An Advent Reflection

I decided to update this blog to give it a more profound meaning as I believe this reflection is very appropriate for Advent , the season of expectations. Updated today 08 December 2011.

Image courtesy of Koratmember of freedigitalphotos.net

Expectation is one of our most profound habit in life. Whether we accept it or not, we always expect something to be given back to us - loyalty from our friends, a bonus or a promotion as reward from our work, complete obedience from our children. In everything we do expect something that must be in accord with what we want whether it is reasonable or otherwise.

In my morning prayer today, I read a book of a selection of homilies given by Fr. Johnny Go in his book 50 Something. I found a very apt reflection for this season of Advent. In the Gospel of St. Matthew 11, we were being invited to reflect and learn about St. John the Baptist's own expectation of the Lord. As Fr. Go said, "They were reasonable expectations especially with what he had done for the Lord. But as it turns out, even prophets don't always get what they expect."

The beauty of this reading is not on what was written but on what was not written - the message intended by the author of the gospel.

There are two main things to consider: First, John the Baptist had openly declared Jesus as the Lamb of God when he saw him approaching the river where he was preaching. Second, he even told his disciples that the one more worthy of him is Jesus whom two of his followers, Andrew and John, accepted and had followed Jesus as a result. This is also what he preaches and he is very clear on his mission - that he's only to prepare for the coming of the Messiah.

If John the Baptist is so convicted of his mission and he knows who Jesus was, then why does he have to send messengers to ask Jesus "Are you the One who is to come or do we have to wait for another?" Such a strange question from a man who is very sure of what he preached.

Or then, maybe, what John sent Jesus was a very subtle message of what he expects from the Lord to do for him since he is languishing in prison at the time. Does he expects that the Lord will set him free? We all know that this is not what happened. His expectation was not what he got. God has other plans for him, which, maybe he had not understood at the time.

In the world we live in, always things will not turn out the way we always expect it to be. Even with people whom we relate to. We must not expect too much but try to learn to appreciate whatever or however things may turn out to be. Most often our prayers are not answered the way we want them to be answered.

As an old saying goes, "Let go and let God." Even without understanding.

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Reading: Matthew 11:2-11
Fr. Johnny Go's Website: www.jcgosj.com 

Image: FreeDigitalPhoto.net

Keeping Our Sanity

There are times when we have to take it easy. Take off to some quiet place like a beach, a park or any place we can spend some peace and let off our mind to the stresses of our work. Not to be burdened with so many serious stuff else we burn ourselves out.

But there are also times that constrains us not to be able to take off. So what do we do?

I received this story sometime ago. I find it amusing and would like to share it with you. At least to keep our sanity.

The spoon: 
A lesson on how consultants can make a difference in an organization.


Last week, we took some friends to a new Indian restaurant, 'Muthu's Place,' and noticed that the Indian waiter who took our order carried a spoon in his shirt pocket.  It seemed a little strange. When the busboy brought our water and utensils, I observed that he also had a spoon in his shirt pocket. Then I looked around and saw that all the Indian staff had spoons in their pockets. When the waiter came back to serve our soup I inquired, 'Why the spoon?' 

'Well, 'he explained, 'the restaurant's owner hired Andersen Consulting to revamp all of our processes. After several months of analysis, they concluded that the spoon was the most frequently  dropped utensil It represents a drop frequency of approximately 3 spoons per table per hour. If our personnel are better prepared, we can reduce the number of trips back to the kitchen and save 15 man-hours per shift.' 

As luck would have it, I dropped my spoon and he replaced it with his spare. 'I'll get another spoon next time I go to the kitchen instead of making an extra trip to get it right now..' I was impressed.


I also noticed that there was a string hanging out of the Indian waiter's fly.


Looking around, I saw that all of the Indian waiters had the same string hanging from their flies. So, before he walked off, I asked the waiter, 'Excuse me, but can you tell me why you have that string right there?'


 'Oh, certainly!' Then the Indian waiter lowered his voice. 'Not everyone is so observant. That consulting firm I mentioned also learned that we can save time in the restroom. By tying this string to the tip of our you-know-what, we can pull it out without touching it and eliminate the need to wash our hands, shortening the time spent in the restroom by 76.39%.'


I asked quietly, 'After you get it out, how do you put it back?'
'Well,' he whispered, 'I don't know about the others, but I use the spoon.'

Haha! Ok, back to work!


Reference:
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

5 Leadership Qualities Petting A Dog Can Teach You

If you want to keep a pet, most likely it will be a dog. Either a dog with a pedigree for status quo or that ubiquitous village dog we call Aspin or Askal to serve as the household guard dog. But petting a dog should be more of a learning and fulfilling experience. If you would have your dog for companionship, a relationship must be built between the two of you. Training is essential to make him well behaved and to let your dog know what you want or do not want.

Dogs are naturally social animal. They live in a group called a pack. Every pack is like a community in which hierarchy exists where there is one regarded as the pack leader. In your home or territory the pack leader should be you, your dog must understand that he belonged to the lowest rung in the hierarchy of the household. This is where your leadership is brought to the test.

There are five leadership qualities that petting a dog can teach you: communication skill, trustworthiness, discipline, confidence and responsibility.

Communication Skill

The first thing that you must fully develop in yourself is communication skill. Why? Between two different specie you and your dog will be talking in different languages. So you have to learn how you can make your dog understand what you require of him. This is not really a big problem as there are techniques you can use to convey your message. Sign language is one tool that you can use together with your verbal command. After learning how to give your command and require obedience from your dog, relating to him also require that you learn how he expresses his feelings. Learning how they communicate will help you understand their moods and wants. Once the communication gap is bridged then the relationship can really be successful.

Trustworthiness

Relationship is an action and reaction situation - a good act shall reap a corresponding good reaction. Animals do have feelings and sensibilities too. They know how to fear, to be traumatized, to exert their wants and could challenge your leadership. One of the most admiring characteristic of dogs is their loyalty. They will serve you to their end, even die for you. They will be loyal but in return you have to properly care for them. They shall be depending on you for their upkeep - food, health, shelter and their total well-being.

Discipline

Keeping your pet also requires a healthy life and the most effective way of keeping fit, not only your dog's but for you as well is an exercise regiment. OK, we are all busy with full daily schedule - professional, family, social and spiritual. So how could we still insert a time for your pet's exercise? This where the discipline to manage time comes in. A daily walk as exercise requires no more than 30 minutes to an hour. Why not wake up 30 minutes earlier for the exercise? A well managed time also makes your day a non-stressful day. So both of you are benefited with a healthy life.

Confidence

Your dog looks up to you as the pack leader. Being a leader requires an aura of confidence. Once he sensed that you lack the confidence, you cannot exert your full authority. If that happens, he can challenge your leadership or may not be as obedient as you would require.

Responsibility

Keeping dogs or any animals carries our responsibility to the community where we live. There are rules, regulations and laws we have to be aware of. Like preventing them to stray and could endanger neighbors, especially children.

Do you think you have these five qualities of leadership? If not, then I advise you to keep a dog and practice, it could bring a change in your career or life.