The Gift

My treasure,

Next to life,

A fine gem,

Bound to last.

Steal not,

I will fight!

Bolts, guards,

Save it safe.

Not for trading,

‘Tis a gift.

Countless worth

And forever.

Amid scuffles,

Joy, strength.

Such power,

I’m awed!

Thru sharing,

Unleash life.

By indulgence,

Glory, begone.

Dreams, hopes

A grander gift,

Oh, eternity,

Be mine.

Life Skills

" ...waterless clouds, carried 
hither and thither by the winds, 
autumn trees that bear no fruit, 
doubly dead and rootless,..." *

Bum-steer, they loose direction.
What could be their life mission?

Life skills, they've got to master.
Come, free those minds sooner.

Easy ways? There's no such option.
Poor creatures! Off to destination!

"You're the captain of the ship...
Go, sail through waters in the trip!"

"Be bold, take command. Be a man!
Look, calm shores!" Fears, begone.


* St. Josemaria Escriva, Friends of God, no. 29

Gains

"No ideal becomes a reality without sacrifice." *

If you want something done, be ready to work hard... be ready to wait... and be ready for challenges. There's usually no short routes and you cannot fast forward time.

There's certainly a process...a learning curve before reaching a goal.  This is part of the great adventure called life... albeit sometimes, it could be an uphill climb.

There are also relationships you have to build... which can't be real if no highs and lows are shared. What a waste if projects are done but happy times are missed.

Merits are won through sacrifice, not with lucky charms.  Besides, lessons lead to wisdom if there's learning through reflection.  And, don't forget to attach intentions to every work done.

If you're up for something good - not for yourself but for society as well - it will happen, at the right time, at the right pace.  Just wait with patience and work with persistence.

All these are already counted as gains, if you value not just the output as your success.  In the end, patience and perseverance are virtues you would have gained.



* Ref. The Way, no. 175, St. Josemaria Escriva

Praises and Imperfections

My friends wrote me proclaiming:
     "Thank you for being a blessing..."

Oh, such wonderful consolation...
     From this grand recognition!

I wish I could really be...
     A fine leader to see.

I've got lots of imperfections
     And need major corrections.

They say the medium is the message -
     What a challenging adage!

The leader has her own battles
     Which she fights and tackles.

What, in the end, matters ---
     She reaches out to others.

'Tis the logic of gift to share,
     To know how it means to care.

Everyone has a unique purpose.
     This, no one can oppose.

The goal is not to shine...
     But to be led to the divine.

Praises aren't for me to glee.
     It's for One who loves you and me!


(This poem is dedicated to my colleagues Valerie and Christine.)

Integrality

Integrality has been my life’s advocacy.
Wholeness and completeness will be my legacy.

Look around… there’s lack of authenticity.
Double life and split personality, instead of unity.

Changing masks, brokenness, and fragmentation.
These are the opposites of forging integration.

My main focus is the person and his integrality.
Oh, please don’t use man as means for profitability!

The person’s worth is much more than his produce.
Intrinsic value is what he has, ‘tis what I deduce.

All sides of man’s growth, let us preserve.
For integral progress is what you and I deserve.

Intellect, will, and conscience are great faculties.
Together, they’re honed for better communities.

To be happy and fulfilled, dismiss complexity.
Opt for integrality, the path to real personality.

Truffles and Trifles

Truffles and Trifles.
Both are offered in this splendid life.

Truffles. Oh, I love the fine chocolate bites!
Such sweet experience in every bite.

Trifles. Oh, I feel terrified at times!
But such great lessons every time.

Truffles and Trifles.
Both bring adventure for a happy life.

Fragility

"Fragility is a path to sanctity."
A dear one said to me.

What does it mean?
Where does strength come in?

Not from me, I guess.
It's from up Above who bless.

Let's lean on Him for a sure Win.
For He brings a lasting Grin.

Roses and Thistles

"Where you tend a rose, a thistle cannot grow."

Thistles grow when we allow them to.
Negativities persist if we don't push them out.

Roses bloom when we care for them.
Good things come if we let them in.

Roses and thistles.
Which ones are in?
Which ones are out?

The choice is ours.


Ref. Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden