OK... One Social Justice far-fetched thought... What if we placed monetary value for every productive energy -- mentally and physically -- that a person exerts rather than on the actual profession? Would we value each other more and not feel as if one is more superior than another? I thought of this because of a couple of letters to the editor that were printed in our paper. One said that there should be a cap to what a person can earn. After a billion dollars, the money should be given to the poor (in fact, he said that if you think you need more after a billion dollars, then you need psychological help). Another person wrote in saying that this was crazy because a person should keep what they earn. What if we said that we would compensate a person for their productiveness rather than what their title is? We need managers, executives, etc. to make the right decisions, but we also need the workers who actually produce the products or implements what needs to be done. Would this lead to equality in the distribution of wealth and the equality of how we value people?
Without getting too specific and going into too many details, let's just say it all has to do with relationships. I've learned that how I live my faith is all about "right relationships". These are relationships with people and with God. If we were to live working towards right relationships, then we would all treat each other better, work towards the common good and truly love each other as God wants us to. Unfortunately, being human means having to struggle with these relationships.
I am just thankful that I have broken free from struggling with one relationship and working so hard at trying to figure out. I just one day decided it wasn't worth it anymore and I wanted to regain control of my life. It was such an awakening that it felt as if I lost the 20 years that I had gained from being in constant struggle. It was truly making me feel miserable, old, and crabby. Thankfully I never lost my youthful looks -- haha, just kidding! Realizing that no person was worth the energy I was giving in forcing the relationship to be right. Whether it is done intentionally or not, sometimes we can just be so mean to each other. I honestly believe that not everybody does this intentionally, but it happens. We take those who love us for granted, not realize their worth, and can be quite arrogant towards them. As I said, it's not always done intentionally. The relationship was just not right for that person, so why will I force it? I have learned that I can still love that person, but not be in love anymore. I can still pray the best for them, but not be the one trying to make things better for them; especially when it's not wanted. All I can do now is work towards the right relationships for me. I have come to value my friendships and relationships with family even more because during the past horrible months they were the ones that simply gave to me without asking for anything in return. This time has taught me to look at relationships that I value and what I want in future relationships. Which, in turn, made me realize that what I was agonizing over isn't all that I deserve. I still love the person as a friend and will forever cherish what we had. It's just not the right one.
My relationship with work, however, is on a better path. With the lifting of this heavy cloud, I am able to better evaluate the path that I am on. I love my work. I love the people I work with. I love the different ways I am able to live out what I believe in. I miss being able to volunteer for the organizations that I believe in, but I'm happy that I can incorporate them into my work. I was recently invited to be join the board of Catholic Campaign for Human Development and realized that God is definitely paving a path for me in this field. It's a 3-year commitment, which I look forward to with all my heart once I got past my commitment-phobic phase.
This actually helped me tremendously in realizing what I want out of my life and, if God wills, from somebody I will share my life with. First and foremost would be living out my faith in the way God wants me to. Most important in a partner, as well, would be someone who lives out his faith and places God first. I believe we are called to evangelize, but this is something I would like to share with a person and not have to teach anymore. That part is selfish, but important to me.
From there everything else will follow. I saw how things fell into place for me this time around and what really made a huge difference. It was almost as if when I saw that God has put me on this path, I felt more than ever His abundant love for me. It was always there, but I kept looking everywhere else for it when all he wanted me to look at was right in front of me. From there I was happier with myself and happier in general. This, of course, helps Vincent tremendously. He has told me that he noticed how happy I've been and he thinks it's because I've gotten over being homesick for Manila. Partly true, maybe. Even more amazing are the doors that God has opened since then. But maybe they were always open -- I just wasn't looking in them.
How can we make relationships around us right? How can we make our work a right relationship? How can we make our relationships with those who are in need right? How can we make our relationship with God right? How can I make my relationship with myself right?
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