Reflections for after Holy Week

NOTE. This article was first published in The Manila Times - Business Section, and also at the following web address:
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2003/apr/21/business/20030421bus16.html

Happy Easter! Best time to turn in a new leaf, so to speak, is when we have just been given a new leash in life. Today it is.

All year round we’ve been thinking, feeling and sensing our life here on earth. Since it’s just after Holy Week, let us focus on our relationship with Him. I am sharing with you today email forwards that we could use for our reflection.

This “Five Finger Prayer” is from Bunny Gerochi of First Philippine Holdings Corp.:

Your thumb is nearest to you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you and those around you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C.S. Lewis once said, a “sweet duty”.

The next finger is the point finger.

Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, medical practitioners, and spiritual leaders and workers. They need your support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers.

The next finger is the tall finger. It reminds us of our leaders. These people shape our nation, our organizations and our companies. They guide public opinion and sway public sentiments. They need God’s guidance. The fourth finger is our ring finger.

Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.

And lastly comes our little finger which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says, “the least shall be the greatest among you.” Your pinky should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.

“Put The Glass Down” is from Ernie Cabral of Meralco.

A lecturer was giving a workshop on stress management. He raised a glass of water and asked the audience, “How heavy do you think this glass of water is?”
The students’ answers ranged from 20g to 500gm. “It does not matter on the absolute weight. It depends on how long you hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it is light. If I hold it for an hour, it becomes heavy and I will have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you will have to call an ambulance. It is the exact same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.”

“If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, we will not be able to carry on, the burden becoming increasingly heavier. What we have to do is to put the glass down, rest for a while before holding it up again. We have to put down the burden periodically, so that we can be refreshed and be able to carry on. So before you return home from work tonight, put the burden of work down. Don’t carry it back home. You can pick it up tomorrow.”

“Whatever burdens you are having now on your shoulders, let it down for a moment if you can.

Pick it up again later when you have rested....Rest and relax. Best of all, let go and let God take over.”

This moving “Whatever Your Cross” was forwarded by Hermie Adriano of Goodyear Philippines.

Whatever your cross, whatever your pain
There will always be sunshine after the rain.
Perhaps you may stumble, perhaps even fall
But God is always ready to answer your call.

He knows every heartache, sees every tear
A word from His lips can calm every fear.
Your sorrows may linger throughout the night,
But suddenly vanish at dawn’s early light.


The savior is waiting somewhere above,
To give you His grace and send you His love.
Whatever your cross, whatever your pain,
God always sends rainbows after the rain.

Venus Tiamson of Virginia, USA, wants us to remember these:

God won’t ask what kind of car you drove, but He’ll ask how many people you drove who didn’t have transportation.

God won’t ask the square footage of your house, but He’ll ask how many people you welcomed into your home.

God won’t ask about the clothes you had in your closet, but He’ll ask how many you helped to clothe.

God won’t ask what your highest salary was, but He’ll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it.

God won’t ask what your job title was, but He’ll ask if you performed your job to the best of our ability.

God won’t ask how many friends you had, but He’ll ask how many people to whom you were a friend.

God won’t ask in what neighborhood you lived, but He’ll ask how you treated your neighbors.

God won’t ask about the color of your skin, but He’ll ask about the content of your character.

God won’t ask why it took you so long to seek Salvation, but He’ll lovingly take you to your mansion in heaven, and not to the gates of Hell.

DALE CARNEGIE. Boost your self-confidence and personal business skills. A new class is starting April 21, 6 to 9 p.m. at the 5/FGaleria Corporate Center, EDSA, QC. Call Ms. Serely Alcaraz at 897-2484.

WORLD PEACE. Contribute to world peace by simply having a meaningful and God-filled year.

(Moje Ramos-Aquino is president of Paradigms & Paradoxes Consultants and assists small and medium companies in their human resource and organization development efforts. She could be reached at moje@mydestiny.net.)