same same but different

do you remember this piece of paper? :)

i can't help smiling when i see this torn-and-scotch-taped evidence of our doodling abilities. :P it's so beautiful rite??? this was truly our first piece of "work" together as facils for eyr08 and you can already see how diverse and different we all are. :)

some of us are faceless, some of us dun have hair on our heads, some of us have rather crazy hairstyles and body action. the way we try to draw ourselves tells so much of the way we see ourselves and what essentially is our Person. what is it that distinguishes ourselves from others? from just being the generic stickman figure that we learnt since young.

i look at this picture snapshot of us then, on the 8th of dec 2008, and i look at us now, and i'm so comforted. :) back then, we were still uncertain, apprehensive, and not only adeline, i also had my doubts abt whether we would be able to follow thru with the retreat, and den what next? back then i couldn't say for sure how many of us were actually even hopeful abt the "what next" of this year. we were sort of a group of ppl, but not a community as yet. given that we were so diverse, could we even agree on anything in the first place? would we be able to find a common vision, a common purpose for ourselves as individuals and as a group? would we be able to grow closer together, and accept and love one another just as we are--unique, irreplaceable, and precious?

it's been only abt 2 months, and this sunday we celebrate (aptly) the changes in perspective, mindsets, and hearts of our souls. we celebrate, more imptly, this little victory over our doubts and fears, victory over our own human ways, victory over unpleasant circumstances and things that we cannot control. we celebrate our dear Lord, Friend and Saviour who brought all of us here together and made Emmaus Walk possible. it is no less by the work of His Hands that we are even on this path now, ready to face the rest of the year with a clear direction and a team to follow. He is the one who conquered all our fears, made our paths smooth, and kindled in us the fire to serve. Praise the Lord, for He is mighty and has worked wonders for us! :)

if we were to do this exercise again, what would our picture look like? ;)