There is Good in Every Thing and Every One

All that God created was good. (Cf. Genesis 1) It's so good, that all creation in this world---of which are temporary and changing---are meant to direct us to the permanent and unchanging heavenly reality. There is a spirituality behind the materiality in all creation. (Cf. Augustine) That's why we "find God in all things." (Ignatius) When one sees a tree, using a spiritual lens, it is a glimpse of the beauty, complexity, and wondrousness of the Creator -- to preserve and to behold. Man's wounded nature---inclined to sin---would perverse this and would look at a tree, cut as many of these for personal gain, regardless of the consequences like flash flood or global warming. When a man sees a woman, in the truest sense of God's intended creation, it should point to its true heavenly purpose: a helpmate, a nurturer, an inspiration for life -- to be loved, honored, and respected. Man's concupiscence would dictate to view a woman as an object of sexual utility; even worse is for a woman to regard herself as such. The case would be applicable vice-versa. To see Christ in others implies our being "sons in the Son" (John Paul II); adopted children of God the Father by virtue of our salvation in Christ -- redeemed from the sin of Adam. Now when we look at a person, there is good in Him -- there is God in him; the promised Holy Spirit within man. Through the Holy Spirit in baptism we are capacitated---empowered---for goodness. Sin blocks the Holy Spirit in our lives. But "where sin increases, grace overflowed all the more" (Romans 5:20) -- and the Father's love and forgiveness cannot be outdone. We have to start having a transcending view of every thing and every one -- pointing all to a Godly purpose. Then only can we intrinsically enjoy the beauty of the gift of life. 

A Constant Dialogue

If we choose, and so desire, using our freedom -- our lives can be a constant dialogue with the Father, through Jesus Christ, in the Holy Spirit. St. Therese of Lisieux said, "I will spend my heaven doing good on earth". What could have led her to these words, if not for the realization of a communion with the Trinity, through a grace-filled life which allows man to "partake in the life of God" (cf. CCC 1997)?

Build On The Goodness God Has Gifted You

There is a self-imposed pressure people set on themselves in becoming like their predecessors, specially when the one before them was very gifted. Yes it is right to emulate the strengths of previous leaders, but to be burdened by becoming like them might not be God's purpose for you.  Build on the goodness God has gifted you. 

Things to remember when God calls you to lead:
1. God has called your predecessors for a specific purpose, for a specific time, matching their specific gift.  This means God wants to accomplish something else in your term. Something uniquely matched to your gifts as well.
2. Know your strengths, and build on them.  If you are an artist, build on your knack for design and expand from there.  If you are hardworking and persevering, then build on it and grow from that quality.  If you are a visionary, express what you see and let others gravitate to the bigger picture.
3. Let love be the reason for all that you do.  Any ordinary thing done out of love becomes extraordinary.  This, I believe should be felt to the ones you are leading.  And the rest of the details will just flow.

"I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another (Romans 15:14)." 

In Search of Clarity

Clarity is an elusive quality.  We want to be clear so that there will be no confusion. Yet, we yearn for freshness, something exciting, and surprising.  They say, "You cannot box-in the Holy Spirit."

"The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit (John 3:8)."


What if everything was laid out before us?  Just to be clear.  We would know what will make us successful, when we would die, and we would know exactly what heaven looks like.  No mystery, no surprises.  No more searching, no more praying. I'm sure life will be boring and we'd be acting like robots.

The future is not known to us for a purpose. It is hard to see the reason behind the tragic things that happen to us or to a friend.  Our faith is often challenged by the desire to know everything right away.  We ask, "Why me Lord?" or  "Where were you  Lord?" We get angry at God because we assume that He did not answer our prayers.

Yet for the Lord, a thousand years is like a blink of an eye. 

"But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years* and a thousand years like one day (2 Peter 3: 8)."


Our prayers have been heard and answered. The answers might not be what we excpect, some answers are beyond our lifetime, some answers we see immediately.

The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard “delay,” but he is patient with you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).


So, why did some good person get an accident or become a victim of a heinous crime? Only God knows the true reason (Jer. 29:11). Our requirement is to have faith that God is good...all the time.

Living a life in the Holy Spirit is fresh, exciting, and full of surprises. It is meant to be unclear, to be a mystery, so we do not stop seeking and yearning for God.  Those who deny God's existence are uncomfortable of what they cannot see or control. They try to box-in life, yet after thousands of years and all these so-called geniuses, no one has found the cure for the common cold.

Let us not stop asking the Lord for clarity of His will for our lives but at same time we have to keep our faith firm when we are confused and the circumstances are unreasonable. If there is one thing that is clear, it is that God loves us and He has a plan for us.