You Are only a Small Part of a Great World

Photo coutesy of I-Witness

“Isa ka lamang maliit na bahagi sa malawak na daigdig, nilikha ng Panginoon, pinatatag ng maraming pagkakataon. At tulad ng mga pagsubok sa buhay, gaano man katayog ang iyong tagumpay, huwag kang magpakataas bagkus magpakumbaba, dahil lahat tayo nakatapak pa rin sa lupa.”

(You are only a small part of a vast world, created by God, strengthened by many chances. And like the trials of life, no matter how high your success, do not be proud but be humble, because we all still stand on the ground.)

This morning, I watched Kara David’s documentary as she fulfilled her dream of climbing one of the tallest mountains in Southeast Asia—Mt. Kinabalu in Malaysia. Although the documentary was filmed many years ago, its message remains powerful today. In that film, Kara David showed that climbing a mountain is more than just a physical challenge; it is a reflection of life itself.

While watching the film, I felt as if I was running out of breath myself, seeing Kara struggle to catch hers as she climbed higher and higher. I could feel her exhaustion, but while she was struggling to walk upward, she gained strength when she saw the peak in the distance. Even though she was tired, someone helped her so she could keep moving. When she finally reached the summit, all her effort was rewarded by the breathtaking view at the top. Just like in life, we should not give up on dreams that are already within reach. Tanaw na tanaw mo na eh, susuko ka pa ba? Even if the path is hard, we must keep going. God will send someone to help us, so we can keep walking no matter how difficult it becomes.

Hindi lang sa iyo umiikot ang mundo (the world does not revolve around you). You may have trials now that feel heavy, but you can overcome them. Always remember: there are people facing even bigger problems, and if they can rise above, why not you?

Sometimes, when we succeed, we feel proud. We want to show the world what we’ve achieved. Huwag kang magmayabang (do not boast). Because your success is not only yours. It was shaped by God’s grace, by the chances life gave you, and by the people who stood with you.

Stay humble. Remember that your feet are still on the ground. No matter how high you climb, you are still human. And being human means being connected to others, to the world, and to God.

The world is wide, and we are just one part of it. Challenges are like mountains. They may look impossible at first, but step by step, they can be overcome. We just have to keep moving.