INSPIRATIONAL NUGGET

Life can only be understood by looking backward, but it must be lived by looking forward.

"Jesus replied, 'No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.'" Luke 9:62

Sean Matthew G. Olano

SUMMER FUN

A few weeks ago, I was so worried about how I'd deliver the bad news to my colleagues. Guess what! All three probationary employees have already resigned and found themselves a better job somewhere else. Thank God! Not that I want them out of here but I couldn't possibly fail them in their evaluation when in fact they're doing good, just so I could meet the management's demands. I'm so relieved! But of course, this predicament is still far from over. A much bigger blow is yet to come.

It's officially summer here and it's time to have some fun!!! Don't you just love the smell of nature while sipping on your favorite fresh fruit shake under the shade of swaying palms?

INSPIRATIONAL NUGGET

Sorrow looks back. Worry looks around. Faith looks up.

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2

Sean Anakin G. Olano

A REVELATION

Things have been crazy around here lately. Our section looks more like a ghost town than an office. Everybody does his own thing either on the computer or on the phone. I knew what everybody was up to and I just let them do whatever as I did mine. With all the fuss around here that got almost everybody worried, I've remained just the opposite. Don't get me wrong, I need a job just like anybody else and I could lose my job just as fast as others could. But I refuse to wallow in distress. I remember asking God to help me understand why things happen the way they do. Then last Saturday, our pastor said, "Don't try to 'see' before you have faith, have faith then you'll understand." What a revelation!

I'll be catching up with you guys as soon as I can.

BEARER OF BAD NEWS

I was going through my daily reads and planning to write something positive after, but I was cut short when I was called by our HR to discuss to me something about the number of employees in my department. After that short discussion, my happy aura turned bleak. I went back to my desk with a dazed expression on my face.

One thing I was never really good at is terminating someone from employment. Well, I'm not really the one to terminate them (that's the work of our HR) but I'll be the one initiating the termination. And I said THEM, meaning there's more than one. I could feel my temperature rising while I was figuring out how I'd deliver the awful news to my staff. But I wasn't left with any choice, it's a management order and I have to do it. They're implementing a head count reduction and my department is one of those affected. Tomorrow, I have to start preparing the papers needed for this. It breaks my heart. Oh, God, I hate to be the bearer of bad news!