ENGLTRI FINALE

It was the final speech.
It was the fourth and last speech.
It was the Impromptu Speech.

Like before, there was this sense of relief that there is no need for preparation. But also like before, there was this fear, this feeling of tension. And almost everything else was just like before....except for certain things of course.

There it was...countless cards laid down on the table. At the back of these cards, the topics were written. I had to choose five. And I was just given three minutes to pick...three minutes to choose my fate for this last speech.

Friedster.
Text Messaging.
Television.
Religion and Faith.
Internet Pornography.

I didn't really know why I chose that last card but I did. And for that length of time when my professor is still choosing which among these will he want to ask me about, I was tensed. I was tensed not really because I would have to deliver a speech for the next five minutes. Rather, it was because I fear that he will choose the last card. And I may become a total wreck in front of my classmates if the question he would ask would be someting I had not the least bit of idea. I was so focused on the possibility that he will choose that topic that I wasn't able to feel it coming.

The question....
....
...
....
gladly, was not about Internet Pornography.

Instead, it was about Religion and Faith. And my question was about the root causes of the decline of people's faith in God today


With the three minute preparation, I wrote down whatever thoughts came upon my mind. And in the next minute, I shared it with my classmates...

ENTERTAINMENT--movies(violence, porn)/music,etc.
LITERATURE--Da Vinci Code/Harry Potter, etc.
Our FAST-PACED LIFE

I was not able to elaborate on the first two and I somewhat regret it. I could have mentioned all the things that Pastor----(was it Santiago?) discussed way back in highschool(or was it elementary?)
But, I didn't. I ran through my speech with my thoughts racing so fast. But I know I stressed my point on the last bullet. Because I believe it's the most relevant, accurate and important fact that these people in front of me could relate to.

Aren't we all living with a fast-paced life? Not one of us seem to have been deprived of the gift of being multi-tasking. We are involved with a number of things. We all try to juggle them. But our time is running so fast that we try our best to prioritize everything...everything except Him.

Well...I don't know how well I did up there but people said I was great!
But....I don't know.
I just have this sort of feeling that the question was given to me not by chance but on a purpose.

But was I effective?

I don't know if I really did my best in making use of those five minutes, that moment of mine on the spotlight. I was overcome by my emotions I almost started to cry. I was overcome by fear...fear that these people will ridicule what I have to say.

But I saw their eyes...so intense...most of them were really hearing what I was saying.
But did they listen?

Just like my extemporaneous speech in Grade 6 and in High 4, a number of people greeted me afterwards saying "Ang galing mo kanina ah" and other statements having the same sense.
But also like before, a question rings inside my head
"Was I able to touch them deep inside? Was I able to stir up their hearts and bring them (or at least one of them) much closer to God?"

Well...
I gathered really good grades from most of my classmates so I think I was able to deliver it well enough...but you know what....
I guess...
...
...
only He can tell.