This is the question before the start of the service. Uso pa nga ba? This question was also posted in LifeBox CDeO page and the youth answered it. Here are some of the answers:
In other words, "Harana" is still applicable today. It is timeless. It can be done in different ways.
So you think it ends here? I'm not yet even starting. :)
The preaching was all about Friendship. "Why friendship? Is it related to Harana?", you might be asking those questions now. We will eventually come to Harana in its due time. This week, the preaching was focused on Friendship.
What is "Harana" by the way?
Wiki Pilipinas defines Harana as: an old Filipino courtship tradition of serenading women.
Let's dig the word courtship. Google defines courtship as: a period during which a couple develop a romantic relationship, esp. with a view to marriage.
Basing on what we've read, the cycle goes like this: Courtship -> Relationship -> Marriage , right? But there is something lacking -- and it is Friendship. Friendship is the foundation of all Relationship. Without Friendship, the youth might have this cycle: Courtship -> Relationship -> Problem -> Break-up. And we don't like to end with that. There will be problems in the relationship because there was no time to get to know more the partner. But if we start being friends, this would be the cycle: Friendship -> Courtship -> Relationship -> Marriage.
Another thing that I love about the preaching was the quotes thrown by Ate Jazzie and Kuya Gideon.
"It's hard to wait but it's harder to regret." and "Enjoy your season."
It is indeed hard to wait for the right one to come to your life -- it would take years of waiting and you might be tired of it. You know what? Regretting is harder because it will bring conflict/s to your life. Be sensitive to God, pay attention the environment and see how God is serenading you. Enjoy your season -- it might be the season of being a student, season of being single, season of being a young professional -- because "He has made everything beautiful in its time" (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Another reason to enjoy your season was given an example by Ate Jazzie:
"Most couples get married at the age bracket of 20-24 and average life expectancy of man is around 75. Imagine how many years that you are married and compare it to the years you are single. You will then realize that you just have less than half of your life being single."
Again, enjoy your season. Don't rush on things. Friends are always there to enjoy your season. Benefits with friends are in this verse about friendship:
"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work (Production); If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! (Protection) Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? (Passion) Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. (Power)" (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)
