There was a funny incident that happened to me a couple of days ago.
source: http://theskinnygirlexperience.com
I was getting out of the mall after buying my lunch here in Guam and walking towards the company vehicle a guy who is around in his 50′s just told me “I wish I can walk like you”. At first I did not get it so I just gestured and smiled back and when I was about to make further steps I noticed that he was limping. Indeed I was lucky and should be thankful that I can still walk normally instead of limping.
Forgive me if I will be a bit religious today.
The homily of the priest really nailed the point of what is being thankful. In these days all I hear from people here and in the Philippines is all above how hard life is, how miserable they are, how depressing their work place is and all things negative. I guess I am also affected by these talks and eventually I too seems becoming negative. The gospel today is about the rich man and the poor man Lazarus. The rich man went to hell and Lazarus went to heaven after they died. The priest questioned what could have been the reason why the rich man is sent to hell and the poor Lazarus to heave. If being rich is a criteria so that one would go to hell he said most of those in that mass would go to hell. Lots of the faithful are wearing signature clothes, watches, etc that signifies their value. But it is certain that not all of those will go to hell. At the same time not all poor will go to heaven due to the fact that they are poor.
The rich man is sent to hell because he never did anything in his capability to help the poor man while the poor man went to heaven because he entrusted all his being to God.
So in our investments I hope you have good reasons why you invest. It is not bad to invest so that you can secure your future, be able to buy your dream house, be able to enjoy a relax and prosperous life, but in all never forget to be thankful and to do that is simple by being generous to those who are less fortunate. But again the best way for you to help others is to help them get out of poverty itself by educating and sharing your knowledge. It is not enough that you give them alms for that will make them dependent thus defeating the purpose of helping them.
As for those who keep of complaining that life is hard and God is unjust by keeping you poor take a step back and check yourself what have you done to change your life. Probably you lost you job and from there got depressed and never again tried. You have lost your faith in God by not doing your best.
I will be unemployed in a week and will be returning to the Philippines. I have been seeking employment in Singapore hoping to have a few more years of experience in my field before diving to a business or practice of profession in the Philippines, a dream I have long for. With all the things happening too fast I am in a way concern like will I get a new job right away, will I be able to pay up my condo(yes I have one it’s right beside Ateneo in Quezon City and my the intention for it is for sale), and is there something for me after this. I guess it is natural to worry even my love ones are worried. There is a saying I often hear that “if you haven’t tried you might regret it” thus I have decided long ago to try this. I might fail or be successful and thus I wish for all your prayers and if your company in Singapore or Philippines needs an accountant please let me know(yup I am appealing to you).
I am lucky just like the old man wishing he could walk like I do. I should not stop being thankful and generous even in this time because I know God will guide me and lead me to the things that He has intended me to have and to be. I hope you too even in the midst of so many problems may it be emotional, spiritual, physical, or financial problem don’t lose hope and stop believing in God.
Psalm 33:22
Let your mercy be on us oh God as we place our trust in you.
About the blogger
Louis Delos Angeles is a Certified Public Accountant, blogger behind Investing in Philippines, and author of Investing in Stocks: Preparing for the future small amount at a time. Learn more about Louis and his financial freedom advocacy here.
Hi Loiuse, I have just read your homily today. In life there so many contrasts: the rich and the poor, the haves and the have nots, with work and no work and so on. Despite of all things what is/was going within us and around us, we can claim the writer of epistle to the Romans, he wrote”…all things work together for good, to them that are called according to His purpose…. And as someone commented, God hath given or allowed things to happen in us, because He knows we can take it. Going back to the story between rich man and Lazarus, both represent in any group or any given society. Both made their own lives when they were on earth. Both went to eternity. The only difference I see the places they stayed forever. The story has a lesson to learn, that is, make our “ending”
a beautiful one and no more calling others for help.