OnwardDominicans

Rest if you must, but do not wait

'Itinuturing niyang kapatid ang paghihirap' stated by Rev Fr. Roman E. Caleon pertaining to St. Francis of Assisi. It implies that hardships are constantly encountered; hence it is an inevitable cause of our work.

Instead of seeing this as acceptance of forfeiting, we should see it as a redirection into growth and a new path for a journey. Let us be reminded of the following:

First, 'no complaining':
Instead of whining about things that are out of control, gratitude is to be exemplified, focusing on what we have and being content with it.

Second, ‘no conditions’:
Loving one another unconditionally enables every individual to value each other’s uniqueness, promoting acceptance in every community. This is the way our God loves us, even when we are not lovable, when we are not acceptable, and when we are not deserving of His love. He loves us without any conditions or anything in return.

and last, ‘no comparisons’:
Embracing our individual paths develops a positive mindset and brings out the best version of ourselves. We have to appreciate what we have and what we do not have because comparing follows envy.

Struggle is not a sign of failure— Rather it is a meaningful way of learning and acknowledgement that success does not come without obstacles; It should not be seen as failure but a guide through the challenges we face in every step. Asking for help is not giving up, it's refusing to give up.

'Rest if you must, but do not quit,'
Rest isn't meant to feel the honor of receiving a reward on stage, nor is it to feel a sense of shameful guilt. Rest is freedom, given to us, recharging us from moments of exhaustion. With every hardship faced, let us be reminded that rest should always come first. Our Lord Himself rested on the 7th day of creating the world we live in, so we could rest whenever we are tired, for our physical being is vulnerable.

Waiting, however, is a form of idleness, where rest is taken advantage of. It is easy to rest, but returning is not. A pause that can easily turn into an indefinite time of delay when in doubt. Any progress we make defines our capability of renewed energy that reminds us that our goals are still ongoing.
Rest if you must, but to reflect is to consider past experiences that we made and come back with a stronger commitment.

photos courtesy of the OD FRC Media Team