Paula Marie Celine M. Molina 122728 Theology 151

Choosing to read and write about Jendi Reiter’s “Finding My Vocation as a

Christian Poet” was not brought about because of my own desires to one day join the

eternal conversation in the world of literature, but rather a curiosity to see how my

friends who do have this particular desire would play out in Reiter’s thoughts and ideals.

Currently, I am a Production Staffer in the Ateneo’s art and literary publication, Heights.

I am not a writer, nor an artist. Frankly, I don’t even read as much as I ought to or even

as much as I’d like to. And yet, this reading spoke to me, made me even forget that it

was all about poetry and had me pause to re-think my own reasons for the career path

that I’m choosing: film.

Like Reiter, I felt the need to “hold up a fragile order above the chaos”, the chaos

being the current state of Philippine Cinema, wherein films by Vice Ganda, Vic Sotto

and Bimby Aquino dominated the Box Office and whose stories lacked thought, heart,

and passion (and were mostly just hour-long advertisements). I was insistent to be the

change that our country needed in order to be at par with the films that other countries

were producing. I looked down upon Philippine Cinema without thoroughly combing

through it. But then came the crashing disappointment of realization during my first few

years in college that in comparison to a lot of my schoolmates, coursemates,

blockmates, I was not nearly as great as I thought I was. People my age were creating

amazing short films and I was still struggling over the technicalities of a camera. Unlike

Reiter, who converted to Christianity, I questioned my religiousness in a foolish notion

that perhaps it was what was holding me back in creating fresh, dramatic and awe-

inspiring stories. Reading Reiter’s piece, most especially “Not all communication has to

be an original masterpiece…Sometimes the simplest words touch the widest audience”

reminded me not to have selfish ambitions of fame and recognition as my main goals in

pursuing the career that I want. I forced myself to remember the very reason I chose

film, not always the most lucrative career and definitely not a choice my parents were

comfortable with. I chose film because I wanted to aid in the inspiration and world-

shaping of children in all corners of the globe just as I was inspired by the Harry Potter

series growing up. I have yet to discover if this is the vocation that God wants for me,

but currently it is the unselfish goal I have for myself. While this particular path may not

be easy, especially since very many films created today are not exactly in line with the

teachings of the Church, I pray that my participation in this kind of “creation”, while

different from the world of poetry and literature, I too would serve my purpose as God’s

creature. While the reading did not satisfy the initial curiosity I had for my friends in

Heights, I am grateful that (a) I was not alienated, or distanced by the relatively

unknown initial subject matter the reading had, rather it was as if it was talking about the

difficulties in my particular field and (b) it was able to give me a better sense of purpose

and acknowledgement to refute the careerist tendencies in myself.