Finding the pearl of great price

True fulfillment comes from pursuing our highest aspirations. These opportunities require significant sacrifice.

Of course, wisdom is required to discern which risks are reasonable to achieve fulfillment. Not every buried treasure leads to positive ends.

Life is, by nature, uncertain. We cannot expect to achieve greatness without discomfort or difficulty. But we should not allow fear of change to prevent us from evolving. With courage and vision, we can recognize the pearls that give our lives meaning. And when they appear, we must be willing to pay the price.

—
Matthew 13:44-46. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 2023-214: AUGUST 2, 2023]

Of discovering potential and maximizing them

When I reflect about the things it took for me to be where I am now, I cannot help but pay attention to how lucky I am to have been supported and mentored in my personal, school, and professional life. I find it impossible to “repay the favor” (what can I offer to mentors who are wiser than me?), so the only way it makes sense for me is to express my gratitude by paying it forward.

It’s not easy to discover our own potential – we often need guidance from others who went before us. And if I should serve as a guide to others, I would admit that it is also not easy. It is a mix of logic and intuition, especially when what we’re advocating is authenticity.

Lately I have been reflecting on the tension between “meeting standards” and “being authentic”. This is triggered by my students’ essays, and this seems to be a theme worth thinking about. I find that students, in this “cheesy” but necessary quest of “finding one’s self”, would lean into standards and ideals echoed by the school, society, and the world. The initial phase seems to be to anchor self-worth on the validation of others, because the younger ones likely haven’t found the credibility and built the track record to soberly yet fully trust one’s strengths and weaknesses.

And it is during this formative phase when the presence of mentors and guides are most important – providing accompaniment, sober advice, and a balance of optimism and caution, but all anchored on a faith towards flourishing.

It is another end of the academic year full of transitions, embracing the post-pandemic era yet cognizant of the disruptions an AI world may bring. Hopefully, the smallest of seeds can indeed fully grow into the largest of trees.

—
Matthew 13:31-35. It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 2023-212: JULY 31, 2023]

When it feels that God is absent

When we feel distant from God or question where He is in difficult times, it can shake our faith to the core. However, it is in these lonely moments that we must cling to the beliefs that provide our foundation.

Choosing what is right in the midst of doubt and uncertainty takes courage and commitment. We must reflect on the values God calls us to – compassion, justice, service to others – and make them our guideposts.

When we act in alignment with these, even when we feel unsure, we create good in the world. Through small acts of love and sacrifice for others, we can feel closer to the divine spark within us.

After all, faith is not something we simply acquire; it is a muscle that we must continue to exercise both in easy times and hard.

—
John 11:19-27. Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 2023-210: JULY 29, 2023]

Smithing words: Gifts that keep on giving insights and meaning

Smithing words is a craft that requires patience and care. An insightful phrase can be a gift that keeps on giving, illuminating new perspectives each time it’s unwrapped.

The blacksmith reheats and reshapes metal into useful forms. A writer can rework words and shape ideas into meaningful forms too. With each strike of the pen, they fold in new layers of understanding.

A well-turned phrase is a gift that never stops teaching. It shifts our gaze, revealing truths we hadn’t seen before. The gift of insight is not flashy, but its value deepens with time.

A single line can light up connections across years.

The most meaningful words are those smithed not for show, but to share fresh ways of seeing. They offer insight as a gift that keeps on giving, quietly shaping perspectives even as the world changes around them.

---

Matthew 13:10-17. Why do you speak to the crowd in parables?

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 2023-208: JULY 27, 2023]

Seeking to bite more than we can chew

Why do we so often try to take on more than we can handle? Sometimes it comes from a healthy desire to push our limits and grow. When we challenge ourselves with tough goals, we can surprise ourselves with how much we can accomplish. But other times, our eyes are bigger than our stomachs due to less noble motivations. We can overload our plates out of greed, ego, and a sense of entitlement.

We have to be careful that our ambition drives us to flourish rather than merely accumulate and consume. There’s a fine line between striving for excellence and being overwhelmed by excess. The wise know how much is enough; they focus on developing their character more than expanding their possessions.

To thrive, we should grow slowly but surely – biting off what we can chew while mastering each mouthful. Our reach should exceed our grasp, but not so far that we lose our balance.

---

Matthew 20:20-28. “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?”

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 2023-206: JULY 25, 2023]