In God's Own Time

This should be the mantra of those who say they trust in God---a measure of FAITH.  Do what needs to be done and God will do the rest.

The need for more is man's self made predicament.  Man is an INSATIABLE being.  Whenever we have something in excess we change our lifestyles and spend until we find ourselves under again.  It's a vicious cycle really.  Oh, I have had my own downs and have fallen in this trap a couple of times already and what I learned is that when you're already in it you just have to suck it up and try to crawl out of the rubble of debt.  Come to think of it, many of us are not far off from the woes of a sampaguita vendor---just different levels of need---but NEEDS just the same.  

"God will provide," that's what I always say.  However, Divine Providence does not come when you expect it.  Ironically, more problems usually come your way.  Well, we can't complain to God, right?  We complain at the "injustice" of whatever situation we're in.  The workplace is where many injustices happen so let's focus there.

From my time as a service crew, to being part of the store management team, up to my time at the corporate office, financial growth has always been an issue.  We were unionized when I was a service crew and the yearly increase was a consistent argument at the CBA bargaining.   Naturally, the union always wanted more.  When I became a manager the merit increase was based on performance but that too had its own controversy.  Then there's the matter of promotion.

Promotion is based on performance and competence.  It also depends on the company budget.  But as they say some people have all the luck.  These are those who get promoted minus the exemplary performance and the competence to do the job.  Personally, I pity them since they would eventually look silly sitting on a position they are not cut out for.  This is an HR problem that really boggles the mind.  But that's a discussion for another topic.  Conversely, it is also disturbing to hear of people asking for a promotion.  It is not something you ask for.  It is given as a recognition for good work.  The one who should recognize this is the superior.  When a subordinate seeks for a promotion it is a major turn-off to the superior.  But I guess that's what happens when family finances can no longer be satisfied by the yearly merit increase.

In my opinion, it's either you wait your turn to go up the corporate ladder or seek another job that will give you this opportunity.  You can do this internally or get out of the company and find another that wil provide your corporate aspirations and the financial gain it entails.  Otherwise, just do your job well and God will do the rest---in His own good time.

A Lenten Reflection: The Parable of the Talents

Sometimes we don't appreciate what we have until we we've lost them.  Let us not be like the lazy servant who did nothing with what we had and squandered the opportunity to gain more.

God gave us our own opportunities (big and small) in life but what to do with them is something that only WE can decide on.  The chance to go to school is one such opportunity.  


Making good in school IS A CHOICE.

As a parent there is nothing more rewarding that seeing your children do well in school.  A good report card and an   exemplary test result definitely makes all the toiling more meaningful.  I have had my share of proud moments with my own children.  Any good news from school is definitely added fuel to my inspiration to provide for my family and negates all the frustrations and hardships that go with work. I'm sure this is how my brother and sister-in-law felt when they heard of their son's academic accomplishment.

I'm very proud of my nephew, Reujen, who chose the high road and received a scholarship grant for his academic excellence.  Other than that he was also hailed as a model student in terms of deportment.  

Let us not liken ourselves with the servant who buried his talent.  God is an entrepreneur and expects a return of his investment.  In the end what we want Him to tell us is---

"Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!"

A Lenten Thought

I have always thought that lent is the most boring holiday ever! During my earlier years, it was four days of doing nothing. There were only five channels during that time and all of them sign off during this time of the year. My mother was a strict Catholic and we were not allowed to play either. Well, we'd pray the rosary and go to church but you can only do so much of that when you're young and adrenaline filled. Those were the days...

Now, there's cable, PSP, Nintendo, DVD and internet. I still pray yes, but now there's more things to while the time with. Now I wonder---did it really become better? Before, you had no choice but to think about God; now God seemed to have been put in the backseat for other hedonistic enterprise.

I will not point fingers for I am a prey to these pagan rituals myselt---guilty beyond reasonable doubt! Heck, I was in a "Spartacus" marathon just a while ago!

So let me call on all of you reading this blog to just pause for a while and think of everything that we have done so far to deserve this precious gift called LIFE. Well, I did it a while ago and was hard fought in capturing only a handful. What about you?

A Holy Week Thought

I went to church today for confession with my family. The church was packed with parishioners going about their holy week rituals. Many were doing stations of the cross, some where obviously not from our parish and was on visita iglesia, but a great majority were lined up for confession.

The queue was rather long and a little disorganized. When we arrived we didn’t know where the “line” started and ended. Good thing that a layperson noticed the confusion and immediately put the line in order.

Now, since it is Holy Week, let me talk about something appropriate to the occasion---SACRIFICE. Lent calls for fasting and abstinence as part of the regular Catholic sacrifice to remember Christ own sacrifice for our sins. Christ endured the scourging, the weight of the cross, and His crucifixion. However, there are other forms of sacrifice that one can do to commemorate the season and that includes waiting in long lines. Unfortunately, not all people see it that way.

We lined up for confession with an elderly woman. She was all made up with a good layer of make-up and matching cherry red lipstick. She had her ash-grey hair combed back with what seemed to be a wet-look gel. She did look frail but her movement would say that looks could be deceiving. Well, she looked like she was under the impression that her age merited a NO LINE passes and moved her way up the head of the line! I can see her discussion her case to the young man she was trying to insert her way in. The man was explaining to her that it would be unfair to those in line (not to mention to the other elderly people patiently waiting in line). Well, she was either dumb or just plain unscrupulous to know the difference since she inserted herself anyway! Tsk! Tsk! Tsk! What a waste of years! One thing I can say about this matter is---THERE IS NO SHORTCUT TO HEAVEN! Amen.