Looking Back
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Last Saturday, I saw Sir Knietz, my professor in Philosophy of Man during my undergraduate days. He was still the same energetic and fidgety man I knew. He immediately saw me as I entered the audio visual room and greeted me with his usual wide and warm smile. After a few how-are-you's, he told me to visit the campus ministry blog that he set up. He told me that he published one of my submitted reflection paper. With his permission, I copied the article for this blog (with few revisions) including his intro. :)
Two years ago, I had an interesting student in Philosophy of Man. Her name was Minette. She was shy during class discussions but very reflective and deep when I asked for insights in my lessons. I used to keep reflections from my students for future publication in order to inspire others.
In this first Sunday of Lenten Season, I would like to bring out a message to all readers and visitors of our blogsite how to become an effective disciple of Christ or simply to become a man for others on our journey to search for the meaning of our existence.
As students, one important weapon that we should utilize is our pen. I hate students in my class without a pen and notebook. A student who goes to class without a pen is a useless individual. He cannot radiate himself/herself to others. A pen is a voice of a student and a chisel that sculpts or molds him/her to the fullness of life. A pen is no other than an instrument in order to express one's life.
Please read carefully the beautiful reflection of life by Miss Minette:
"When I was in grade school, I love collecting pens. Everyday, I would save a part a part of my allowance so I could buy a pen on weekends. I'm not after those expens
ive ones; I was after the quantity and not the quality. I am more interested in those multicolored and fancy designed pens rather than looking for a pen that has good writing quality. I just loved those Japan made pens with cute designs and diffrent animal shapes at the tip of the cover. I even had almost all the colors of neon and metallic pens including gel pens and the scented ones.
I use them in writing notes and making scribbles on my notebooks. Most of the time, I ended up running out of ink without noticing it. And by the way, upon looking back at my notes, I haven't written anything important. On the other hand, I kept those pens with remarkable patterns because I did not want to use it for I might scratch and destroy the designs. However, when the time came that I wanted to use them, the ink had already dried up because it had been stored for a long time. In both cases, it turned out that the pen did not serve its purpose because it was used carelessly or it wasn't used at all. What more could you do with a useless thing but to discard?
Eventually, I've come to realize that my life is not different from the pens I collected. Time is running so fast and no one knows when my life would last. I don't want to run out of ink only to realize that I haven't done any significant thing with my life. At the same time, I don't want to let it pass and do nothing to make a difference. Though I am happy looking at my life right now, I shouldn't stay this way and be contented with it. I know I can do better to make other people happy as well. I may have all the colors and beautiful designs outside; I may seem to have a perfect life with all the fancy clothes, accessories and money, but if I don't use my life wisely for the sake of others' welfare, I am good for nothing. The quantity of good works should equal the quality because it is our very purpose in life - to do great things on earth; or to make others lives worth living. I don't have my collection of pens anymore at present but every time I have one, I make sure that I would use its ink to write something important that could turn someone and something special."
Introduction by Mr. Knietz Perez
website: http://campusministry-urc.blogspot.com/2009/03/my-penmy-life.html
Two years ago, I had an interesting student in Philosophy of Man. Her name was Minette. She was shy during class discussions but very reflective and deep when I asked for insights in my lessons. I used to keep reflections from my students for future publication in order to inspire others.
In this first Sunday of Lenten Season, I would like to bring out a message to all readers and visitors of our blogsite how to become an effective disciple of Christ or simply to become a man for others on our journey to search for the meaning of our existence.
As students, one important weapon that we should utilize is our pen. I hate students in my class without a pen and notebook. A student who goes to class without a pen is a useless individual. He cannot radiate himself/herself to others. A pen is a voice of a student and a chisel that sculpts or molds him/her to the fullness of life. A pen is no other than an instrument in order to express one's life.
Please read carefully the beautiful reflection of life by Miss Minette:
My pen...My life...
"When I was in grade school, I love collecting pens. Everyday, I would save a part a part of my allowance so I could buy a pen on weekends. I'm not after those expens
ive ones; I was after the quantity and not the quality. I am more interested in those multicolored and fancy designed pens rather than looking for a pen that has good writing quality. I just loved those Japan made pens with cute designs and diffrent animal shapes at the tip of the cover. I even had almost all the colors of neon and metallic pens including gel pens and the scented ones.I use them in writing notes and making scribbles on my notebooks. Most of the time, I ended up running out of ink without noticing it. And by the way, upon looking back at my notes, I haven't written anything important. On the other hand, I kept those pens with remarkable patterns because I did not want to use it for I might scratch and destroy the designs. However, when the time came that I wanted to use them, the ink had already dried up because it had been stored for a long time. In both cases, it turned out that the pen did not serve its purpose because it was used carelessly or it wasn't used at all. What more could you do with a useless thing but to discard?
Eventually, I've come to realize that my life is not different from the pens I collected. Time is running so fast and no one knows when my life would last. I don't want to run out of ink only to realize that I haven't done any significant thing with my life. At the same time, I don't want to let it pass and do nothing to make a difference. Though I am happy looking at my life right now, I shouldn't stay this way and be contented with it. I know I can do better to make other people happy as well. I may have all the colors and beautiful designs outside; I may seem to have a perfect life with all the fancy clothes, accessories and money, but if I don't use my life wisely for the sake of others' welfare, I am good for nothing. The quantity of good works should equal the quality because it is our very purpose in life - to do great things on earth; or to make others lives worth living. I don't have my collection of pens anymore at present but every time I have one, I make sure that I would use its ink to write something important that could turn someone and something special."
Introduction by Mr. Knietz Perez
website: http://campusministry-urc.blogspot.com/2009/03/my-penmy-life.html