Foresight and hindsight

We appreciate the value created by persons who look into the future and foresee what is to be or come in the future.  A few months back the Kalauman Development Center’s ministry for orphans planned a two-day summer camp activity and last week the tribe held their camp along the beach of Ajong, Sibulan, Negros Oriental.  Their program of character development was implemented with activities that brought out the children’s laughter as they played, prayed, swam and run at the venue.  Listening to their expressions of joy reminded me of the finer things in life that money could not buy that I found time to extend my appreciation to the organizers and sponsors of the affair.

Next followed  Squadron 105 of the Coast Guard Auxiliary who temporarily transformed the house into a dorm.  Nineteen of them spent four days attending the national convention of their organization held in Dumaguete City.  The guests’ stay was organized by Alex Puzon, my cousin, who did all the preparations and attended to the logistics needed for the visit.  The exposure to the squadron saw esprit de corps in action, the effects of structure, levels of authority and command responsibility in words and deeds.  As they departed their expressions of gratitude made me appreciate the foresight of the group which was revealed using hindsight.

It is in finding a balance of looking forward and then back that we get to learn more valuable lessons in how we can become better persons.  Currently, the foresight of the previous political administration is being tested with the impeachment trial of the Chief Justice.  One can again be awed by Heavenly wisdom by reflecting on the question on who is the best person in the land to teach the nation the lessons and value of honesty, accountability and transparency.  In my opinion the current impeached Chief Justice is in place to teach the lessons.   The incoming final verdict will give rise to the opportunity of looking back at that point in time when they were looking forward and the lessons of the plans becoming history will be very valuable indeed.   Our nation has to improve on our implementing plans and learning from the results.  In the same manner we can learn to become a better nation when we are able to choose well our political leaders as we come to know them better.

Let us end with an encouragement to be careful with what we wish for with the following anecdote.   Alex was driving along the coast when suddenly the sky clouded and, in a booming voice, God said, “Because you have tried to be faithful to me always, I will grant you one wish.” Alex pulled over and said, “Build a bridge over Tanon Straight so I can drive over to Cebu anytime I want.”  God said, “Your request is materialistic.  Imagine the bridge will require so huge an amount of steel and cement that will exhaust natural resources.  Of course I can do it, but it is hard for me to justify your desire for worldly things.  Take time and think of something that could help mankind.”  Alex thought about it for a long time.  Finally, he said, “Lord, I wish that I and all men could understand women.  I want to know how a woman feels inside, what she’s thinking when she gives me the silent treatment, why she cries, what she means when she says nothing’s wrong, and how I can make a woman truly happy.” God replied, “You want two lanes or four on that bridge?”*