The Words of the Tubil Family
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The Words of the Tubil Family |
I wanted to attend the first Original Divine Principle workshop but the announcement was made a little too late for me to request time off from work. So I told myself that I will get to attend the second one no matter what. When I was told of the final dates however, I knew it would be a challenge. I was in the process of moving from a new place, and was working at the same time, up to the day of the workshop itself. I came to Vegas, physically exhausted and already sleep deprived. Not a very good preparation I might say.
The workshop itself was straight forward. There were a few tidbits here and there that would emphasize a certain topic but nothing much to shake nor question my creed. It had cemented, straightened and enhanced my understanding of things I already knew about; and definitely washed the mud of confusion on certain points in my head.
On Saturday night, we were told to prepare because True Parents might come for Sunday's pledge and Hoon Dok Hae. The workshop ended early that day to give time to those who wanted to see what Las Vegas could offer especially at night. It is the entertainment capital of the world after all. My roommate and I opted for an early turn-in so we may get up early for the following morning's activities. The schedule calls for a 5 AM start everyday. We woke up at 3 AM, washed and showered and was at the lecture hall at 30 minutes past.
We thought that we could get the best seat in the house. Wrong! At 3:40 AM, the lecture hall was filled halfway and the seats left were the ones towards the back. I asked the elderly sister at the very front as to what time she came, and was told she was there as early as 2 AM. Oh boy, can't beat the old timers and the true fanatics. And we're supposed to be the younger ones. True Parents weren't able to come after all. True Mother was having a bad cold and was coughing a lot. So, we were asked to prepare again for the following morning. This time, I was too exhausted to try to beat the old pros. We came down at 4 AM and found sensible seats next to the aisle.
The highlight of the workshop was indeed True Parent's visit. We were entertained by Shinjeon Nim; first, by handing us candies and then he sang two songs for us. True Father also requested True Mother to sing, and she obliged despite of a sore throat and a cough. Then, True Father got up and sang; which kind of signaled everyone to quietly come and stand next to the stage. A little pandemonium started where everyone wanted to get closer and closer to True Parents. People sort of had the self control towards the end but it has to be asked many times. My toes were innocent victims and ended up mangled and bruised in some spots. Note to self - don't wear sandals when True Parents are nearby.
True Father re-emphasized that he has only a few "moments" left here in the physical world. He also mentioned that one bout of pneumonia could make his lifespan shorter than it already is. He made himself very accessible to us in a way that he let those near him touch him without the bodyguards asking us to leave him alone. It was as if True Father was saying" Here I am, come and get a piece of me before I am gone." I personally was standing next to him and was stroking his arm for a few moments. Then, while he walk away towards the door, we were all walking with him and I was rubbing his back up and down, saying to myself: "please, no pneumonia, please..."
I do admit that I was pretty selfish that morning -- touching the Messiah with not much internal or spiritual foundation to be doing so. But I did it with the heart of a child, a daughter, wishing that my Father be well and healthy to withstand the cruel schedule and physical struggles he imposed on himself. That of a child longing for her parents, and wishing them to be safe and live a long life. I could not control the stream of tears as I was walking with the crowd, my hands on Father's back. There were those around him with the same wet face that I had. I have to focus hard to stop myself from touching True Father after a minute that felt like forever, and be contended to just walk behind him. It may be cliché to say this, but I felt like I could walk all the way to San Francisco from Las Vegas if Father would ask me to. The love and everything else that I have no words for that emanates out of that MAN is so powerful that I am still tearful while writing this testimony, almost 2 weeks after the event.
People started singing Arirang as we all walked out of the lecture room, towards the hotel lobby, ending up to True Parent's white car outside. The car will bring them straight to the airport for a flight back to Korea. Early risers from the hotel were staring at us, eyes quizzed and wondering what the throng of people were doing, as we were singing and trailing a wrinkled grandfather out of the hotel. I was never more proud to be amongst the crowd than anywhere else ever. This part of the whole workshop alone was the most memorable for me.
There were lots of things that were sort of new-ish to peoples' ears, but I would like to point out one thing only. True Parents' words emphasizing the importance of absolute sexual morality was mentioned over and over again. Husbands and wives are the only ones who can represent themselves as a couple before Heavenly Father, by letting Him experience love to the highest degree when they are joined together in physical union. So the more husbands and wives "represent" themselves before God, the more they make God happy. The more they make God happy, the more blessed their respective couple and families would be.
So, go ahead and REPRESENT yourselves over and over, people!