Day 22

1. Was warmly welcomed into a home. Today our prayer meeting was held in our friend’s home. I always like getting welcomed into another’s home regardless if its a mansion in a private village or a small hut in the province (my work gets me to places like these). When people invite you into their homes and allow you to eat there means to me that they’re sharing more than just a meal with you, they’re sharing something more intimate, more personal-- especially if they’re inviting you in their homes to pray. To top it off, the house was beautiful. Plus, i got some decorating and furniture hunting tips from the owners.

2. Made a new friend. He’s from another country and he joined us at our prayer meeting. His example is an inspiring one because he’s trying hard to be a leader, much less remain in the community, in the states. I’ve always thought it was more challenging to live out your faith in a place like the states where there’s just so many more distractions and a much smaller support group. Turns out he’s a really nice guy who extended us an invitation into his home when we’re in his neck of the woods.

3. Tense meeting turned into a smooth meeting. Like I’ve been blogging in the previous posts, its been a very busy time in the office. Its has also been very testy lately with everyone on edge knowing that there’s so much at stake with this project. We discussed maybe the most critical item today and this is an area where we failed (in the initial stages). I was leading this meeting attended by even the bigs of our company and our partners. I was getting a little scared going into this meeting that it would turn into a finger-pointing mess instead it turned out to be one of those meetings where we put aside our egos and went straight to work and came out happy with the outcome. I’m glad the group put teamwork ahead of things like intellectual arrogance, ego, selfish interests.

4. I work is the good guys. Today I was made to realize that the following people are into their faith like I am: my department head, my trainee, a major supplier at work, the R&D manager I work with, my banker, my real estate broker, and my cleaning lady. I didn’t choose them on that basis yet somehow our paths crossed. How comforting it is that the people you’re with on a regular basis are people you can, in one way of another, talk God with.

5. Realization: “Taking things for granted takes away the joy of being grateful and appreciative of God’s love.” Think about it. The higher you set your bar for happiness, the harder it is to be happy, and therefore you won’t be happy that very often. On the flipside, try and appreciate the little things and you’ll realize how blessed you are. Why make it so difficult? And after only getting it 31 years into my life, I choose to be thankful it didn’t come one year later.