I attend a lot of prayer meetings and bible study sessions organized by the campus group of which I am an active member and treasurer. In these meetings, members get to discuss Christianity and pray with others in small groups — a lot. One can say that every trial we encounter is ‘soaked in prayer.’
After attending a prayer meeting one evening, I board a jam-packed passenger jeepney en route to Baclaran. In the dark, I scrounge for some loose change in my bag.
Sitting at the very end of the jeepney, far from the driver, I then hand over the exact change to a co-passenger sitting in the middle of the long seat. In an attempt to notify the jeepney driver of my payment that is now ‘on its way,’ I say out loud: “Lord, bayad po (Lord, here’s my payment).” (Manila, Philippines/Sometime in 1988)
Still reeling from the flu caused by the cold climate, I hurriedly pack my school stuff and wear my favorite cashmere sweater on my way to my afternoon French class.
Things go well in the classroom — I manage to answer some questions correctly — despite my illness.
During the class break, I get some chocolate drink from the vending machine and talk to two of my classmates, a Russian lady and an African guy.
My Russian classmate is a chic lady with a very good fashion sense. Based on what she wears in class, one can see that her taste of clothes is impeccable. She appears to have a very updated (and huge) wardrobe.
In the middle of our friendly chitchat, my Russian classmate suddenly touches my sweater with her right index finger, and leans forward to take a closer look at the fabric. I feel flattered that she has taken notice of my newly bought cashmere sweater.
She says something to me in French, which I didn’t quite catch. Thinking she has just complimented me for choosing a very nice sweater design, I say, “Thank you. I bought it at the Manor department store…in Lugano.”
“No…no. I was trying to tell you that you wore your pullover the wrong way,” she clarifies in a tactful way.
I then look down on my sweater, quite shocked to see that I have worn it inside out the whole time! (Biel-Bienne, Switzerland/October 2008)
