We all play roles in each other’s world-building stories

I have been integrating One Piece and other world-building stories in my reflections lately, maybe because re-reading the gospels can feel like “world-building” too. It’s very typical to look at the story’s main character or lead protagonist, who is in a sense, the one who receives more “air time” as arbitrarily framed by the narrator.

What I like about world-building kinds of stories is that the context allows for multiple characters to be developed and more opportunities for the readers to relate with characters aside from the supposed lead protagonist. More over, if we think about it, it’s harder to relate with the main protagonist because they are usually protected by plot armor, or in the case of Jesus, a literal deus ex machina!

This is why we can unlock more meaning in learning more about other characters in the story, like John the Baptist being the “precursor”; or “supporting characters” having their own dreams and aspirations.

This humbles the reader and even the main protagonist of the story; we all have a purpose in life and various roles to play for each other. Our stories can infinitely overlap with each other’s stories… So how should we choose the roles we play?

Do we insist on hogging the spotlight?

Do we insist on finding an antagonist to hate?

Or do we reflect on the context that surrounds us, find our niche, and help let be a beautiful world that is being co-created?

Maybe it’s time to re-read our favorite stories and go beyond the main protagonist. Maybe we can learn how we can better play various roles in each other’s world-building stories.

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Luke 1:57-66, 80. John the Baptist in the desert

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 174: JUNE 23, 2022]

More about the means and less about the ends

“It is the journey, not the destination.”

In the grand scheme of things, we are always in a process of becoming. Seldom, if at all, do we really have “ultimate destinations” in this world. There is always, “what’s next?”

Maybe the paradox is hyperfocusing on outcomes is short-term thinking; while paying attention to the present and our relationship with others is ultimately long-term and sustainability-oriented thinking.

When I find myself wanting to manifest certain goals, I feel more pressure to find shortcuts and cut corners. But there are also those transcendent flow moments like finding that groove in a band or chemistry in team sports that seems to be the pinnacle of being in the present and being one with others. Ultimately, this leads to more meaning-making and long-term flourishing.

One Piece and the recent NBA Finals have been welcome escapes from my busy academic life, but they also echo timeless lessons.

One Piece is less about finding treasures and being “Pirate King” at the soonest possible time; it is about being free to relate with others and align goals with our loved ones.

The 2022 ring of the Warriors seem to be sweeter compared with the all-star 2017 and 2018 ones, precisely because of the process. It felt more earned, rather than something an all-star team is entitled to.

Vision, desired outcomes, goals and ends – they are important. But they are not everything. In the grand scheme of things, they serve to be guideposts and milestones to be celebrated. Achieving goals provide opportunities for us to check how far we have become, but more importantly, how long we can still go in our process of becoming and flourishing.

Thus, it really is more about the means and less about the ends. Maybe a well-lived life is not about how many milestones and awards we share in our social media platforms, but more on the almost-infinite amount of meaning we’ve made along the way.

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Matthew 7:6, 12-14. Do to others what you would have them do to you

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 172: JUNE 21, 2022]

Leftovers and rethinking efficiency

For Filipinos, the funny “phenomenon” in buffets is “takaw mata”. A hungry person sees all the yummy dishes, thinks he can finish a huge serving of each dish, then fills his plate as tall as a mountain!

The tragedy is when he realizes that he cannot finish everything, leading to leftovers.

In a sense, the way we eat and the leftovers we leave tell us how much we really know about ourselves – how much we are self-aware.

If we define efficiency as the ability of a person to reduce “waste” in terms of time and resources, then maybe the first step to being efficient is to be self-aware; to look at our behaviors and frankly identify how much we waste.

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Luke 9:11b-17. Corpus Christi

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 170: JUNE 19, 2022]

One Piece and generational wills

What makes One Piece such a compelling narrative for me is how the pirates begin to look for treasure (or achieve their ambitions), but they quickly realize the importance of relationships and the passing of wills between generations.

Maybe this is an example of a “treasure” that transcends time and life. How can our memories and wills be passed?

Maybe a well-lived life is about maximizing the meaning we create in this world in such a way that inspires generations to keep on passing a piece of ourselves.

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Matthew 6:19-23. Treasures of heaven

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 168: JUNE 17, 2022]

Good deeds done without spectacle

It’s easy to understand why bad deeds are done in secret, but why should good deeds be done in secret or at least in silence, without spectacle?

Maybe it’s because the doing of good deeds is supposed to be natural and normal, not an extraordinary spectacle. If it’s normal, it doesn’t have to be recognized nor rewarded. In a way, good deeds done this way are most pure; through this, we can have a glimpse of what unconditional love or acts mean.

Perhaps the invitation is not necessarily to celebrate one’s self, because it could easily go to pride and hubris. The invitation is self-awareness and self-understanding; being peaceful about who we currently are and who our best version could be. Virtue is the accumulation of good deeds. If others and God would “repay” us or celebrate us, then so be it.

But purely good deeds don’t seek recognition nor validation, because the doer has gained insight that the deed is indeed good, and that in itself is the reward already.

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Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18. Your Father who sees in secret will repay you

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 166: JUNE 15, 2022]