Looking back, I feel fulfilled to have weathered many difficulties when I tried to institute reforms in a graft-ridden government agency. However, a few days ago, detached from the bureau, I served for 1,699 days, I received a letter from the Ombudsman asking me to explain why I failed to specifically list down my licensed firearms in my Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN).
According to the complaint, such an omission supposedly constituted as a criminal offense and considered falsification. Knowing that I made a few enemies at the Bureau of Immigration (BI), I can safely surmise that such a complaint was obviously the handiwork of my loving “enemies.”
In exchange for four and a half years in the BI, I had garnered a tarnished reputation through administrative cases and character assassinations in the media. For that reward, I thanked Quirante, Abrazaldo, Bello, Versoza and Hussin, among others. All of them were responsible for filing cases against me as they objected to being reassigned to less powerful or influential positions.
In his book, A Good Lawyer, Bobby Quitain said that our purpose must be tested with fire, which comes in many forms. Among these forms are pressure, practicality, pride and pain. But despite and perhaps because of these fires (administrative cases), I have to stand my ground knowing that I was doing things for a higher purpose. I have been tempted to take the easier route of “settling” these administrative cases for a fee. I refused. And so I suffered, albeit willingly and gladly.
In his book, Secrets of the Vine, best-selling author Bruce Wilkinson said that pain is his way of either disciplining you or pruning you. Wilkinson’s first secret of the vine is that, “if your life consistently bears no fruit, God will intervene to discipline you.” His second secret is that “if your life bears some fruit, God will intervene to prune you.” When we are at the disciplining stage, Wilkinson said we should feel guilty but still repent with the hope that the trials will stop as soon as we stop doing our evil ways. When we are at the pruning stage, Wilkinson said that we should feel relieved and trust God all the more, realizing that these difficulties will cease when God is finished with us in the pruning process. In the words of Wilkinson, “pruning is how God answers your prayers that your life will please Him more and have a greater impact for eternity.”
So whenever we face trials, especially coming from our enemies, let’s discard any ideas of revenge. In the Bible, Romans 12: 19-20 tells us, “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.” On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” In short, we should even be unfailingly kind to them. Furthermore, in Luke 6:27-28, the Bible tells us, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.”
When I was in the bureau, praying for my enemies was unheard of. The instinct was to be vindictive. But I think we can still manage to be kind, especially to our enemies as soon as we gain spiritual maturity, an eternal perspective and exert a bit of conscious effort to just be decent human beings. I take this opportunity to thank Quirante, Abrazaldo, Bello, Versoza, Hussin and others who made my service in the government difficult yet fulfilling, frustrating yet satisfying.
For those who are facing all kinds of difficulties, those who are unjustly persecuted and those whose enemies appear to overpower them, be assured of what Psalm 126:5 tells us, “Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.” Let’s be kind and give thanks to our enemies for they will make us joyful—all in a matter of time.
For questions and comments, please e-mail me at sbmison@gmail.com.