Enough That I Can Stand

I’ve been thinking lately how lax I sometimes tend to be with my economic endeavors. Take, for instance, the high-paying jobs I gave up and the other opportunities for good income I had let pass, just because these didn’t seem to me to be meaningful undertakings. Also, I’m not in the habit of going out of my way to befriend people who might possibly be of some help to me, now or someday soon. 

Relatives and friends tell me to be practical. They mean that I have to stick to a job no matter how pointless or boring it may have become for me. “Just work for the money,” they would say. Exactly what I myself would probably tell others in my situation.

Then I’d think of some people I know whom you may call “the fierce go-getters.” They who are always so eager to shake hands with people in high positions. They who will kiss butts, if need be. They who are always on the lookout for whatever they can take, at every chance they can find, and brag of their behavior as being resourceful. They whose lives are centered on amassing things, who measure themselves by the amount of their possessions.

I won’t judge people by the nature of their preferences in life, in the same way that I may not be faulted for mine. I value my personal peace. A night’s sleep is more restful when your mind is clear of worry that angry creditors or victims might be pounding on your door the next morning. I work to be useful, but not to the point of ruining my health on a job just so that I will save enough money for the doctor’s bills later.

We all have the birthright to aspire for better things. And, as we’ve seen, good returns often come to those who work hard enough. We must pay just the fair price, though; and do only what is right. It isn’t wise wrecking our health and losing our souls in pursuit of our dreams.

I keep my heart at peace believing in the great human potential for goodness – to attain and sustain goodness. I know, however, that goodness does not just happen. While we are all endowed with the capacity to be good, we need to nurture it to make it manifest in our lives. 

Our world today is so plagued with insecurity – emotionally, economically, politically; locally and globally. We are frightened by the uncertainty of earthly life, made dizzy by constant change, dreadfully suspicious about one another. And now there comes a profound addition to our anxieties – we are veering our faith, away from God towards man-made technologies. 

We are seeing a world that is increasingly becoming so willing to exchange its moral convictions for little comforts and conveniences. Yet I believe we should not lose heart. We have the innate capacity to withstand this change and decadence in our midst.

We only need to remember that there is something deeper about us than these cravings for transitory delights and popular esteem. We need to hold on to our spiritual heritage – to be constantly reminded that this physical existence is just mere clothing to our true identity.

My prayer every day is for all the trials, the tests as well as the blessings that may come my way to be just enough that I can stand. That my gains will not bloat my ego, that my losses will not devastate my spirit. And that I may see more good examples in those around me, whose tenacity and gentleness of character I can draw from, to boost my own capacity to face anything. 

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