Tuesday, August 22, 2017

What Is It That You Really Desire?

When we find our true purpose, life becomes beautiful. It is therefore important to know ourselves better if we are to know our purpose. I am reminded by the conversation of Jesus and the blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52), Jesus asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus knew he was blind, and the first thing he would have thought was that Bartimaeus would have loved to see again. But Jesus goes beyond physical needs; he looks at the heart. “What is your hearts desire?” When we know ourselves, we will know what we really desire and then we find purpose in life.

Most of the time, when confronted with this question, we actually don’t know. So it is important that we befriend ourselves, look intently and then gaze towards Jesus and say with confidence like Bartimaus, “I want to see!”

What is it that you really desire? 

Sunday, August 13, 2017

Hanapbuhay

The Filipino word for work or job is “hanapbuhay”. It comes from two words, “Hanap” which means,  “To seek or look” and “Buhay” which means “Life”. “Hanapbuhay” then literally means to seek for life. Work is not just for personal gain nor for personal pursuit of dreams or desires, it is a means for living not just for self but the immediate family. On the other hand, we generally look at work as part of our being.

For Filipinos, when we look for work it means we are looking for life. We find life in our work! This probably explains why Filipinos are very patient and industrious in there jobs. They usually go beyond what is required and does not even think of overtime pay.

We also look at our co-workers as part of our life and not just colleagues. This probably explains why we consider our officemates as family. We go beyond the work and even help in their personal and family life.


There is beauty in this kind of culture in a way that it treats work not as a dichotomy to life but part of it.

by aats

Saturday, August 12, 2017

The Good Thing About Mission


The good thing about mission is it heals us from selfishness. It makes us look beyond ourselves and in so doing heals a lot from a lot of illness. Why? Because when we think too much of ourselves, we “micro think” and when we micro think, we think of unnecessary things that causes so much stress and then illness.

“Why am treated this way? Why they did that to me? I deserve better than that!” Then our imagination goes wild and makes assumptions. We ended up sleepless and then outside signs of sickness follows.

There are so many great things beyond ourselves and mission allows us to see those things. Then we return to ourselves enriched and expanded; heart and mind opened.

Mission allows us to discover our capacity for greatness.

by aats