THAT gospel episode where Christ shocked his disciples when he told them that they themselves had to feed the big crowd that followed Christ (cfr. Jn 6,1-15) reminds us that we should just have confidence in the ways of God even if what we are asked to do is considered by us not only as difficult but also impossible. We just have to make ourselves available to his will and designs since in the end he will take care of everything.
Yes, God can test our faith. But that test is meant to strengthen our faith in him some more. What we should rather do is to make ourselves readily available, and doing this in a cheerful and confident way.

This testing of the faith was shown, for example, when Mary and Joseph were very worried when they lost the child Christ who stayed behind after some trip. “Did you not know that I must be concerned with my Father’s things?” the child told Mary who later on pondered on these words in her heart and made her faith even stronger. (cfr. Lk 2,49)

That response of the child Christ to Mary also showed how fully available he was to the will of the Father, something that he must have wanted to inculcate in all of us. We need to learn how to make ourselves fully available to God’s designs for all of us.

Those who were close to Christ, starting with Our Lady, made themselves available to God’s ways. “Let it be done to me according to your word,” said Mary to the Archangel Gabriel who was the messenger of God. (Lk 1,38) We see this total availability also in the case of Joseph who even had to do some drastic and difficult decisions just to follow God’s will.

In the gospel, many times Christ would tell his disciples to tie their waist with a belt to signify that they had to tighten their loose clothing to be ready to travel and to do a lot of things. We should also understand that to be truly available to God’s will and ways, we have to make full use of our God-given talents and powers.

This belt-tightening can also signify that we should free ourselves from certain attachments that would prevent us from fulfilling God’s will. Indeed, we have to make some great effort to practice a certain detachment since we all know that in this life, we often would find ourselves trapped in some worldly concerns that would make us insensitive to the things of God.

In this regard, it would be good to examine ourselves to see where our worldly attachments are. We need to make some working system of how to free ourselves from these attachments. This surely will be quite a challenge because more than our efforts, no matter how significant, we need God’s grace to free us from our improper attachments.
We need to have a certain detachment from persons and things to be able to give our heart entirely to God, and with him, we actually have everything else we need. As St. Teresa of Avila put it graphically, with God we have enough—“solo Dios basta.”

To be a disciple of Christ, we have to give everything of ourselves to him and to the tasks such discipleship entails. This will allow the very power of Christ to work on us. So instead of hindering our apostolic work, that detachment that Christ requires of his disciples would only enhance that apostolic work.

Company culture is the lifeblood of an organization. It’s a blend of values, beliefs, behaviors, and attitudes that define the workspace. A positive culture fosters collaboration, respect, and shared purpose, driving both employee satisfaction and business success. It’s the invisible yet tangible essence that makes a workplace unique.

The magic of great company culture lies in its ability to foster a positive, productive, and supportive environment. It’s about creating a place where people feel valued, respected, and motivated to do their best work. Here are some key elements:

1. Shared Values: A great company culture is built on a foundation of shared values. These values guide the behavior and decisions of everyone in the organization, creating a sense of unity and purpose. This is the reason why there is a need to hire individuals who believe in your vision because it will be easier for them to do their tasks without hesitation and will be your wings in attaining your goals.

2. Open Communication: Transparency and open dialogue are crucial. Employees should feel comfortable sharing their ideas, concerns, and feedback. This fosters trust and collaboration. Allowing employees to share their thoughts on how they think can help boost the company’s success and adds morale to the employees.

3. Recognition and Appreciation: Recognizing and appreciating the hard work and achievements of employees boosts morale and motivation. It shows employees that their efforts are noticed and valued. What makes employees improve in their jobs is being inspired when they are aware that their hard work is being recognized. This increases productivity which has a positive impact to the whole organization.

4. Professional Growth: Opportunities for learning and development are essential. This shows employees that the company is invested in their growth and future. Employees should also be empowered with essential trainings so that they can grow as individuals, as well. Through these trainings, employees can enhance skills which aid in stepping to a higher position that allows them to fulfill their jobs with a positive perspective.

5. Work-Life Balance: A culture that respects and promotes work-life balance can reduce stress and increase job satisfaction. This includes flexible working hours, remote work options, and encouraging time off. Being tied inside the four corners of the room may not be helpful to anyone, for that matter. It is always best to take some time off in order to recharge, become more creative and productive.

6. Inclusivity and Diversity: A diverse and inclusive culture fosters innovation and creativity. It’s about respecting and valuing the unique perspectives and experiences of all employees. Each employee may experience different situations. Whether they are positive or negative, these should be allowed to be voiced out in order for the company to know if there is a need for change or improvement.

Remember, a great company culture doesn’t happen overnight. It requires continuous effort and commitment from everyone in the organization. But the benefits – increased productivity, employee satisfaction, and retention – are well worth the effort. A company’s focus should not be only on how much revenue it will earn. It is crucial that an exceptional company culture is built in a solid foundation in order for everyone to work hand in hand in accomplishing the company’s goals.
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If you have any questions or would like to share your thoughts on the column, feel free to send an email to jca.bblueprint@gmail.com. Looking forward to connecting with you!

It seems that the kind treatment by the senate on suspended mayor Alice Guo was the beacon for her to evade the delayed issuance of arrest warrant. The tactical move of using her unwell condition to justify her absence from subsequent senate hearings had good precedents from former presidents Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Joseph Ejercito Estrada.

The two former presidents suddenly got ill when ordered jailed, getting luxurious hospital accommodation under the best physicians who failed to treat their ailments. The two former presidents enjoyed their confinement in luxurious accommodation and their unhealed condition that their doctors failed to cure.

The suspended mayor begun declaring that she is suffering purportedly from trauma and hypertension. Such claim could be checked by government physicians of the senate, unfortunately, the suspended mayor could no longer be found for her illness to be verified.

Attempts to locate the suspended mayor had been futile. The raid aimed to nab the suspended mayor resulted in the arrest of her accountant only. It would take more surveillance efforts by the authorities in order to pinpoint the lair where the suspended mayor is hiding. Despite assertions of her lawyers that the suspended mayor is just sick and is not hiding, there are no indications that the authorities would succeed in arresting her.

The public is waiting for developments as government authorities had issued warnings on all ports of exit to ensure that the suspended mayor would not be able to get out of the country. A hold departure order had reportedly been issued in order that the suspended mayor could be nabbed by the authorities once spotted in any port. These measures are made in reaction to the sudden disappearance following the order for her arrest. But if her illegal acts of subverting the country’s late registration system as well as existing election laws would be taken as indicator of her capacity to subvert our laws, it could end up in the power of money dictating the outcome.

In a recent interview, her lawyer disclosed that he advised the suspended mayor to surrender to the authorities as she could not be hiding forever. This statement contradicts the previous where the lawyer asserted that the suspended mayor is not in hiding. If the advice is heeded, the authorities would be relieved of the unnecessary time, efforts and expenses to arrest the suspended mayor. Indeed, it is the most practical thing to do, for the suspended mayor to surrender and face the consequences of her actions.

The need for her to remain influential is to retain her post through reelection. She could only do that if she is able to defend herself, mainly, the cancellation of her certificate of live birth which would result in her true identity as Chinese citizen. That would disqualify her from running for elective office. But if she choses to use the gargantuan money that slipped notice from government authorities, then she could easily as she had done now, just slip.
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