Humility one of the greatest, and extremely difficult virtue among us, practicing Christians.
My greatest humbling moment was living in the United States of America.
I never liked academics but I did well with subjects like Logic, Geometry, and Ethics. I loved it. I really applied it, while living in North America - I applied it as a lesson of a lifetime, not as academics but a way of life in the land of plenty and limitless ambitions.
Logic - I learned to surrender to things...many were not logical.
Geometrically, I grew as a person, learning humility which defied my logic.
Ethics - maintained a dignified, simple and quite existence in a crass and materialistic world of fame, ego, and wealth. My greatest lesson in HUMILITY.

Please visit my blog. Trying to capture my life experiences by blogging it.

http://www.rodolfopanizalesconsulting.blogspot.com/

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CNS Story: LABOR DAY Aug-7-2013 (750 words) xxxn Bishop says joblessness, exploitation denying millions 'honor, respect' By Mark Pattison Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Millions of workers are being denied the honor and respect they deserve because of a lack of jobs, underemployment, low wages and exploitation, according to the bishop who heads the U.S. bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development. "Earlier this year, Pope Francis pointed out, 'Work is fundamental to the dignity of a person. ... It gives one the ability to maintain oneself, one's family, to contribute to the growth of one's own nation,'" said Bishop Stephen E. Blaire of Stockton, Calif., in the U.S. bishops' annual Labor Day statement. "Unfortunately, millions of workers today are denied this honor and respect as a result of unemployment, underemployment, unjust wages, wage theft, abuse and exploitation," Bishop Blaire said. The 1,200-word statement, dated Labor Day, Sept. 2, was available Aug. 6 on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops website, www.usccb.org. "The economy is not creating an adequate number of jobs that allow workers to provide for themselves and their families," Bishop Blaire said. "More than 4 million people have been jobless for over six months, and that does not include the millions more who have simply lost hope. For every available job, there are often five unemployed and underemployed people actively vying for it. This jobs gap pushes wages down. Half of the jobs in this country pay less than $27,000 per year. More than 46 million people live in poverty, including 16 million children." In his message, Bishop Blaire quoted from "Gaudium et Spes" (Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World), one of the more influential documents of the Second Vatican Council: "While an immense number of people still lack the absolute necessities of life, some, even in less advanced areas, live in luxury or squander wealth." "How can it be said that persons honor one another when such 'extravagance and wretchedness exist side by side'?" he asked. Those words, Bishop Blaire noted, "seem to be just as true today." Bishop Blaire also quoted from Pope Benedict XVI's 2009 encyclical "Caritas in Veritate," ("Charity in Truth"), which also dealt in part with the specter of inequality. "The dignity of the individual and the demands of justice require, particularly today, that economic choices do not cause disparities in wealth to increase in an excessive and morally unacceptable manner," Pope Benedict said, "and that we continue to prioritize the goal of access to steady employment for everyone." Bishop Blaire spoke of the importance of unions in his statement. "Since the end of the Civil War, unions have been an important part of our economy because they provide protections for workers and more importantly a way for workers to participate in company decisions that affect them. Catholic teaching has consistently affirmed the right of workers to choose to form a union. The rise in income inequality has mirrored a decline in union membership," he said. "Unions, like all human institutions, are imperfect, and they must continue to reform themselves so they stay focused on the important issues of living wages and appropriate benefits, raising the minimum wage, stopping wage theft, standing up for safe and healthy working conditions, and other issues that promote the common good." The bishop also spoke about how workers' issues are tied to other issues. "High unemployment and underemployment are connected to the rise in income inequality," he said. Such inequality leads to an erosion of social cohesion, he said, and puts democracy at risk. "The pain of the poor and those becoming poor in the rising economic inequality of our society is mounting," Bishop Blaire added. At its best, private enterprise creates "decent jobs," contributes to the common good and puts people ahead of profits, he said. "Whenever possible we should support businesses and enterprises that protect human life and dignity, pay just wages and protect workers' rights," Bishop Blaire added. "We should support immigration policies that bring immigrant workers out of the shadows to a legal status and offer them a just and fair path to citizenship, so that their human rights are protected and the wages for all workers rise." At the end of the Mass, the congregation is sent forth to "go and announce the Gospel of the Lord," he noted, and everyone departs with "a sense of mission to show one another honor by what we do and say." "On this Labor Day, our mission takes us to the millions of people who continue to suffer the effects of the current economy," he said. END

We, the PEOPLE not I or ME, the people

We are in deeper trouble than you think, if you allow the "I" and "ME" to control the "We". Not just the ego "I" is the fountainhead of success, but the "WE"go, is the ultimate source of stability in any success. (Truth and Justice are foundations for permanence in achievements.)
A secured position in life, when the "WE"go is the foundation, besides truth and justice. Our world today is more complex and difficult because we allow the "I" and "ME" to take over, often "WE" take the less of all roles, doing nothing. 

We cannot succeed if the "I" and "Me" takes over. The creator and supreme architect of our universe designed the "WE" not the "I" to benefit from creations and nature. We cannot just sit and do nothing. We need to make that move today towards changing. Not the "I" and "ME" in us, but the "WE" should be the end.

Peace. Shalom. Assalamo Alaykum

WORRYING, being physical...

We worry. Why ? Because we still eat, sleep, and other basic needs for our physical manifestations and sustenance, ie. our material being. Many of us, if not all lived through our lives worrying.

Experts and gurus of the human mind proposed and postulated techniques to control if not overcome worrying. Pharmaceutical companies invented medications/antidote for people who worry too much. They made a lot of money for anti-stress medications and other drugs to control our "fears". Is there really a secret to stop if not minimize worrying ? Your idea is good as mine.

I proposed based on my worrying experiences the following techniques:

1. Stop, and breath. Think about God and God's people. 
2. Check statistics. How many people have the same predicaments, like yours ?
3. Insufficient data ? Check with friends, real and honest friends. Friends that will tell you the speck from their eyes and faces, just like they will tell you, your own dirt in front of your door steps.
4. God never planned anyone to suffer or to worry. God never planned your problems. Maybe it is you or others, that caused the problem.
5. Do not give up. You only fail when you give up.
6. Do not believe in everything you hear or read.
Check and verify. Playing safe ? Wait. Be patient, in God's timing, you will get the solution to your problems.

Just wondering why ?

I spent almost 30 years in the human services field. I did not regret my decision to work with people who needed my talents and services.
I love and still passionate about helping people who needs helping. Specially, the materially poor people, many exploited women and children, the many people outside of the developed countries like the USA and Western Europe. Their are more poor people than rich. Only a small percentage control the world. Many of you have read about it. For example, in the USA, the socio-economic disparity between the CEO of for profit or even many non-profit organizations. Many makes at least $200,000.00 (nonprofit) +perks, while their direct workers struggles with $9.00 to $13.00 per hour. What is wrong with that ? Everything.
How can you in conscience work with a leader who take advantage of you ? Legal but highly IMMORAL. Same with for profit corporations. Many are working and exposed to all hazards of life while  their CEO's enjoys all the perks + a whooping salaries of more than a million for the fortune 1000 companies, and multi-millions for the fortune 500 companies. How can you enjoy a vacation in the Alps or luxury islands while billions of people are dying because of deprivations due to poverty. How can you enjoy your money while children dies of malnutrition ?

Research and data supports this article.

Where is justice ? Where is social justice ?

CHANGE.

The only permanent thing is change, as we are told. We can change indeed from our amoral existence to moral existence. We do not need to resort to alcohol or any other substance that suspend our amoral existence. We can start with analyzing ourselves. Am I going in the right direction ? Many missed the question, where am I going at an early age. Some asked this question while in high school or during puberty, some were busy partying or having fun...just like how the ancient Roman and Greeks elites partied. We still have it today. Many of you have heard hedonism ? You see this everyday in the United States of America. A billionaire buying a 90 million dollars apartment in 157 New York City to Hollywood stars changing partners as often they changed their wardrobes. Are you like them ? In a microcosm ? Feeling trapped by the excesses  of the material world ? Remember change is the only permanent thing.
Change starts with you and I. Not just me or you. You and I change and we become a moral force to reckon if not emulate. By our moral existence, we invite the curiosity of others because leading a moral life is part of being HAPPY all the time.