Tomorrow August 5, 2012 will be my fortieth centenary. Something happened today
that for sure has God’s intervention. Sir Benjie Santiago, a fellow tourism
council member, invited me weeks ago to a brotherhood of Christian businessmen
& professionals [BCBP]. They have this Christian Life programs [CLP] that
enriches a businessman’s spiritual aspects.
As a
human being, we have to consider that we are multi-faceted. We have a blending
of aspects: mental, emotional, physical, spiritual and social that need to be
balanced in order for us to be called a complete being. For businesspeople,
they have a tendency to be outstanding in trading and enterprises. Depending on
the stage of life one is in, the center of living may be focused on making
money. The other facets such as spirituality and even the family tend to be
neglected. Then depending on what a businessman goes through, he suddenly
remembers God.
I am
in such a case. Days before my birthday, I underwent a whole host of life
challenges that tests my endurance. It tempts me to give up. It lures me to
question my faith. It coaxes me to abandon my present business and pursue
another. But all these said, I never had an inkling. Sure it had drained me
emotionally and physically, sometimes mentally. But spiritually it strengthened
my faith in God. I never ever questioned Him why He’s letting me undergo such
and such. I believe in my whole being that I’ve been doing a greater goodness;
I’m sure He has a larger purpose for it all.
Karma
is something I also believe in. My uncorrected errors surely come and go around
me. Unless I change the bad to good, then I will be in continued bliss. It sure
is best if we do the transformations. But we’re humans. We are bound to fail
sometimes. What’s important is as we fail, we pick up the lessons. Improve and
don’t allow the same mistake twice. It is all because we are destined to make
newer mistakes in the morrow. We can never be perfect beings. We’re created
that way.
Guess
what? Even our errors have purposes. For us not to accumulate boo-boos, we must
quickly correct what we just went through and move on….conquer another
mountain. Robert Kiyosaki said “Fail harder! You can never be successful
without committing mistakes.” Very very true for us.
Let’s
talk about perseverance. This is one quality of a successful person’s credo. I
just notice that when I am not that determined, triumph always slips away too
fast. Then I have a host of troubles that follow. But when I really stick with
my determination, a whole host of blessings come pouring in.
Allow
me to share a blunder I just made this morning. It’s a huge mistake but I was
determined to go on so I persevered. At 7am I left home to go to Jollibee’s 2nd floor where I’m meeting BCBP. From Tabaco
I drove speedily to Albay because I don’t want to be late. It’s a 45-minute
drive but I arrived a few minutes early. To my horror, I arrived at a blank
place. No BCBP around. Then I took out my invitation. It said “Jollibee 2nd
Floor-----TABACO City.” To think that this invite had been in my bag for 3
weeks now!
If I
was a weakling, I would say never mind. I won’t go anymore. Such a waste of gas
and effort. But definitely God intervened because I drove fast back to Tabaco
[making it in 35 minutes this time] all because I never really wanted to miss
this gathering. Sure I’m endangering myself with speedy driving but I am quick
to calculate potential mishaps so I consistently slow down when I am
road-entrapped then I speed back up when I’m road-free; what we call calculated
risk-taking, I guess.
I was
careful not to bump on anything even if my driving seems reckless. I’m cautious
of accidents; I had it once years back and I abhor meeting another. All the
time I asked God to please just take care of me. I need to get there fast.
Voila!
I made it on the breakfast meeting! I was late for the eating part but for the
spiritual sharing, I was perfectly on time. I heard the enriching words of Bro.
Manny Imperial, former DTI Regional Director. What I was running for was
definitely worth it. The session was my first time and to my standards, very
meritorious. These are the people who underwent and undergo the same plight as
mine. I am drawing strength from them because I feel I am not alone. Here it
has a sense of brotherhood, of oneness, of belongingness. It gives you the
courage to go on because it tells you that you are not the only one going
business-bankrupt. I am empowered.
There
at the sharing my spiritual hunger got well-fed. I was assured that God is indeed
good. That he’s beside you whatever you’re going through. As long as you’re not
stepping on someone else, you won’t get stepped on as well. Trials and
challenges abound, but God aims to strengthen your faith. If you contradict
Him, you won’t get around. But if you ask Him to make you understand and see
His purpose for you, you’ll be blessed innumerably.
My
food was served in the middle of the meeting. So I never really missed anything
at all. I may have been late but because I persevered to attend this, I was in
for a Jollibee treat.
My
objective in pursuing BCBP is ultimately to have connections with fellow
spiritually rich businesspeople. I aim to be balanced. It’s my mission to form
people next to me and after me with Godliness in their works. Just like my
sponsor Sir Benjie did to me. He is actually a blessing sent by God. I haven’t
met other persons with a vision like him from BCBP.
What
a worthwhile day before my fortieth birthday!!! I’m so blessed. I desire to be
a blessing to others too.
What
are the lessons here? In sin, we learn to be honest. In failures, we strive to
succeed. In troubles, we struggle to survive. In challenges, we sweat to
persevere. Whatever it takes, persevere. Even if you are mired, strive to be
free and go after the trophy. All the while be mindful of others around you.
Always never step on someone else’s feet.
Amen.
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