Driving License

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in
it (Psalm 118:24, English Standard Version)
After 3 weeks of formal studying or will I say being evaluated in Dallah
Dammam Driving School (if you have a zero knowledge in driving, you will
not really learn from them because theyre just there to say if youre doing
right or wrong and at times, they will even yell on you if you fail to do what
they expect you to do considering they only speak in Arabic) and after
studying for a month before this journey with Dallah from the direction of a
good friend and brother in SFC (I will no longer tell his name because I want
him to receive his whole reward from God), I finally got my Saudi Driving
license (I waited for additional 1 week before having my license printed after
passing the actual driving exam because they run-out of cards to print the
license).
I never imagined but only saw in my dream (Literal na panaginip) that this
time will come into my life, that a POOR and a NOBODY like me will be
given the GRACE to own and drive his own car (I just have a second hand
car but its okay at least I have something to use). This had been made
possible, ONLY because of the CHANGES and EVENT that will soon happen
in our unit in SFC (Dammam) where theres really a NEED for me to have my
own car that will enable me to HELP SERVING my brethren in the
community.
Just a disclaimer, Im sharing this reflection to BRAG about my so little
accomplishment and achievement but to SIMPLY share a PRECIOUS
LESSON that Ive learned from this journey that would, Insha Allah
inspire others because honestly and sincerely, I have nothing to boast about
because all I now enjoy and all I have comes from the LORD who has been so
KIND and MERCIFUL to me, I who is full of sins and shortcomings.
In this journey of faith that I just experienced, there are lots of things that
Ive realized and seems like God would want me to contemplate on and to
share to whoever would come across this post, namely:

HONESTY = I have sins to confess. Before finally deciding to attend

this driving class, I asked some of my connections to help me secure
my driving license no matter what it would take me just to have it in
my possession. If I need to pay, I will really pay (cheating). However,
things did not work the way I intend it to be. Because of this, I asked
someone to make a FAKE Philippine driving license so I will just have it

translated into Arabic then all I need to do next is to take the

examination since my SFC friend already taught me how to drive.
However, like what happened before this, things did not worked again
the way I want it to be because the license that I managed to secure is
obviously a FAKE one and if I will continue using it, it will do MORE
HARM on me if the authorities would closely examine it and find out
that its fake (Very Risky).
In this part of my journey, this only shows that, THE END DOES NOT
JUSTIFY THE MEANS no matter how good your intentions would be
because WRONG is WRONG and RIGHT is RIGHT WRONG would never
be RIGHT and RIGHT would never be WRONG
Another sins I should confess is when I had my first actual driving
exam. My heart that time is in deep trouble and even though I prayed
hard that time, theres this idea in my mind of cheating by paying
someone in the school just to get my driving license.
Though there came a point that Id been very confident that I will pass
the actual exam because I find the examination already easy that
moment, God taught me a lesson and seems like Hes saying, My
child, my child why do you not trust me??? You of little
faith!!! Why do you consider paying someone just for you to
have your driving license? Are they greater than I am? Because
of this, I tell you you will fail in this examination so you
would acknowledge your wickedness and for you to realize
that without ME, you are NOTHING
So Gods JUSTICE came my way and He failed me on the spot. The car
assigned to me bumped on the post of the parking space that was
assigned to me to park in. However, after I realize my fault and
wickedness before Him, God allowed me to pass the last leg of my
examination (the next day after coming back to Saudi Arabia from my
short leave in the Philippines).

PATIENCE = It is very common for us to have a plan and target in life

but there are times wherein no matter how well we plan something,
things does not work the way we wanted it to be. The idea of PERFECT
TIMING comes into picture in this situation. If ever we feel that our
discernment or decision is RIGHT than what it is happening and that it
should happen, the more submissive we should be because God knows
best and if our heart desire is in line with his GREAT PLAN for us, there
is no way that it will not be fulfilled.
He knows the BEST TIME and BEST SITUATION to grant that very
desires in our hearts. Patience is like courting a woman and when you
finally get her Sweet Yes, the joy that you will be feeling is so great

that it seems like you no longer want to be awaken because of the

ecstasy (great joy) that youre experiencing, youre like levitating.

PERSEVERANCE = In this entire journey, there are lots of times that I

really get frustrated because there are lots of time wherein even
though the instruction given to me is very simple and common sense, I
cant absorb what is being taught to me. It is perhaps because Im
already tired during those training schedules that I have because I just
go to the driving school in the afternoon (2:45pm) and after my session
there, I still go back to the office to resume my work (I have so many
tasks in our office) to show my boss that I do appreciate his support
and kindness towards me.
If I had decided to give up on those frustrating and humbling moments,
I could have not have my driving license now and to fulfill the purpose
of securing this license which is to serve my brethren in the
community.
"Learn to self-conquest, persevere thus for a time, and you will
perceive very clearly the advantage which you gain from it (St.
Teresa of Avila)."

HUMILITY = Its so frustrating and humiliating that a person who

came from a SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL like me who is expected to always
excel because of the training we had in our school which uses an
advance pedagogy and lessons in teaching their students cannot
absorb easily the lessons which most of the time are COMMON SENSE.
However, I need to swallow my pride and to simply move on (learn
from my mistakes) and do my best to do the things thats being
expected of me to do.
HUMILITY IS WALKING IN TRUTH (St. Teresa of Avila).

PRAYER = I can no longer remember how many Come Holy Spirit,

Hail Mary, Our Father and Glory Be prayer I have prayed in this
entire training because of the frustrations and low self-esteem that Ive
encountered. I stormed heaven with prayers to grant me strength and
wisdom to absorb the lessons being taught to me so I could already
use the car that Im paying by monthly installment to the owner who
happened also to be one of the former SFC members who now crossedover to CFC.
In situation like this wherein things are really beyond your control, it is
so important to lift your heart and your intentions to the Lord so He
could give you whatever you need to succeed in the endeavor youre in
and for you as well to easily accept the things that are unpleasant

(Acceptance). At times, God gives us challenges for us to be given the

chance to mingle more with Him because if theres no trials in our life,
we usually tend to forget about his existence and of our dependence
on Him. Our imagery of PENGENOON (Let me have that) to God will
gradually turn into, PANGINOON (Lord) as we mingle with Him in
prayer.
Let nothing disturb you. Let nothing frighten you. All things
are passing away: God never changes.Patience obtains all
things. Whoever has God lacks nothing; God alone suffices (St.
Teresa of Avila)."
If ever theres a dream in your heart that you would want to have right now, I
highly advise that you do your very best in fulfilling that desire while praying
unceasingly. If in case there are circumstances thats suggesting that it is not
really the WILL OF GOD for you to have it, be humble and grateful for that
because God still knows what is best for you. He is sparing you from great
danger because that desires of yours might not help you in fulfilling and in
becoming of what God designed for you. So REJOICE, GIVE THANKS AND
PRAY Be BLESSED!!! God loves you
Guide Questions:
1. Is there a time wherein your moral values are being tested? A time
wherein youre tempted to cheat just to achieve a certain goal?
2. Are you patient? What do you normally do whenever youre being
placed in a situation wherein you want to achieve something but no
matter what you do, things does not happen the way you intended it to
be?
3. Are you a persevering person? Do you easily give-up when you face
obstacles in your path in fulfilling your hearts desire? How do you look
at challenges in life?
4. What is humility for you? How do you react whenever theres someone
who is more knowledgeable than you are in the field/area that you
consider your expertise (the things that youre good at)?
5. What is prayer for you? Do you pray or will I say, do you really know
how to pray? How frequent do you communicate with God? Do you
have time for God?
Oremus:
Merciful God, indeed, it is time of rejoicing the time of frustrations, anger,
self-pity and humiliation has finally come into an end. I praise and bless You
Father for You have been so kind, compassionate and merciful to me despite
my unfaithfulness to Thee by continuously doing my favorite sins and for not
acknowledging your presence and role into my life. Forgive me O God for
those times that I did not trust you that much, of considering a crocked
options just to secure my driving license. Have pity on me Lord, a poor
sinner.

Now Father that you have given this most awaited BLESSING that I will now
enjoy, I now ask you to please bless me so that I could be a vessel of your
blessing to my brethren and to please cover me always Father of Your mantle
of protection so I could continue serving You all the days of my life. Amen.