In Life, There are Detours

In life, there are detours.

On our last day in Guimaras, Dr. Romero generously offered to drive us to the port from our hotel. He also said we can pass by the San Lorenzo Wind Farm. We finished the medical mission a bit later than usual (probably because we had lesser manpower) and we actually needed to go back to Iloilo since my flight was scheduled at 5:55pm. He asked if we still wanted to see the windmills. I was traveling with Drs. Daryl and Berenice Cheng from Australia and Ms. Preaky Ledesma from Valencia, Bukidnon. They asked me because Berenice's flight was scheduled at 8pm and Preaky's flight was the following day. I said yes. My thoughts at that time (the adventurer in me didn't quite think things through 😂), "when will be the next time I will visit Guimaras? So might as well see it. Keep the faith...you'll arrive in time for your flight. If not, then I can just book another flight (thinking it was only worth almost Php 2K)"

And so we did, hence these photos. 

But before actually arriving there, we even got lost a bit but I said, "Okay lang yan (That's okay). In life, there are detours." That is the reason, we came about the inside joke/quotable quote at the beginning of this post. 😁

And so we were able to see the beautiful windmills. But the story doesn't end there.
We arrived at the port and left Guimaras around 5pm. Remember, the schedule of my flight? 😅 Bro. Darwin fetched us at Iloilo port to bring us to the Iloilo Airport. When I opened my Google map, it says ETA was 18:05H. It was a bit traffic. Ma'am Mylene and Ma'am Necie, who will be flying with Dr. Berenice for the 8pm flight were already at the airport. They were updating me that my plane is already boarding but got delayed. However, when they inquired, the counter personnel told them I might not be allowed to check-in anymore. Upon receiving their message, I started to feel a bit panicky, my heart racing. I was already thinking of plan B and started searching for flights... No available flights in Cebu Pacific for that night... The next available flight was the next day and to my surprise, it was worth Php 7K. I searched at the PAL website and there were only 2 seats available worth Php 5K. I was contemplating to book online already since I had no choice but Bro. Darwin suggested to just book the flights at the airport counter. And so I decided to just wait.
I texted my mom telling her of my situation and asked her to pray. I silently prayed during the ride, "Lord, please bring us safely to the airport. If it is Your will that I get on that plane, You will make a way. If not, then help me be able to book another plane ticket tonight or tomorrow. May Your will be done."

We arrived at the airport 1800H. 5 minutes late of my scheduled flight. I still went to the Cebu Pacific counter and asked if I will still be allowed to get on the plane. I apologized for being late and explained that I tried checking-in online the night prior but something went wrong with the website and I didn't get a copy of the boarding pass. The personnel said that I was actually able to check-in but told me not to repeat the same mistake of being late again in the future as I might not be allowed to be on board. To make the long story short, I was still able to get into my flight. The weather was good and there seems to be no other possible reason for the flight to be delayed. The pilot kept apologizing for the delay but in my mind it was God who made things possible.

Indeed, God makes things possible. But I am not writing this to encourage you to be late for your flights and pray to God for Him to work miracles. Hehe. It may not happen all of the time (especially in Naia or particularly other international airports). 

True...In life, there are detours. And even if we get lost at times, God is always there for us...ready to pick us up. But the experience and my mom's parallelism of it reminded me that there will come a time that the gates will be closed and we will no longer be allowed to enter the wedding banquet just like what happened to the 5 foolish virgins in Matthew 25:1-13. And the Lord said to them that He doesn't know them. Therefore, we cannot serve 2 masters (Matthew 6:24)...and we cannot be lukewarm in our faith. I hope that when the time comes, I will be ready and God will say, "Well done, my faithful servant." This is my prayer. 🙏

Bible Readings-
Matthew 24:44
Matthew 6:24
Matthew 25:1-13; 21

Additional readings-
Pastor Mike Manea wrote a nice article about the close of probation in the link below-
https://ssnet.org/blog/judgment-living-close-probation/