by Fr Ramon Borja, SDB
All we have up to now… are plans.… Very good and very optimistic, but still, nothing but plans. Truly, God’s ways are not man’s ways. For the first time in my life, I find Isaiah 55:8 so true and alive. Before, I only heard and read about it. Now, I do experience it. God is telling me, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and My ways are not your ways.”
The very recent (just a few days ago) and very historic (the first ever where the SDB FIN Provincial and the Kuching Archbishop had a dialogue and decision-making together about the school project and the presence of the Salesians in the Archdiocese) visit of my Provincial, Fr. Anthony Paul Bicomong, accompanied by my classmate, Fr. Jose Armando Cortez, the FIN Province Delegate for Missionary Animation (PDMA), made me feel so glad and grateful.
Fr. Andre and I felt we’re not alone. We are not left on our own. The Congregation, the whole FIN Province, especially, is with us. The presence of our Provincial bringing with him not just the prayers, greetings and best wishes of the whole Province but also the concrete and substantial financial support made us feel so encouraged.
On a personal note, honestly, especially when they left (while the sky was darkening though it was mid-morning), I also felt a tinge of low-spirits. The very challenging reality started to confront me more strongly – the reality that the school we are dreaming of will only take full shape after at least three years, only if we have Malaysian ringgit in millions and at least a minimum number of Malaysian lay who have both the competence and the heart for this kind of stuff and of Malaysian companies or individuals who are willing to partner with us, and thus acquire certification from the government which surely would not be easy and speedy.
God wants me to wait. God wills that I do. This is His, not mine, not even ours. This is God’s… and it will only unfold in His time, in His grace, in His ways. Through my superiors, my Provincial, the Rector Major, my Archbishop, and the people that God continuous to send, let me be guided and led that I may be His humble though passionate, docile and compassionate, Salesian missionary priest instrument of His.
Please don’t get me wrong. Forgive my musing as a neophyte missionary. Know that I remain so happy, honored and hopeful here, feeling so blessed, wanting to be a blessing. God is not just making this Don Bosco Malaysia dream come true. I feel, He also purifies me, humbles me, crafts me, as He is doing so…
When will that tomorrow be when Don Bosco Malaysia becomes a full reality? I don’t know. All I know is the God holds all tomorrows and also holds my hand …. And that is more enough for me.
Source: AustraLasia
