BY DR. EDWIN I. LARIZA
I am re-posting a blog post that my friend and manong (elder) Edwin wrote on 28 December 2012.
On his death anniversary (8 March 2015), I browsed his blogs. I refreshed myself of his journey in faith, leadership, service, empowerment, and resilience.
His blog, “From therapy to ministry: The wonders of blogging“, speaks of the value of empowerment that we share as fellow ministers of the Gospel.
Almost two years ago, I started my first blog, courtesy of a pastor friend, Jonan Castillon. He encouraged me to blog as part of my healing process.
At the peak of leadership and service, I was attacked by a chronic heart ailment compounded by an unusual nerve disorder. Such condition had constrained my active life of service.
Most of my time was spent at home due to limited mobility, making me vulnerable to discouragement and depression.
Pastor Jonan’s successful journey in the online writing niche was contagious that despite my skepticism, I entertained the idea. However, I did not know how to start.
Thus, despite his hectic schedule, Pastor Jonan took the time to tutor me, hands-on blogging. Thereafter, I experienced the gradual process of growth comparable to my healing process.
Dubbed PADAYON: Our Life Journey, my first journal blog was an attempt to inspire readers to continue the commitment in service, no matter what. PADAYON is an Ilonggo term that means continue. It connotes moving/going on (or never give up) despite adversaries or adversities in a deeper sense.
My friend’s advice worked. I found joy in blogging. My interest in writing was revived.
Rather than fretting over my limited mobility, I made use of my time in blogging. I poured out my thoughts and emotion into the blog and found relief.
Hence, I opened another blog to ventilate my suppressed commitment to the people’s service towards development.
Its first name was Networking-for-holistic-development.
Later, I changed the name to Development concepts, issues, and concerns to broaden its coverage.
Recently, however, it was renamed Social Work and Development to give it a focus.
The inspiration continued. Hence, I created a sharing blog, Faith Journey, serving as a forum for life and faith experiences of people who have survived the test of times and circumstances.
Likewise, a venue for sharing and learning from one another would also find inspiration in their faith journey.
Learning and enjoying the blogging world, I decided to maximize the beauty of web linkages and networking. Hence, another blog provides an opportunity for others to share their resources.
Dubbed Resource Sharing for Development, this blog attempts to widen my services to humanity through linkages and networking of developmental and service-oriented blogs and bloggers.
With four blogs to maintain, my mind had been busy. Slowly, my focus was diverted. Instead of spending most of my time observing my seemingly deteriorating condition, I was obliged to give time to my blogs.
My vulnerability to depression caused by the delay in the healing process started to diminish. There was a paradigm shift in my mind and heart.
The delay of complete healing became an opportunity to evaluate my life and faith.
I have more time for myself and my family. More time to read the bible, pray, meditate, reflect, put faith into action in almost all aspects of life.
All the wonderful things previously deprived of me due to very hectic schedule prior to ailment.
By creating a family blog, i.e. Lariza. Website, I tried to consolidate all my other blogs to continue my service and ministry.
Hopefully, to give inspiration and restoration of self-confidence to those devastated by the harsh realities of life in various forms.
But my blogging exodus did not end there. Before the resumption of my hectic schedule, I succeeded in creating three more blogs.
Both are official websites of the organizations my wife and I helped put up. NETS News for an independent inter-denominational seminary based in Escalante City, Negros Occidental.
ICON Network, the official website of the Iloilo Coalition of NGOs and POs – a network of non-government organizations (NGOs) and people’s organizations (POs) in Iloilo.
And CPU Catalyzer, publication of the Department of Social Work, Central Philippine University.
The development in blogging and subsequent inspiration to me has been reflective in my health condition. While I have not mastered yet all the blogging technology, I feel contented to see the progress.
Likewise, although I have not fully recovered as far as my health condition is concerned, I appreciate any progress, big or small.
However, my hectic schedule, especially when I resumed my work, constrained me to update all my blogs. It’s good that Christmas break has given me time to visit my blogs, review and evaluate them.
Subsequently, I have decided to give each blog a focus or niche and transfer respective posts to where they belong.
More so, that the alarming trend in our religious organizations has inspired me to create another blog that will focus on the Convention Baptist Ministers Association and Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches.
PADAYON KATIPAN serves as a reminder to keep up the covenant and continue the good things we have started, especially for our pastors’ development.
Henceforth, blogging will be a ministry.
NOTE WELL: This blog post was re-published with permission from Edwin’s wife, Dr. DZ Q. Patriarca Lariza.
The Ministry Appreciation and Participation Toolkit seek to empower the pastor and ministry leaders in doing the ministries that the Lord God has called them to do.
Please CLICK on this link to know more: MINISTRY APPRECIATION AND PARTICIPATION TOOLKIT.
Leave a Reply