Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Unquenchable Passion to Reach Out and Touch Lives...

I have so many passions in life and one of these is helping those who are in need. I get jazzed up and excited whenever opportunities come my way to share what I have. Call it luck, but I am always given opportunities to help other people. What a blessing indeed for me to be able reach out and help "the LAST, the LOST, and the LEAST" of our brothers and sisters.

This passion started at my young age and in my young mind, I have already been exposed to situations where my father has displayed his generosity to other people. I used to see my father extending help to people. I would see him doing things for them such as, giving educational support to some of our relatives who cannot afford to send their children to school, adopting a street child, giving counseling service and giving financial and material support in his capacity. I can vividly recall how he would find time for teachers who need his professional advice. I grew up in the environment where people would often come to our house for his help. These simple acts of kindness have been drilled into the depths of my being that have inspired me to do the same. I have learned the value of being sensitive to the needs of other people with his teachings and with his examples. I remember him telling me then, "that one need not be rich in order to help people. One can share his time, attention, love, care, service and his or her blessings to those who are in need."

I am now involved in different projects and programs that help other people...help meet their immediate needs. Yes, I am with the Community Development Office of Mary the Queen College in Pampanga, with the vision and mission to engage students to do community service for them to become socially responsible. I am highly motivated to do things not because these are my duties and responsibilities, but I work beyond my call of duty. So I always have this passion to engage in projects for a noble cause because it has already been implanted in my heart. I consider my work more of a mission, and that is, to make a difference in the lives of people.

I find my mission indeed as very self fulfilling and rewarding. When people's needs are met, I see the glow in their faces, the feeling of being loved and cared for, the feeling that they are special and important. Their words of thanks melt my heart as they express their sincere gratitude. Indeed, no amount of money can quantify the fulfillment one feels through genuine service. Truly it is a gratifying experience when one shares his skills and qualities....when one shares his blessings to others.


I do believe that we can make a difference in the lives of people with the help we extend to them, after all, what people need these days is to feel that somebody is there for them. So that whatever support they receive, in cash or in kind would definitely make them feel special and important. We therefore should not wait for the programs of the government in order to act and address their needs. We can do something in our own capacity.
The call to make an action is NOW. There is an urgent need to answer this call and the time is at PRESENT. There are children everywhere who need our financial, material spiritual and moral support. Many children in our community and in our country need love, care, generosity, service and compassion. Children who are not in school because they are financially challenged. Similarly, many indigent people who are in depressed communities need free health services because they cannot afford to submit themselves for physical examinations and do not have the capacity to buy the medicines they need for their health problems. These are only few of the opportunities and venues where we can act and be involved...where we can respond to a call.
If we claim that we are believers of the word of God, that we live our faith, are we not going to do something? Shouldn't we help them and reach out in any way we can rather than wait for the government to take action? Is it only the government’s task to care for the poor, or do we have the same responsibility as well?

I believe that God showers us abundant blessings so that we can share and give these to those who do not have. With the selfless effort we give, through the precious time we share, with the little help, with the unconditional love and care that go with it, we share in their dreams of having people help them meet their needs and improve their life. Life for them would have a difference if only we continue to share in their DREAMS...Life for them would become meaningful if we unceasingly nourish our Passion to Reach Out and Touch their Lives with LOVE and Genuine Service.

I join other people with the advocacy to help those in need because of my conviction that I can be a Man for Others and that I can make a DIFFERENCE by serving my purpose. Before my God, I commit myself to this mission for I believe that there is HOPE and that nothing is impossible with HIM.

We need to do something in any way we can...In our pursue of our dream to change the plight of our underprivileged bothers and sisters, I know the task is great, but the CHALLENGE is OURS. It is then a matter of choice and decision whether we are going to take this challenge and I challenge every soul to have a heart for these people in need. More than anybody else, I challenge myself. I pray for God's grace for this challenge. I pray that HE will continue to nourish my passion in doing things for a noble cause so that I will be able to serve my purpose in this journey for His Greater Glory. Amen!


It is not how much we do,
but how much love we put in the doing.
It is not how much we give,
but how much love we put in the giving.

- Mother Theresa -