Patch Aure

Our first paracletes

Our first paracletes

Witnessing my wife become a mom made me appreciate more how our respective mothers are our own paraclete. Being a mom can be like a thankless job – being an authentic mom means it is a mom’s job to shower all the love she can to her child; and going above and beyond is within the job description.

The best work of moms are behind-the-scenes. I have come to learn that the best mark of great parenting is when a child is very decent. There’s no spectacle, only consistent decency and virtue. The child’s courage emanates from the empowerment their mom has allowed them. It is okay to get hurt, because there is a home. And when there are wins, there is a space where the wins can be shared, talked about, or even teased about.

This mother’s day, let’s be grateful to our first advocate, counsellor, and helper. Cheers to our paraclete personified!

Bing AI conversation:

The paraclete is a Christian biblical term that occurs five times in the Johannine texts of the New Testament¹. It is derived from the Greek word paráklētos, which means “advocate”, “counsellor” or “helper”¹². In Christian theology, the paraclete commonly refers to the Holy Spirit, who is sent by Jesus to comfort, guide and testify to his followers¹.

Source: Conversation with Bing, 5/14/2023
(1) Paraclete – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraclete.
(2) Paraclete Definition & Meaning – Merriam-Webster. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Paraclete.
(3) What Does Paraclete Mean? Bible Definition and References. https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/paraclete/.
(4) Paraclete Definition, Meaning & Usage | FineDictionary.com. https://www.finedictionary.com/Paraclete.

John 14:15-21. And he shall give you another Paraclete, that he may abide with you forever.

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 2023-134: MAY 14, 2023]

/0 Comments/by
Patch Aure

The price of trying to be better

The price of trying to be better

No path towards being better is easy. Progress and change have dips and birth pains.

From a technical perspective, this separates the beginners from the masters. From a values perspective, this separates the hypocrites from the virtuous virtuosos.

And sometimes, the material rewards may not even be worth it. Oftentimes, the world can feel cold (if not downright absurd).

But when we find our authentic identity, purpose, and meaning, we have a better inspiration of who we ought to be. Acquiring that perspective is a gift that keeps on giving and makes life all the more worth living.

John 15:18-21. The servant is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you.

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 2023-133: MAY 13, 2023]

/0 Comments/by
Patch Aure

Co-create

Co-create

I find that a question that stimulates creative insight is: how can we co-create something with each other?

It requires attention to what we can and cannot do and faith in another. It also allows for a greater good to emerge that couldn’t be possible for any individual.

John 15:12-17. I will not now call you servants: for the servant knows not what his lord does. But I have called you friends: because all things whatsoever I have heard of my Father, I have made known to you.

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 2023-132: MAY 12, 2023]

/0 Comments/by
Patch Aure

The love of a parent

The love of a parent

We can have an idea on how much our parents love us, but that idea won’t ever capture the totality of what it means compared to when we become parents ourselves.

There is something powerful that is hard to put into words – to love someone before that someone actually existed; to love someone before even knowing that someone.

The analogy of God being a parent works, because being a parent is the closest way to defining what unconditional love really means. That love can be tough, but it is always forgiving. And at the same time, it is overflowing.

John 15:9-11. As the Father has loved me, I also have loved you

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 2023-131: MAY 11, 2023]

/0 Comments/by
Patch Aure

Synchronizing

Synchronizing

We are always in this dance of trying to understand ourselves and trying to understand others. Synchronizing with ourselves (as in being authentic to who we are and being responsible to who we are shaping up to be) and synchronizing with others is a whole new level.

I have reflected multiple times already on how much I appreciate athletic teams and bands who seem to be so in sync that they know what their teammates are going to do even before the teammate themselves knows it. It is oneness, indeed.

Within an organizational context, the pursuit of being in sync with each other is a great challenge. I have been attending trainings on quality assurance for our college these days, so I find myself constantly reflect about my own understanding of quality and how I can help our college arrive at a shared understanding. The dream is to be as in sync as Lennon-McCartney in their prime or the 2014 San Antonio Spurs championship team.

For now, it feels like the tension of the blues notes but there is no satisfying resolution in sight yet. But so be it, let’s fiddle with the blues. And maybe, this structure and improvisations will lead to a piece to remember.

John 15:1-8. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abide in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in me.

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 2023-130: MAY 10, 2023]

/0 Comments/by
Patch Aure

Towards impact that makes a (lasting) difference (a short reflection)

Towards impact that makes a (lasting) difference (a short reflection)

It is easy to measure outputs but tricky to measure impact. Impact needs time. Outputs are more about efficiency (which is easier to document) while impact is more about effectiveness.

It is easy to say that pursuing impact requires faith. But faith can be such an abstract concept. And even if we seek a reasonable kind of faith, where should we anchor such faith?

Maybe the short answer is on a system capable of piloting and producing virtuous cycles. At the very least, systems that can pilot outputs that build on each other towards lasting impact.

And in terms of our obligations as stakeholders, “letting things be” is unresponsive. “Make it be” sounds too arrogant. We can “help it be” – iterating again and again, shaping the context while letting the context also influence us.

John 14:27-31A. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, do I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid.

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 2023-129: MAY 9, 2023]

/0 Comments/by
Patch Aure

Words should not be cheap

Words should not be cheap

The advent of generative AI makes it easy to produce cheap words or words that may sound good but are not really meaningful.

If we listen to standup comedians, orators, artists, performers, and songwriters, words are far from cheap. They can mean more than what they literally denote.

Carefully chosen and smithed words can paint a thousand beautiful pictures.

John 14:21-26. If any one love me, he will keep my word.

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 2023-128: MAY 8, 2023]

/0 Comments/by
Patch Aure

To deeply know another is to share vulnerabilities with one another

To deeply know another is to share vulnerabilities with one another

The depth of relationships between people is not necessarily driven by time, but rather, how open people are in terms of sharing their vulnerabilities with each other.

If we think about it, if ever such person who is invulnerable does exist, wouldn’t it be terribly hard to understand or relate with that person?

Maybe it is a paradox of life that we tend to seek or idealize perfection, but we find ourselves somehow more whole when we are with people we can share our vulnerabilities with.

John 14:1-12. Have I been so long a time with you; and have you not known me?

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 2023-127: MAY 7, 2023]

/0 Comments/by
Patch Aure

(Another reflection on) inherited will

(Another reflection on) inherited will

I’m such a sucker for shounen anime. Maybe it is because of the context of my childhood – from watching Filipino dubs of Japanese anime in local channels, getting excited by Japanese dubs with English subs in cables, to internet and Netflix access.

A common theme in shounen anime is “inherited will”. I’ve reflected on this in the past, and I feel that this theme is more relevant to my life than ever. This theme is what I loved about One Piece, Naruto, and to some extent Dragon Ball Z (side note: they did Gohan such a disservice after the Cell saga…).

In a way, this “concept” of inherited will has guided my approach to mentorship and being mentored. How can I not be grateful for the mentors that went before me and showed what is possible? How can I not choose to pay it forward when I know I cannot ever repay the wealth of wisdom and will my parents and mentors have passed to me?

The spirit of inherited will is made more manifest in the works of those who came before us. At the very least, their work provides a blueprint or a template. At best, their work provides inspiration of what could be and how we can build on what they have done.

Doing good work feels like such a vocation because it enables the next generation to stand on the shoulders of giants. Mediocre and BS work are flimsy and may even be un- and de-inspiring; good work (even if not perfect) can inspire and can allow the next in line to inherit the will and dreams of the OGs and the pioneers.

May the good work that we do always honor the will and dreams of those who came before us!

John 14:7-14. Otherwise believe for the very works’ sake. Amen, amen I say to you, he that believes in me, the works that I do, he also shall do; and greater than these shall he do.

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 2023-126: MAY 6, 2023]

/0 Comments/by
Patch Aure

How can our hearts avoid being troubled?

How can our hearts avoid being troubled?

These past few days, my barely 2-month-old son caught a persistent cold and had fever-like symptoms. I had to go to work, so it was my wife who shouldered bulk of the burden caring for Franco.

Understandably, we had some fears. We consulted medical professionals (special thanks to Franco’s Ninong Doc TJ!) and got medications.

Compared to when Franco had newborn jaundice during his first two weeks, I felt more peaceful this time. Maybe it’s because we have adjusted quite a bit already as parents. Franco’s huge appetite for milk was still there. He was more fuzzy and irritable, but he’s still able to sleep.

I found myself thinking, “namana niya pagkasipunin ko (he inherited my being prone to colds)”, but at the same time, I had this confidence (or is it faith?) that this is actually a good thing in the long run – at least, his body and immune system are being tested with a small challenge that he is likely to overcome.

My reflections these past few days have been about rearticulating my understanding of faith. Troubles will come, and it’s easy to let our hearts be affected negatively.

But faith is about the heart and mind, so when the heart feels troubled, maybe our minds can intelligently find ways to be reasonably confident. When our minds feel overburdened, our hearts can seek safer spaces for rest.

And with serendipity, our spirits can be lifted.

John 14:1-6. Let not your heart be troubled.

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 2023-125: MAY 5, 2023]

/0 Comments/by