Mountain View College

School of Arts and Sciences

General Education Department

UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

1ST Semester 2021-2022

Name: Eric John A. Modillas Course: AB Theology

Reflections 01

Read the devotional thought for today and reflect on what are the things or skills you have always
dreamed of having. Share how you feel about those dreams and what are you doing to turn them into
realities.

Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that
your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

– 1 Corinthians 15:58 NASB

All her life, Veronica worked in jobs that served other people but gave her little personal
satisfaction. As a young girl, she missed a lot of school to take care o her younger siblings and help with
the family business. Consequently, she never learned to read.

After getting married, she worked as a cook in a restaurant, memorizing ingredient labels and
recipes to conceal her illiteracy. Every day she lived in fear of making a mistake, while dreaming of one
day being able to read.

A serious illness put Veronica in the hospital and then at home for a long recovery. Her health
improved some, but not enough for her to go back to work. She saw this time as her opportunity to
learn to read and enrolled in the adult reading program.

Veronica’s new reading skills boosted her confidence and she got involved in her church and in
organizing community activities. She wrote a prize-winning cookbook and became a local celebrity.

Veronica never let go of her dream while working hard wherever she found herself. In the end,
her dreams were realized far beyond her imagination.

Reflection:

Be like a postage stamp-

Stick to one thing till you get there.
 Mountain View College
School of Arts and Sciences
General Education Department
I've always wanted to play musical instruments skillfully and have an excellent voice in singing. When I
was a kid, my parents didn't expose me to musical instruments, unlike those talented people who
trained and acquired their talent in these instruments since they were still a child. I envy them for that. I
only played a simple melodeon and a recorder.

I love to sing. I had some experience of singing when I sing with my family in taking part in church
services. But I never experienced voice lessons or taught myself how to sing well. After all these, I still
want to sound pleasant to people. I want to sing in solos. But I never had the confidence to do so.

Throughout my high school years, I joined various choirs and singing groups to enhance the quality of
my voice and primarily to sing for the glory of God. I focus passionately during training sessions. I then
started practicing on my own. I even exercise my voice while taking a shower and sing along the halls of
our dormitory. I attended piano class in my first year but stopped after two years of practice due to a
loss of passion for the instrument. Then I tried playing guitar and saxophone. And after months of self-
teaching, I learned its basics. I can now play simple songs for meditation and enjoyment.

Given a chance to lead a group of singers, I then lead two singing groups. One is The Melodies-a circle of
female friends, and the other is Malangas District Youth Choir-a choir founded of youths in our church
district. With God's guidance and blessing, we successfully conducted concerts in different distant
churches. During our appointments, I also played the saxophone and offered song renditions.

Though I haven't reached the peak of my goal, I'm still happy for the littlest of improvements and
developments that I have. Now I'm more determined to continue, and I'm currently preparing to join the
auditions for a new higher-level choir and practice more of playing my guitar. Like Veronica, I will never
let go of this dream of mine. I know it's hard, but I'm willing to work harder because, in the end, it will all
pay off. God will be with me, as these are all for His glory.