SWIMMING IS A SPORT THAT CAN BE EITHER A RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY OR A COMPETITIVE ONE. BUT IT CAN ALSO TEACH US ABOUT THE REALITY OF LIFE - ESPECIALLY RESPONDING TO ONE'S VOCATION.

To become efficient in life one needs discipline, determination, stamina, risk-taking, and above all self-confidence.

Ryan Carlo was born and raised in a very protective family and lived in a village near a river. Since childhood he had seen wonderful, enthusiastic swimmers who took risks to learn and some people who accidentally drowned, leading to a sorrowful experience for the families left behind.

RC is the only boy in the family. He has a sister. He has seen the activities of the people of his village along the river. For him the river shows the reality of life a gift to be shared, a source of survival, especially in the deep part where people hooked fish for their living.

Developing an interest

People in that village knew very well that RC - being the only son - was not allowed by his parents to plunge into the river. When he was about nine years old, he was curious and got interested in swimming. He had seven playmates that kept on encouraging him. He did not try it. He was so obedient to his parents.

One Sunday afternoon, his friends just decided to push him: RC was frightened and cried out for help because he did not know how to swim. He was hurt and cried while his playmates were laughing at him. Good enough, he saved himself!

From then on, when his friends invited him to go to the river, he took an interest in swimming. He developed his newly acquired skills and told his parents about his adventures.

Building an altar

From then on, especially during summer time, RC and his friends came regularly to swim, at least three times a week, and then they went together to Ryan Carlo’s home. His mother prepared some merienda for them, and they enjoyed each other’s company.

Young as they were, Ryan Carlo took the initiative and built a little altar and they performed a kind of play of a eucharistic celebration. RC’s role was that of the priest and the rest were the assembly. He got his parents’ white blanket, put it on as a cassock, and bought some biscuits to use as a kind of host.

A discovery

They became adolescents and high school days came. RC volunteered himself to compete in the sports activities of the school in swimming events. To many it was a surprise and a discovery. He was declared as one of the winners. When people came to congratulate him for his potential, he accepted the compliment with joy and gratitude. He realized that as one progresses in life, there are tasks to be confronted. Who am I? What are my potentials as a person? What are my interactions with others, with my surrounding, with the events in my community and what concrete situation in my life presents to me now?

As he involved himself in swimming, it occurred to him to think more deeply about himself, creating and developing his gifts. He realized that, in every facet of life, pain is included in the struggle and when one is determined to reach his ambition, it requires stamina.

Deeper awareness

RC went to Manila and enrolled in one of the universities. He took up BS Physical Therapy. He enjoyed his studies and to balance his life, he went to the nearest swimming pool. He found time to relax, to be with himself. He meditated on the richness and beauty of life, considering the potholes and the smooth experiences. Everything - the positive and the negative aspects - were an invitation to grow in himself and in his relationship to God. Life for him had produced deeper awareness and authentic understanding of the mystery of God and a total freedom in searching for harmony.

There was a accident in the swimming pool: a child, unattended by adults, was on the point of drowning. RC was the first to notice and he reached out and saved him. Being a lifesaver, he realized that one freely become a servant out of love. He said: “I think that, in the reality of life, before one becomes a life-saver one has to master himself with training, discipline and know-how. Otherwise, instead of preserving life, one may become an obstacle that leads to a sudden death.”

Day of discernment

RC finished his studies successfully. He returned to his home province and the people of his own village were so proud of him. It was summertime then, and a lot of people came to that river for picnic and among those was a group of religious missionaries.

When RC came out from swimming, one of the missionaries approached him, greeted him and said: “Hi young man, you are an excellent swimmer, how did you learn that?” RC with his humility said: “Through constant practice, hard work, perseverance, risking and determination and faith in God.” The missionary affirmed him and said: “If you have those attitudes and values, you can discern with us. Probably God is calling you to a state of life as a priest or brother. You can be a life-guard even to those persons whom you do not know. God will give them to you and you will meet them in person.”

RC with surprise asked: “Life guard? You mean ……?”. The missionary answered: “Certainly, we are working for God, for humanity to save them. We lose ourselves for love”. Then he continued: “You will find joy when you find the right direction for yourself.” He gave a brochure for him to read and said: “Take time, enjoy your present work, be active in your parish and keep contact with us.

Sharing a dream

That encounter for RC gave him the opportunity to recall his childhood years in the river, the dramatization of the eucharistic celebration with his friends, the challenge of the invitation to search for a deeper meaning in life, the series of questions he asked when he was in high school. The words of the missionary kept on haunting him: “I am ready to help you as you strive to discover God’s will for your life”.

Little by little RC opened up his desire, his dream to his parents. Being the only son, they were naturally opposed to the idea of his becoming a priest. RC explained: “You see, Mom and Dad, I am the right age to be able to decide by myself. I am already a young professional. I want to be happy, to love, to create an experience about life which is true for me. I acknowledge my own strength and my weakness. Stop crying Mom, I am a loving and lovable person, I can dream, I can make my future bright with God’s grace. Life is lived like a river with its constant flow of water, giving life to others. I know it hurts to separate from your own protective ways. There is a time for everything. It is high time that I make a decision for myself. I will be a lifeguard not only for you but also for all the people”.

The parents did not understand the symbolic meaning of lifeguard. RC explained: “It means to accompany others, teaching them to swim in the journey of Christian life and to have a healthy body and soul.”

Self-worth

RC attended the series of recollections and search-ins of the missionary congregation. He pursued his dream and explained the principle of finding himself in the seminary. “To follow God’s will, we need to make ourselves available to the call. We need the capacity to accept, to take risks along the path towards our goal in life: to be holy and happy.” What is important is to swim in the real ocean of life. We may be tired, frightened along the way, but, with optimism and enough stamina, we can reach our destiny - the vocation that God desires for us.

RC was ordained as a missionary priest. He was assigned to a remote area where he found a river. He ministered to the people not only with verbal proclamation but by the witness he showed especially in Basic Christian Communities, by involving and empowering the people. Like in swimming, in order to be effective, all parts of the body must be coordinated. He animated the children by seeing more fully their uniqueness as individuals and giving them a greater sense of self-worth, by teaching them to believe in themselves.

The youth especially were happy of being given the opportunity to train in how to save people in emergency situations. As they went swimming from time to time, everyone was delighted knowing that every vocation to which God calls us is for the service of the Church.

People realized that RC’s missionary vocation as a priest was indeed to be a lifeguard especially when he was called to administer the sacrament of the sick. He used to walk long distances in the mission reaching out to people in need especially those who were struggling, swimming between life and death.

Indeed, he is a swimmer, a lifeguard leading people towards Christ.<WM

Write to

Fr. Vincent and Fr. Marnie

Vocation team

Comboni Missionaries 282Roosevelt Ave

1105 Quezon City M.M

Philippines

Tel. 414-3164/372-5859

or E-mail:

postasia@i-manila.com.ph

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