The Encounter

Encounter (verb) ; to have or experience problems or difficulties, to meet someone without expecting or intending to; experience, run into, come up against. 

Encounter (noun); an unexpected or causal meeting with someone or something, a confrontation or unpleasant struggle.

That's according to dear old Merriam and Oxford. But let's talk about a different encounter. To be more specific;

an Encounter with God (noun): a weekend set aside to focus on learning how to deal with sin, hurt, hang-ups, and struggles that we all face on a daily basis; a weekend retreat  with a primary purpose of restoring hope for the unwritten tomorrows of one's life.

There's no standard definition or description of an Encounter. Groups who hold Encounters say the experience is unique to every individual. It's like reading a book. You can tell the entire story to another person, but only you would know the suspense and thrill at the turn of every page. Or like sex. You can share the blow by blow details, but the experience and all the emotions that go with is totally your own.


It's interesting that they use a negative word to name the event.

Encounter.

Why not call it a Meeting with God? Appointment with God? I vote for Coffee Date with God.


I attended the Encounter organized by Acts Church Manila, my spiritual family since January so to speak (I'm not kidding, I've been attending church since the year started).

Putting all the details aside, it was thought there that A) God is an awesome God (agree), B) that he's a forgiving God (agree, again), and C) that he's got the bestest, most amazing plans for your life (I have my own "weh?" moments, but yeah, agree).  In short, he's ready to forget about your past, let you start on a clean slate and give you mind blowing blessings beyond what you ask for and what you deserve.

But you have to do your share in the deal- that's the hard part.

And I don't mean you have to be totally self-righteous you'd grow halo and wings any minute.

All you have to do is let go.

You have to let go of the past. All the people and experiences that have hurt you? Gotta let them go. All your broken dreams? All your issues or your baggage all those anger and bitterness that fuel you? Out the window. You have to let go and let God takeover. Trade in all your sh*t for the good stuff.


And I start to understand why the encounter is called as such, 'cause it's not easy letting someone else take the steering wheel. Not even close. It takes all of your mind, all of your heart and all of your spirit to do that.

It started to make sense. You really have to come up against, and confront and struggle.


I guess I did.

For lack of better term, nakipag-bunuan ako with God. That weekend was our little wrestling match of sorts.

"The man asked to be let go for it's already daybreak, but Jacob replied- 'I will not let go until you bless me'."

And I'm very happy to have lost.

Roanni