forth, we're actually a bit convincing that there's some grain of truth in it. And you know what excites me more? Early this year, my horoscope predicted that I'll be in a relationship or going for marriage this year. Sounds too good to be true but who wouldn't be anticipating that? After all, nothing is impossible.

I shrugged the idea of this prediction off my mind and went on with my not-so-mundane life but realizing that there's only a few months left before saying adieu to 2014 made me rethink, am I really going to be in a relationship within this year?  

It was only then that I begin to realize that I was already "in a relationship" when I attended one prayer meeting of Ang Lingkod ng Panginoon, my new Catholic community. I've been joining activities of Lingkod Davao since June, attended their Crossroads retreat, and offered 6 Sundays for their Fuse 2014: Christian Life Series Seminar last July-August until I made my commitment into being a member during the Lingkod weekend last August 24-25, 2014. 

Like how any other relationships come into fruition, this relationship with the Lord also went through a chase.  When God wants something to happen in your life, He uses His people to make it happen. Who would have thought that someone who I just met during one crossfit session, on that day that I first went to the gym alone, would actually introduce me to a bigger family? All the while I thought my interaction with Ces would just end at the gym, but she made several attempts of inviting me to the activities of Lingkod, to which I initially declined. Not only that, I postponed attending activities after being invited by my own co-worker Krishna until such time that I was too ashamed to decline one more time that I finally gave it a try. You see, there was really a chase.

I have never seen such a community as warm and welcoming as how the brothers and sisters did it during my first interaction with Lingkod Davao. I was treated like they already knew me for a long time, thus I was encouraged more to attend the Crossroads retreat. It was during this retreat that I felt a wake up call to open myself to God's invitation. I've learned that being a Catholic doesn't only entail going to church every Sunday or attending first Friday masses, nor praying and reading the scriptures, but it's more complete when we give a part of our selves to service and grow within a community. I admit that being the social butterfly that I am, I am contented with my social circles but during that time I realized that I still lack the circle of friends who would support and help me to grow spiritually, and I found the answer to such need through my brothers and sisters in Lingkod Davao. 

The courtship continued during the Fuse 2014, which is the Christian Life Series Seminar. It was a 6-week seminar wherein talks of different topics relating to the enhancement of Christian life were given every Sunday morning. That time, I was like a teenage girl being wooed - I had doubts in myself whether I was ready to commit or was my intention already enough to make a lifetime commitment to being an obedient Christian. There were even struggles, obstacles and harassment thrown before my way but I guess when it's God's will to welcome you into a relationship with Him, nothing can come in between. And so during the Lingkod Weekend, the culminating activity of the CLS, I said YES to a relationship with Him.

Sisters in Lingkod Davao

Newly-committed brothers and sisters

Lingkod Davao

God's interventions were really amazing such that this prediction came into a reality without me knowing it. All the circumstances were stringed as if it was delicately planned. So far and as always, I am thankful to the Lord for giving me the best relationship ever - a relationship built on trust, faithfulness and honesty that no other relationship I had in the past can compare. 

Maybe it wasn't the horoscope at all but God's will for all these things to happen. Indeed, #TeamSingle no more with God's love and presence in our lives. 

Thank you to my brothers and sisters in Lingkod Davao for the photos.