What we are is God’s work. He has created us in Christ Jesus for the good works He has prepared that we should devote ourselves to them. – Ephesians 2:10
It is March and it means it is graduation month in the Philippines.So I decided to use my college graduation picture for this post heheI wanted to join in the excitement and reminisce my most beautiful memory of college…Which took place around six years ago…
But before that, there’s something I would like to share…
Lately, I’ve been seeing facebook statuses of my friends from medical school…Most of which were overwhelming expression of gratitude to the Lord for helping them pass their oral revalida.So a little trivia – the oral revalida is The Make Or Break challenge for medical students…It is an oral exam wherein each intern will be given a clinical case…The intern takes a patient’s history, does a physical examination, comes up with a clinical impression…And then will be evaluated by three consultants.If the intern passes, s/he graduates.If s/he flunks it, then graduation day comes at a later time for him/her.So it is actually the most nerve-wracking step towards being able to graduate.And even if I will never get to experience that most dreaded challenge for a medical student (you can read here why)…I can definitely relate to how stressful the few days before “judgment day” were…
We actually had an oral revalida, too, back in college, wherein it was better known as the “orals…”Because our college curriculum was somehow patterned with the one in med school.So several weeks before my orals, my anxiety level was at its peak…And it often brought me to tears…Sobbing because of fear of the unknown, and of course, the fear of failure.But along that unshakeable feeling, I prayed hard for God’s help…
Then came orals day…It was my turn to be grilled by my panel…My orals actually consisted of three parts…First part, the basics, and second and third parts, clinical.Shaking and nearly stuttering as I spoke…I practically screwed up my basics…Which meant…I could no longer proceed with the second and third part.I was crying as I stayed outside the examination room, waiting for the final decision of my panel.And then one of them came out to talk to me…She told me that they will give me another chance…And I could go on with the second part…But on one condition…If I don’t do good, I automatically fail.But yes, God was so merciful that I was able to get a topic that I knew very well.Until I finally reached the third part…And with God’s grace, passed.
For in Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. – Colossians 2:3
After my orals, I went straight to church with unstoppable tears and overflowing joy.I cried as I thanked Him for what I thought was my victory.But as I look back, I realize that that victory wasn’t all about me…It was all about God’s Mighty Power and Him working in me…So that I may fulfill the purpose He has in store for me.
Congratulations to all March 2012 graduates!May you continue to celebrate God’s victory and offer all your work to Him as you continue with life’s journey. :-)
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. – Colossians 2:6-7
Linking to Soli Deo Gloria and On Your Heart Tuesday