In the Dutch Catechism, however, an observation was made that “All are born originals, but many end up as copies”.
As I look at what is happening in our nation and in our city of Tuguegarao in particular, I see the veracity of the said observation. To cite a few examples are the following:
1. Tricycles: The tricycle business started with only a few units plying the city of Tuguegarao. When people saw the profitability of this business, thousands in less than a year applied for the franchise to operate the same business. Thus, in Tuguegarao City today there is a superabundance of tricycles plying the streets.
2. Nurses: Time was when there was a dire need for nurses. Before long many nursing schools opened to accommodate the great flux of students registering for a nursing course. Today we read in the newspapers that there is an oversupply of nurses in the country such that thousands of them are unemployed.
3. Water: About ten years ago someone started the business of supplying purified drinking water. Today there are more than fifty water refiller stations in Tuguegarao City alone, some of them operating even without the necessary permits.
The above mentioned examples show that, indeed, man is prone to
to imitate what others are doing. While this may not be necessarily wrong, it would be wise to focus on one’s unique capabilities and be original in making a living or in having a personal life style.
In a Prayer Book for Eucharistic Adoration compiled by the Serra Club of Singapore this prayer is printed:
”My Lord and my God, You are Love itself, and the source of all love and goodness. Out of love You created me to know You, love You, and serve You in a unique way, as no one else can. I believe that You have a plan for my life, that You have a task in Your Kingdom reserved just for me. Your plan and Your task are far better that any other I might choose: they will glorify You, fulfill the desires of my heart, and save those souls who are depending on my generous response.”
This prayer clarified to me that God has created me in such a way that under the circumstances in which I live, I and I alone would be responsible in doing what needs to be done according to His plan. Hence, it is incumbent upon me to make use of whatever gifts or capabilities that God has bestowed on me to carry out the task that has been reserved just for me. Herein lies my uniqueness as a human being.
by: Salvador 'Buddy' Cagurangan
Feb. 6, 2011
Feb. 6, 2011
