Maina Walkley
Technically, I have been a senior 11 years ago but only felt as one when I finally retired from active self-employment at age 70. I remember celebrating my birthday that year in a special way which was not common for me.
I think in one’s lifetime there is always a point or a period when your life is turned around, for better or worse or for just some adjustments in your life. In my case, it was my spiritual side which God deemed the need for enhancement and I believe that God sends his Angels in the person of a friend, or even a stranger, or an event that will make an impact on our life. I am grateful that God’s call came to me in my early senior year in 2010; the period when our life’s journey is beginning its final stage.
I have been a practicing Catholic like my parents—baptised and raised as a Catholic—but ignorant of the Word of God, the Bible. I did not think this a problem nor considered it of any consequence in the past. But somewhere within me, however, were questions about the church and thus, about God. I went through life thinking I could rely on myself alone, or so I thought. This was just one of my many misconceptions in life. I have the late Fr Bert de la Pena to thank for putting me on the right path of spiritual discovery long before he became a servant of the Lord. He became my spiritual mentor. With the grace of God, I was given the opportunity to do missionary work in Chiang Mai, Thailand for six months in 2011. It was there where I first read the Bible 14 years after Fr Bert gifted this precious book to me in 1997.
His admonitions for me “to love my enemies”, of forgiveness, the virtue of patience and many more suddenly made sense and my mind, my heart and soul were opened up to the Lord’s glory. When I looked back, I recognised my late brother-in-law Manny Marcelo and Mario and Nona Alberto as the other Angels in my life. I hope I could be one to others, too.
I feel that my senior time now is more meaningful as my life’s purpose is truly to give glory to the Lord.
