June 2008
I was deployed in Mussafah, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. to command a Self Propelled, Self Discharging Barge. Upon hearing the word Barge, what comes in our minds is a big, flat , floating piece of steel loaded with different cargoes and tied to a tugboat. But the MV EAGLE is special. It has it's own propulsion and can discharge her cargo by itself.
MV EAGLE
We conduct 5 round trips from Emirates Steel Plant to Abu Dhabi Anchorage and back carrying iron ore pellets from a Transhipment vessel that is anchored. After that, we stay in idle in port for 20 days waiting for another shipment. The waiting time is very boring. My best day of the week is every Saturday. A friend of mine, an Engineer who works in a neighboring town picks me up and we go to Abu Dhabi together to attend church service . It's about 15 to 20 min trip on the Abu Dhabi highway that covers approximately 32 km. It's a stress free travel with no traffic or delays.
Abu Dhabi Highway
I'm presently residing here in Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines . I go to work at 9:00AM but i usually leave the house at 8:00AM. My workplace is only about 10 km from where I live. But due to traffic conjestion during this rush hour, you need an hour as allowance so that you wont be late for work. It's not an easy life. Everyday the traffic gets worse and it seems like there is no solution.
CM Recto Avenue Cagayan de Oro City
This reminded me of the 2 paths or roads mentioned in the book of Matthew 7: 13-14
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction,
and there are many who go in by it.
Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life,
and there are few who find it.
What's my point here... The life of faithful Christian is about service. Serving others who are in need. Putting other's need first and not ourselves. There was a time when I arrived home very late, hungry and tired. Then I got a phone call from a church brethren, telling me to come over to a funeral to render service for the night. You and I can't refuse if we are committed to to do His work . At the end of the day, you feel the joy that you were able to extend a helping hand to someone.
It's not an easy life... It's not an easy path ... It's like travelling a congested highway in the midst of a traffic jam. If you got enough patience, you can still arrive at your destination.
Before i sign off, I would like to leave you with a question. Which path will you choose? The narrow one or the wide one...
God Bless Us All!
