You have tight skin

Total Makeover. This term isn’t accurate, at least not for me. First of all it’s not total. Secondly, it’s not really a makeover, it’s more a required medical procedure for better health.

Every end of the year, I have my hair cut real short, and given a rest from all the glues, pomade and gels that were used on it throughout the year. The Ilocana and I also go to a clinic and have our warts zapped, while our daughters get a facial. Then we leave for our annual family vacation.

Warts! The doctor said they’re caused by a virus. You get it from shaking hands, doing beso-beso or using a towel that’s infected. I meet literally thousands of people every month. I shake hands and do beso-beso with them, so I have a good chance of getting infected as well as infecting others. I don’t want this to happen, thus the yearly facial.

Recently, as I sat on the fancy chair similar to a dentist’s in a very posh and charming salon, and while the doctor examined, inspected and probed every inch of my face, she said something that ignorant men like me would never understand. She said, “You’re amazing… At your age, you have VERY good skin. Your skin is still tight!” Good skin because it’s still tight! I didn’t understand what she meant, but it certainly sounded good to me.

I don’t use expensive and fancy night creams. But I have dry skin, so I once went to a convenience store, consulted a pro-merchandiser and bought one of those moisturizing ointments. I’ve used it on my face every evening ever since, only to find out years later that the ointment was really meant for the body and not for the face. Now I feel insecure… Or should I?

When I meet people and they say, “Francis, you don’t look old for your age!” what they’re essentially saying is that “Francis, you’re old!” When I attend class reunions and I hear people say, “Why Francis, you haven’t changed a bit!” they’re being polite but they’re not telling the truth. Of course you and I change over the years. When someone says, “You’re looking good for your age!” are they not saying you’ve gained weight?

Everybody changes. You change, and I change. And the changes I see in people I know aren’t only physical. I’ve met many old friends who have grown more Christ-like over the years. They’ve mellowed, become more giving and forgiving, and their commitment to truth and righteousness has strengthened. I’ve also met people who started out committed to doing good and to doing well, but who have compromised their ethical stand, and become greedier, selfish, disloyal and untrustworthy.

Everybody changes. This is why the friends, partners and people whom you used to trust may no longer be trustworthy today. Or perhaps people used to trust you but you’ve made yourself untrustworthy because of the ethical compromises you’ve made over the years.

Everybody changes. I guess this is why Scriptures say that you and I are to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Outwardly, you and I may be decaying, but we have to be purposeful and intentional so that inwardly we change to become better, not bitter; more selfless, not more selfish; more truthful and courageous, not to cower with fear in the face of resistance and temptation. Life isn’t a 100-meter dash for the finish line; it’s a marathon. We don’t succeed in it just by starting out strong. We need to finish well as well.

I welcome the New Year with greater expectations, and with a resolve to level up and become better, both inside and out. With His grace, I can achieve this. If I stumble along the way, I’ll ask for His forgiveness and try again.

And I’ll wait for this year’s appointment with the doctor, and see what else she can say about my skin and all.

(Spend two inspiring days with Francis Kong learning leadership and life skills as he presents Level Up Leadership on January 21-22 at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel. For further inquiries, contact Inspire at 09158055910, or call 632-6310912 or 6310660 for details.)