Being at the right place at the right time is one of the best things that can happen to anyone; your accomplishment becomes effortless as you become the unwitting beneficiary of circumstances. Famous former baseball manager of the New York Yankees, Mr. Yogi Berra, said, “You don’t have to swing hard to hit a home run. If you got the timing, it’ll go.” But these moments come few and far in between; more often than not, we must be patient and wait for the right time to act. American Archbishop Fulton John Sheen said, “Patience is not an absence of action; rather it is “timing.” It waits on the right time to act, for the right principles, and in the right way.”
One of my former students in Ateneo Law School, Vida Verzosa, shared her experience about patience and timing. In her Facebook post, she openly admitted that she failed many exams, including her first Bar exams, but somehow recently topped the most difficult licensure exams of all—the Foreign Service Officer exams administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs. Vida, a 35-year-old lawyer working for the International Justice Mission, is a product of the University of the Philippines Los Baños and the Ateneo de Manila Law School. After going through so many difficulties in life, I know she will be an excellent ambassador someday. Her story is somewhat reflective of what the Bible says in Galatians 6:9, “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” Vida never did. And she was rewarded in due time.
Recently married in a celebrity-filled wedding in Paris, Hayden Kho and Vicki Belo managed to withstand the storms in their May-December relationship, most notable of which were the sex tapes of Hayden with other women. Of course, it wasn’t easy; both made innumerable sacrifices and waited for the right time to reconnect, rebuild and commit. Inspirational author Shannon Alder said, “God will bring the right person into your life at the right time. Always believe that! If they are not there, God isn’t finished yet!” Vicki and Hayden believed in the right timing. And they were rewarded in due time.
In Ecclesiastes 3:1, the Bible tells us, “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens.” The rest of Ecclesiastes 3 illustrates how life is comprised of various seasons. The proper activity at the right time is a part of His grand plan for all of us, hitting home runs included.
I recently went to a Dive Resort Travel Expo and saw some marvelous photographs taken underwater by experienced divers. Some of the participants in this underwater photo-shoot competition said taking amazing pictures requires more than having the best equipment and the right angle. It takes being in the right place at the right time, especially for macro underwater pictures. And timing is a factor of patience. Capturing picture-perfect behavioral photos of marine animals, such as the yawning of frogfish, the mating of nudibranch or the nesting of dwarf pygmy gobies, become effortless if the timing is perfect, a home run in underwater photography so to speak. I only received my scuba-diving certification late last year. Whenever I hit the water, I initially see one seemingly disorganized artwork of marine life underwater. But, given the right dive site, the proper equipment and providential timing, I see how magnificent it can be.
Our lives will always be a masterpiece, no matter how messy it might seem. Death in the family or separation from loved ones will always give us sorrowful moments as much as birth, career advancements and recognition will give us joyful moments. Vida Verzosa and Vicky Belo had their respective share of highs and lows. In due time, they both hit a “home run”; the former in her career, the latter in her love life. I think my friend FM will hit that home run soon, in both. We have to feel confident that events will happen at the most appropriate time. In terms of On Time Performance, the Lord’s schedule, although unpublished, will certainly arrive at the right time. While patiently waiting, we can only hope and pray. In the end, we are assured, in Ecclesiastes 3:11, that “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” We will hit our respective home runs, never a day late nor a minute too early.
For questions and comments, please e-mail me at sbmison@gmail.com.