Encourage passions
Do not ask the world what it needs. Instead, ask yourself what makes you come alive and go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive. — “Wild at Heart“ by John Eldredge
My mom was ecstatic on the phone after she learned that Efren Peñaflorida won as CNN Hero of the Year. She said she had voted for him over and over again and kept forwarding reminders to her friends about casting their votes. I remember a couple of years ago when my mom asked me to look for the person she had seen on television teaching children in the streets with the use of his kariton. I told her I didn’t see the feature. but I promised to look him up. I’m glad my mom stumbled upon Efren and his Dynamic Teen Company gang again to take part in his cause in her own special way. When Efren visited my children’s school at The Learning Tree Growth Center before he left for the US, he encouraged all the children to be the change they want to see in their society. He reminded them that one is never too young, too poor, too strong or too ordinary to make a difference. He assured the children that they can all be heroes in their own special way. Before I left, I made sure to ask for his team to take a photo of Efren with my son Donny because I had a big hunch he would win as CNN Hero the same way he won our hearts with his desire to make a difference in the lives of so many children.
Congratulations, Efren and The Dynamic Teen Company!
Passion can spark from anywhere. I was having a quiet breakfast the other day when I was surprised by my Yaya Lors. She burst into our front door carrying freshly picked pechay from our small garden. She had a huge grin on her face as she proudly showed me the fruit of her labor and love. She excitedly announced that she was going to make me an all-vegetable soup comprised of all the veggies she harvested that morning. I had an incredibly amazing soup for lunch and a very happy heart from seeing my yaya come alive. Her joy was contagious!
It wasn’t the case a couple of weeks ago when I struggled to help her and my other yaya to settle their long-running dispute. We clearly recognized areas wherein they disagreed, but we have moved on to point out what each other’s strengths were and committed to support each other in those areas. Oh, if only we keep in mind how precious we all are in our own special way, the world will be much better.
One is never too old to pursue his or her passion. As I have shared in my previous articles, I have a spunky 86- year-old grandmother. When I was little, I remember her always busy tinkering with her hands, whether it be sewing, gardening or fixing things. These last couple of years, she has lost interest in such things, which made her idle with nothing to do. It made her irritable and bored most of the time. We encouraged her to do the same things we thought she was passionate about all her life, but she refused to engage in them because as she shared, they no longer interested her. I noticed though that she regularly walked every day. So we included her in the fun runs that we regularly sign up for. Being with a community of runners and getting recognized as the oldest finisher has really given her much to be thankful for and look forward to. At the recently concluded Timex Run awards ceremony, she shared that the reason she runs is that she feels stronger each time, which makes her so happy. Olympic athlete and Christian missionary Eric Liddlle said the same thing when he declared: “I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure”.
All of us suffer from being pressured to succumb to the dictates of society, our family, and peers. Many times we forget who we really are and how we have been designed for a very special unique purpose. I have had the privilege of speaking to many parents and listening to their frustrations about their children’s lack of enthusiasm in school, sports, and family life. With each of the stories that were shared with me, I sensed that there was clearly something wrong with having the expectation to see great results from a person who just isn’t interested in what he is expected to succeed in. I have observed though that when one is asked where he/she is inclined to excel in and then is given full support, he/she shines so brightly in that chosen endeavor.
What gives you or your family pleasure gives others and, most especially, God pleasure. Whether at home or at work, enjoy discovering what makes you come alive to see people around you get the same bug, which will make everybody happy and then your little light will shine.
* * *
E-mail author at mommymaricel@gmail.com.
