Just recently, I had the opportunity to meet a "local celebrity", and though the meeting was in the context of business, it eventually took a turn for deeper things.
As far as whistle-blowers in the Philippine context goes, Jun Lozada would probably by THE Whistle Blower, throwing caution to the wind (putting his neck on the line too by admitting his own corruption), and shedding light to a deal that the Philippine government had that would have cost the Filipino people millions in US dollars.
We met in a small room in La Salle Greenhills where he was, and still is, being protected by the brothers and the nuns from "evil", both known and unknown. Its his home, his family has been relocated there too, and at the same time, his "prison". He can only venture out of the La Salle compound with permission, and this with armed guards at all times. After all the bruhaha over the things he revealed, his life has never been the same.
After the business side of our visit was done (nothing to do with his deal with the government, mind you, but something to do with safety and the environment), the conversation took on a different turn. He shared to us that late last year, an important government official then visited him at his humble abode. The long and short of the visit was that he was being offered 700 million pesos (around US$15 million ), in whatever portfolio he preferred, and visas for his entire family for whatever country he wished to reside in. The catch was that he was going to recant everything he said before the Senate. The documents were prepared, he only needed to sign. It was a friend who acted as the emissary, and told him, "You should take this offer, an offer like this comes only once in your life, and if you do, you'll be made for life."
He said no.
My goodness. I have been hearing two sides about this man, and I never really knew what to believe. One thing is for sure, after meeting him, I sensed an inner strength that I have never had the opportunity to witness in anyone. He shared that a preacher visited him and asked him, "Jun, how do you pray?" to which he answered, "I pray that God would choose me to do His work as His servant." To which the preacher replied, "Can you stop praying that way? Because it is pretty obvious that God has already chosen you. What you need to pray for is the strength to stand up for the truth..."
How strange that prior to this meeting, my current musings were on detachment (as seen by my previous blog entries), and here I meet a person who gives new meaning to the word "detachment". After that meeting, I could not help dwelling on the conversation, and the spirit of the man I just met. It made me look at my own values and wonder, if that had been me, would I have been able to say "no" to P700 million? I have debts to pay, children to feed and put to school, and perhaps, more importantly, dreams to fulfill. Would I have been able to say no? And maybe, I'll never know the answer. I'd like to say that, sure, that is tainted money, I WON'T TAKE IT. But won't I...really...
It is not money that is seductive, but the dreams that you weave with it. If you rationalize it with family, needs, security, many things, even wrong things, begin to "make sense". It would "make sense" to be corrupt, steal, destroy someone's reputation if you rationalize it with your own needs, or, your family's needs.
And, at the risk of sounding preachy, maybe that is what attracted many people to Jesus. It was the ability to be so detached, not just to money, but to having a good reputation, to being comfortable, and for meeting his own needs. "Forgive them for they know not what they do", this said in the middle of being brutally tortured. Seems so easy to say, but is it, really?
And so, the list goes on to great people in this world who have made a difference, Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Dalai Lama, and closer to home would be a missionary I know named Dwight. If there is one thing in common that they have, it is detachment.
I can only pray to have that strength, teach it to my children, and let my life serve as an example. Bread and shoes. That is my current "mantra". If I have bread and on the table, and shoes on my feet, then, that is enough. Amen.
P.S. I have been inquiring of myself as to what truly makes me happy. Currently on the list is: spending time with family, creating things with my hands, looking good, chocolate, milk tea, and after this, I've added one more - meeting great people.
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