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by PAM
I guess we can call this a special edition of "Saturday photo"... except that, it's a collage of photos, a collage of memories, a wealth of experiences over the last three years.
Three years... three years of all-out bone-breaking, heart-wrenching, gut-smashing, dizzying, passionate service... just utterly incredible!
Three years ago, I was headed to a 'new adventure' somewhere 'exotic and wonderful' when I was called all of a sudden to serve. It was so unexpected, so bewildering precisely because serving as Dean of our Faculty of Engineering in the University of Santo Tomas cannot be any more remote in my mind than the north pole is the opposite of the south! But, with the rich and long history of the Faculty, and the many wonderful people who served it as Dean, to be called to serve it was indeed very humbling. And I did not have enough pride to say no.
So I closed my eyes, sought the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and searched my heart for God's answer. While my mind struggled with my heart, a powerful voice that came 'booming' from the very core of my heart 'whispered silence', a silence so profound and awe-inspiring... and, in my mind, light shone through a path that was strewn with glimmering letters. The letters were arranged in such a way that they say 'service'.
In the horizon, I saw a glorious beauty where the Faculty shone in a way that I've never seen it shine before. But along the dream-like walls lining up the path are frightening challenges, towering tasks that were threatening to swallow me alive. They all seemed insurmountable, unconquerable. There were alluring temptations to enjoy the glory of the Dean's seat... which, I imagined, were irresistible to many of those who came and went to serve, and especially to those who covet the seat. And there were beautiful jewels that shone like pure white light - gifts - that can be won to bring at the foot of God's throne in a humbling sacrifice. There were gifts of friendship among colleagues, gifts of camaraderie with friends in and out of the University that leads to working as a powerful Team, gifts of service that enable our students and colleagues to realize their full potentials, gifts of creating new and innovative strategies that propel the Faculty to conquer many uncharted territories, beautiful assorted gifts of joyful service. To me, those gifts and the opportunity to bring them at the foot of God's throne as offering were irresistible, no matter how burgeoning the sacrifices that I needed to make in exchange. I believe only a few are called to have the opportunity to serve in that way... and nothing is more humbling. And so, I said 'yes'. I then prayed with all my heart as I started walking along the path.
The rest is history.
And I believe that history has been kind... and so, my heart sings joyfully... especially, that the glorious beauty that I saw in the horizon when I started walking the difficult and challenging path turned out to be real... and the joy that I feel in every beat of my heart is very real, too. It's a beauty that is impossible to even imagine, a beauty that I wouldn't have the inkling of a means to even imagine if I didn't heed the call to serve... because such beauty can only come from heartfelt service - leadership through service. And, I thank God with all my heart for it all.
Amen.
***
 |
| 'Exhilarating' does not cut it... not even 'incredible', but yeah, it is absolutely unforgettable! |
Three years... three years of all-out bone-breaking, heart-wrenching, gut-smashing, dizzying, passionate service... just utterly incredible!
Three years ago, I was headed to a 'new adventure' somewhere 'exotic and wonderful' when I was called all of a sudden to serve. It was so unexpected, so bewildering precisely because serving as Dean of our Faculty of Engineering in the University of Santo Tomas cannot be any more remote in my mind than the north pole is the opposite of the south! But, with the rich and long history of the Faculty, and the many wonderful people who served it as Dean, to be called to serve it was indeed very humbling. And I did not have enough pride to say no.
So I closed my eyes, sought the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and searched my heart for God's answer. While my mind struggled with my heart, a powerful voice that came 'booming' from the very core of my heart 'whispered silence', a silence so profound and awe-inspiring... and, in my mind, light shone through a path that was strewn with glimmering letters. The letters were arranged in such a way that they say 'service'.
In the horizon, I saw a glorious beauty where the Faculty shone in a way that I've never seen it shine before. But along the dream-like walls lining up the path are frightening challenges, towering tasks that were threatening to swallow me alive. They all seemed insurmountable, unconquerable. There were alluring temptations to enjoy the glory of the Dean's seat... which, I imagined, were irresistible to many of those who came and went to serve, and especially to those who covet the seat. And there were beautiful jewels that shone like pure white light - gifts - that can be won to bring at the foot of God's throne in a humbling sacrifice. There were gifts of friendship among colleagues, gifts of camaraderie with friends in and out of the University that leads to working as a powerful Team, gifts of service that enable our students and colleagues to realize their full potentials, gifts of creating new and innovative strategies that propel the Faculty to conquer many uncharted territories, beautiful assorted gifts of joyful service. To me, those gifts and the opportunity to bring them at the foot of God's throne as offering were irresistible, no matter how burgeoning the sacrifices that I needed to make in exchange. I believe only a few are called to have the opportunity to serve in that way... and nothing is more humbling. And so, I said 'yes'. I then prayed with all my heart as I started walking along the path.
The rest is history.
And I believe that history has been kind... and so, my heart sings joyfully... especially, that the glorious beauty that I saw in the horizon when I started walking the difficult and challenging path turned out to be real... and the joy that I feel in every beat of my heart is very real, too. It's a beauty that is impossible to even imagine, a beauty that I wouldn't have the inkling of a means to even imagine if I didn't heed the call to serve... because such beauty can only come from heartfelt service - leadership through service. And, I thank God with all my heart for it all.
Amen.
***
