Bawat tao ay may kanya kanyang espesyal na lakad, para sa akin ang espesyal kong lakad ay ang

paghakbang papalapit sa Diyos. Isa akong Youth Minister sa aming parokya, ang simabahan ang naging
saklolo at sumbungan ko sa tuwing ako’y nahihirapan sa bahay, sa bawat misa, aktibidad, pagtitipon at
pagliliwaliw kasama ang iba kong co-YM ay tila kasama ko rin ang Diyos at sa bawat paghakbang ko ay
pakiramdam ko mas lalo akong lumalapit sa kanya ngunit dumating sa punto na parang may pumipigil
sakin na hagkan ang kanyang kamay bagamat malapit na ako dito, naging inaktibo na akong miyembro,
may mga panahon na ayaw ko na pumunta sa simbahan, tila isa akong lalagyan na walang laman. Sa
salaysay ni Fr. Santa Ana, ako’y nakarelate and I came into realization na yung naramdaman kong yun ay
hindi isang kasalanan kundi isang paanyaya, hinayaan ng diyos na I feel empty so that His grace will fill
me in, even though there are many factors that drags me away from Him He always gives me Hope to
continue holding on to Him, Fr Baculi also said that we need to value everything that exists kahit ano pa
man ito bawat bagay na nangyayari ay may dahilan, as Proverbs 3:5 says, Trust in the LORD withyou’re
your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding.

Every one of us have their own special LAKAD, my special LAKAD is my step getting closer to God, my
LAKAD towards Him, my LAKAD towards my dreams with Him, my LAKAD in achieving Holiness with His
guidance. I am a Parish Youth Minister in my hometown, church has been my relief and support during
times of struggle, it has been a second home to me, in every Eucharistic Mass Celebration, activities,
youth gatherings, travels, bible sharing, and open forums with my co-ministers, I always felt happy and
contented because I can feel I am being loved, cared and appreciated, but although I felt all the best
feelings there will always be a time where God will put you in a challenge wherein your faith will be
tested to the fullest, academic life swallowed me whole, competition with my classmates became fierce,
I got struck with worldly desires—to be victorious, I want to quench my thirst for recognition, I stopped
my LAKAD. I received all the praises I am craving yet I felt empty, something is missing, I asked God, why
do I feel like there’s a void inside me when I already achieved what I want, Fr. Sta. Ana’s statement
about emptiness made me realize why God had put me in that situation, emptiness is not something
bad, it’s alright to feel empty, God is just inviting me to let Him fill that void with His grace, love and
compassion; Romans 15:13 “There’s an emptiness in us only God can fill”, now, I am about to start to
continue my LAKAD.