Every day, we are faced with choices and the wisdom to make the right choice continues to be a challenge. But there is one decision that is never wrong. And that is the option to leave everything to God.
Late last week, I attended a despedida party for a dear friend in San Miguel. He was leaving the company albeit a high and good paying position and offers for advancement. Attempts to dissuade him from leaving were overruled by his reason for letting go. His boss and long-time friend who rolled many punches with him through the thick and thin of work could not question the stability of his resolve. He was leaving San Miguel for a higher calling and that was to serve the Lord. Having worked with the company for 20 years and rising with it may have given lesser-spirited people like you and me second thoughts. But for my friend, the Lord was the highest priority.
In this day and age where people who go beyond the fence of 40 begin to fret their company’s call for retirement, looking at the field out there will make one see the vast opportunities untapped. Retiring young to serve God while you are in the possession of your full talents is often unheard of. When someone does this, people around him would ask, “Is he sick? Does he have a terminal ailment?” As if working for the Lord is a last resort. “Pang-retirement lang kung matanda ka na kasi wala namang tatanggap sa ‘yo.” (For retirement when you’re old because no one will accept you anymore). Poor God! Does our Lord deserve our last remaining strength only or should we not work out a ministry while we have our full capacities and the best of ourselves?
This ultimate direction I would say gives no amount of training to prepare one for this call. It is a vocation that will take an entire life of commitment to fulfill. There will be no compensation in a ladderised scale after a year of assessing accomplishments. There may be moments when there will be no pat on the back from any human hand instead persecution may take its ugly shape. But the true heart of God will prevail. When the calling is really from the spirit of the Lord, there will be no way to refuse. He will always provide ways and means to achieve His purpose. Just like Moses when he passed on the job of shepherding God’s flock out of Egypt to Aaron or Jonah who refused to follow God’s wishes and stowed away. It took him his shipwreck experience for Jonah to concede and realize his mission.
For those who know that our God is God and that without Him we are none, they will understand my friend’s leap of faith and rejoice with him for the best reward awaits him far beyond the salary scales and promises of increase that a company or a business can offer. The exaltation will be far greater as the Father will give His pat of approval for a well done and completed task.
I am glad my friend was given the wisdom to know that there is more than “wearing Prada” . His discernment to discover what really matters is a grace far beyond. I wish him and those like him the best.
Godspeed Bong with a business and a CEO like you have now, who can fail?