The Power of Choice

If there is one thing I enjoyed in attending Feast days, (aside from the mass of course) it would be the talk of Bo Sanchez . His witty remarks and words are truly inspiring. He is a kind of preacher that you will really listen to because he’s not didactic and you can sense his genuineness when he talked. . I guess his approach in discussing the word of the Lord is different and sincere. Somehow his words affect me, transform me and make me closer to God. And for that, I really admire him.

For years, I used to attend the LOJ feast day which occurred every first Sunday of the month at AFP Theater. My aunt, who is a member, encouraged me and my family to attend. But after two years, I stop attending for I-don’t-know-reasons. Then last Easter Sunday, while channel surfing, I pressed channel 5 (by accident) where I saw the face of Bo again. I didn’t know that his feast day talks were telecast. He was discussing (I think) how a person can be successful. I didn’t catch the beginning so I only heard a few things.

In his talk, he said, “The difference between successful and unsuccessful people is that they (successful people) exercise the power of choice.” Successful people exercise their right to choose while unsuccessful ones lean on chance. Bo said that man’s inability to decide hampers him/her from getting lots of blessings or good things. What happens is there are times they are blessed and other times cursed… He quoted a writer, “It’s choice not chance that determines your destiny.” In short, we have the power to change our lives.” If there is something we want to change, then we can do something about it. If we want to be happy, then we should decide to be happy. Bo even cited how people tend to cry, “sana maging masaya na ako” (well, I’m guilty of this too) not knowing that they have the power to make that happen. One’s happiness doesn’t depend on chance, it happens when one chooses it despite shortcomings.

Though, I’ve heard these things before, it seems that when Bo said it, it’s something new and fresh to the ears. Or maybe I just really needed to hear these words…

When Bo mentioned ‘low self-worth’ it made me realized that sometimes I tend to see things like ‘I deserve this!’ because mababa tingin ko sa sarili ko. Sad but true…

After listening to this: I feel that by becoming reactive and by letting chance do all things, I didn’t arrive at what I want to arrive at. If I want to be somebody, If I want to go somewhere, I’d better exercise my right to choose…

~photo courtesy of Almiray...