For now, choose where we can give infinitely

Turning the other cheek is such a difficult principle to practice. It could be impractical especially in contexts where the law of the jungle is upheld.

The way I am making sense of this is to manifest my agency and self-determination; that is, to choose for myself a space where I can keep on turning the other cheek and give infinitely without being devoured by predators.

And that space is in the academe. For us educators, when we feel we are being taken for granted by students, we turn the other cheek and teach them anyway. When peer reviewers reject our research, we turn the other cheek and resubmit anyway.

In a way, the ideal is to make a world such a place where we can easily forgive another. But if it’s hard to put into practice, then maybe the more feasible invitation is to choose and mold spaces where there would be an unrelenting ecosystem of support, where failure is forgiven and put into appropriate perspective.

For now, let’s choose where we can give infinitely.

Matthew 5:38-42. Turn the other cheek

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 164: JUNE 13, 2022]

Rethinking YOLO

The first thing we ever receive and that without cost to us is life. And maybe that’s why a life that is self-centered instead of self-with-others feels ironically empty, like overeating.

The stomach is beyond full and the palate is beyond tickled; yet at that moment, all we want is to vomit.

Thus, living a full life is more about finding someone or something to dedicate our lives to. That moment when we are most ready to give our lives for others is also the moment when we can say that our life is worth it.

Maybe YOLO should not be thought as a reckless and selfish embrace of pleasures. Rather, it is about an uncontainable excitement, borne out of discernment, that we have a life worthy of being given for another.

Matthew 10:7-13. Without cost you have received, without cost you are to give.

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 162: JUNE 11, 2022]

When being right can sometimes mean being alone

It is easy to follow the crowd, to succumb to cancel culture, mob mentality, or plain peer pressure. It is more convenient and comfortable to “belong”, rather than risk being right but be left out.

The pursuit of what is right and what is true seems simple and straightforward at first, but within the context of echo chambers and one’s need to belong in a “tribe”, it can feel lonely. The one that pursues what is right and what is true cannot afford to be stubborn; or else, he might misperceive his righteousness when it could be turning into hubris.

An authentic, relentless, iterative, critical, second-guessing, sober outlook to the pursuit of what is right and what is true – this sounds very challenging. Not many would be willing to take this journey. Thus, those who dare should be ready to feel alone and lonely at times…

… While keeping the faith that there are others who would be attracted to the same journey not because it looks good, but because it is a vocation towards what is good.

Matthew 5:20-26. Uprightness beyond that of scribes and Pharisees

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 160: JUNE 9, 2022]

Rethinking and interacting with structures

When I first read blue ocean strategy, creative thinking, and facilitating insights, what struck me the most is the importance of paying attention to structures (e.g., industries, business models, creative thinking matrices) and asking meta-cognitive questions (e.g., eliminating or removing things taken for granted; challenging conventions; abstracting what works in one context and experimenting with it in another context).

The basics of strategy seemed to be guided by identifying structures and their forces to react accordingly. On the other hand, a bolder perspective is to mold and shape structures – from “responding to industry forces” to “creating industries or creating industry forces”.

Today’s gospel highlights the need for a more proactive life – fulfilling the commandments means attempting to understand the commandments’ spirit. A flourishing life is not about minimum compliance with the rules and norms that bind us; but rather, it is about fulfilling the principles and spirit that these rules intend us to do.

“I came not to abolish but to fulfill.” Maybe this means that to innovate is not necessarily always about “disruption” and “breaking rules”, but re-centering ourselves and asking:

What holistic value should we focus on creating? And how should we do it?

Matthew 5:17-19. I came not to abolish but to fulfill

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 158: JUNE 7, 2022]

Finding peace in any context

Context can refer to any set of events, past and present (and potentially future), that the knower deems relevant to the entity being studied.

When I was younger and more naive, I thought that I could search for silver bullets or universal solutions I can use or apply in any instance. I realize now that such pursuit is futile; silver bullets do not really exist, and it is the ability of the person to recognize relevant events and entities as context that allow a person to discern towards a responsible decision and action.

There is a kind of a sobering peace that can be borne out of that authentic reflection. I again invoke the prayer for serenity, courage, and wisdom: accepting the things that we are not unable to change alone, changing the things that we reasonably can, and a continuous predisposition to iterate, to try and fail, so that one may truly grow.

In a sense, peace is about knowing fully well how both powerless and powerful we can be. And with faith, the Holy Spirit can ablaze us to be the best version of ourselves.

John 20:19-23. The Pentecost: Peace be with you

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 156: JUNE 5, 2022]