During break time, a co-teacher once asked me, “do you see yourself teaching until you grow old?” Without batting an eyelash I said, “No.” I gave her that blank look that I have perfected over the years to signal her that I want our conversation to end right away. She didn’t get it. Weak signal reception, I thought. She was waiting for me to say more. There was no way she’s ending this conversation just like that. “How about you?” I asked. “Yes,” she answered, “I see myself in this profession ‘til I grow old.” She then started talking about how she loves being a teacher, why she chose to be a teacher, etc. I just stared at her and imagined her as the stereotypical old teacher with eyeglasses and the killer stare inside the same classroom. It was scary. “That’s great, I’m happy for you,” I said and made an excuse to get out of the room. Break times are supposed to give you a break, not stress you out.
This happened three years ago. I just realized that what stressed me out that time was not the thought of being the stereotype old teacher but the fact that I don’t know what I really wanted. Our conversation confronted me. I actually envied her for knowing exactly what she wanted to do for the rest of her life. I don’t have the same clarity in me. What I am sure about is that I am not going to grow old in the academe. Don’t get me wrong, I love teaching and I enjoyed my profession but I know it’s not what I want to do for a lifetime. Looking at my life now, it turns out I am bound to teaching after all. Not in the four-walled classroom like her but in the University of Life. I now empower and mentor people about faith, finances, and life as a whole. The world is my classroom. Learning can occur anywhere: in a coffee shop, while riding the bus, while waiting for a cab - ANYWHERE. My students are not limited by age, gender, culture, status or lifestyle. In the University of Life, I am both the teacher and the student. I still follow a curriculum but I am not limited by it. I am a work in progress and every moment is an opportunity to learn and unlearn. There is no promotion but growth. And your break time? It could still be study time.
Showing posts with label purpose. Show all posts
Showing posts with label purpose. Show all posts
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Minding Your Own Business
“Peter asked Jesus, ‘What about him, Lord?’ Jesus replied, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You follow me.”
John 21:21-22
This conversation took place during one of Jesus’ appearances after His resurrection. Jesus just told Peter the kind of death that he will experience. Upon hearing it, he looked around, saw John and asked what his future would be. To this Jesus answered, “What is that to you?” In effect, He was saying, “mind your own business.”
Like Peter, we often compare ourselves with others. We wonder why a classmate who never seems to study gets higher grades. We question why we do the hard work and someone else gets the dough. We do exactly what a friend is doing and wonder why we get different results. We always ask, “what about him?” Sometimes we go to the other extreme and make sure that others get their job done. We have become self-appointed watchdogs. The outcome often turns sour because as other people go about their own business, we don’t have our own. We make sure others accomplish their mission for we don’t know ours.
God created us uniquely along with specific purposes. It is our responsibility to find out what our purpose is and live it. We have no business if someone else is living out his/her purpose or not. That is up to them. What matters is that we are living ours.
Try asking yourself, “What are you living for?” I ask myself this question, especially when I don’t feel like getting out of bed and work. I always get the same answer: I am here for others (my family, my friends, my community, the world). I am God’s vessel and instrument of faith, joy, and love. Being reminded of what I am living for gives me energy to get up and live. So mind your own business. In the end, God will not be asking how many people we knew accomplished their purpose. He will be asking what we did to accomplish ours.
John 21:21-22
This conversation took place during one of Jesus’ appearances after His resurrection. Jesus just told Peter the kind of death that he will experience. Upon hearing it, he looked around, saw John and asked what his future would be. To this Jesus answered, “What is that to you?” In effect, He was saying, “mind your own business.”
Like Peter, we often compare ourselves with others. We wonder why a classmate who never seems to study gets higher grades. We question why we do the hard work and someone else gets the dough. We do exactly what a friend is doing and wonder why we get different results. We always ask, “what about him?” Sometimes we go to the other extreme and make sure that others get their job done. We have become self-appointed watchdogs. The outcome often turns sour because as other people go about their own business, we don’t have our own. We make sure others accomplish their mission for we don’t know ours.
God created us uniquely along with specific purposes. It is our responsibility to find out what our purpose is and live it. We have no business if someone else is living out his/her purpose or not. That is up to them. What matters is that we are living ours.
Try asking yourself, “What are you living for?” I ask myself this question, especially when I don’t feel like getting out of bed and work. I always get the same answer: I am here for others (my family, my friends, my community, the world). I am God’s vessel and instrument of faith, joy, and love. Being reminded of what I am living for gives me energy to get up and live. So mind your own business. In the end, God will not be asking how many people we knew accomplished their purpose. He will be asking what we did to accomplish ours.
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