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On Focus
-
 THE
NIGHTMARE
- By Sansu Garin
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I was full of
ideas about death before I wrote this article. But one by one, as the
other GNB articles came in, I found my outline for an article mirroring
the other contributors’ written thoughts. I was panicking, as new
inspirations eluded me. I prayed hard and still, no fresh ideas came. I
guess, just like the dying, I was running ou t
of air. I’m having a sort of a “writer’s block!” (Well, that’s assuming I
can be considered a writer!)
Only recently, I
was invited to a dinner at a friend’s house. It was the kind of party you
want to go on and on and on – good food, great company and nonstop
side-splitting laughter, courtesy of another friend who was at her true
comic element! Back home later, feeling full and tired, I stretched out on
my bed for a quick shut-eye before having another go at rehashing my
article.
I didn’t wake up
as intended to write my article. Instead, I tried to rouse myself much
later in the night when I felt something like a heavy shadow fall over me,
engulfing me and sucking me up. It seemed like I was drowning but curled
up in sleep! Then I regained full consciousness, but I cannot move.
I remembered praying, then tweaking my toes. After that, I became fully
awake and felt all right. Only to fall asleep, yet again, and be woken up
by the same experience. Again, I remembered praying to God, to Mama Mary
and to my guardian angel. And for a second time that night, I overcame
the feeling. But this time, I stood up and had a drink of water. Then I
sat up in bed, till a peaceful sleep finally came over me.
When I shared
this experience with some friends the following morning only did I realize
that I was probably having a “bangungot” (dying nightmare) that
night.
Surprisingly, I
was not afraid then and afterwards. I was probably too sleepy to care at
that time. But fully awake now, I am rather cheered up by the memory that
I was praying while it happened. Not with frantic feelings but with a
certain peace. I am reminded of a story about a dying man who was very
close to the Lord. At his deathbed, he had an empty chair especially
positioned within an arms reach. When he died, his whole body was found
leaning toward the chair with arms reaching out. Later, some people asked
what’s with the chair. The priest-confessor, who was privy to the reason
of the chair’s presence, said that the man was holding on to the Lord,
seated all that time at the chair. What a good way to go! Safely held in
God’s embrace.
As I reflected
further on my experience, I realized that, finally (!), I have a material
to write about death, a first-hand knowledge at that! Well, not that mine
was anything close to a near-death experience. Nevertheless, that “event”
somehow made my nightly prayer more meaningful. It’s a child’s prayer I
adopted, which goes like this: “Lord, now I lay me down to sleep. I
pray my body to rest. But if I die before I wake, I pray my soul to
keep.”
One last thing,
that same night, I also received a “long-overdue” 2001 birthday gift from
a friend. It was a book entitled “Everybody Has An Angel” by Anselm Gruen.
Before lying down to rest, I scanned the pages and settled on the chapter,
“The Angel Who Awakens Us With Its Touch.” Coincidence? I don’t think
so.
All Glory to
God!
- TELL US LIKE IT IS!
- Has something
wonderful and unique happened in your life lately? Did God answer your
prayer in a very unexpected way? Did you, like Isaiah, meet God’s
whisper?
- Have you felt His
powerful hand working in your life recently?
- Everyday, people are
experiencing God’s mighty Word in their lives and it is a pity that very
few know about it. Do you have a story to tell? Some Good News to
share?
- E-mail us (genesis@catholic.org) or fax us
(021-6627384), and tell us about it. That’s right! You don’t have to be
a great writer to do this. We can help you write it – just tell us like
it is!
- Don’t forget to write
the subject: “Let Me Tell You A
Story”
For comments, suggestions or
ideas:
E-mail us: genesis@catholic.org
Write us: Jl. Bacang No. 20 Kebayoran Baru,
Jakarta Selatan, Indonesia
Call us: (6221) 720-3824
Fax us: (6221) 662-7384
Genesis Catholic
Community - All Rights Reserved 2003
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This site has been awarded
IN THIS ISSUE:
HIS Servant
by Bro. Pete Lapid
Our Faith
By Fr. KJ Veeger, MSC
Surabaya Corner
By Ramon Martillano
Place of Refuge
By Philip Yuson
Sharing
By Ricel Lapig
Here's the Latest
By Pinky Torres
Viewpoint
Straight from the Heart
By Carolle Bautista
On Focus
by Sansu Garin
Compiled by Armand Sol
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