Resourcefulness - A Key to Limitless Possibilities

Although this pandemic has caused many to be disheartened, to lose hope, and many other negativities, there are some people who rose up to the occasion and turned the challenges into opportunities. These people manifested their ability to find ways and overcome the difficulties in the midst of the pandemic and made their resourcefulness a key to the limitless innovations, even limitless possibilities.
 
Have you heard about BMW’s flying car that completed the first-ever inter-city flight on June 28, 2021? How about Zoom, Webex, or Google classroom that made large gatherings possible in midst pandemic? Do Bitcoins and Ethereum sound familiar? These are just some of the international innovations that we can hear nowadays that somehow addresses some of the problems we are currently facing. These shows the resourcefulness of the people who came up with solutions for specific problems on traffic congestion, non-face to face interaction, and investments or cashless payments.
 
Many of our countrymen also showed resourcefulness during this pandemic. Of course as Filipinos, we are known for our adaptability and resourcefulness - we adapted to the new normal and thought of creative ways to overcome difficulties. Some of our countrymen’s innovative ways include the use of the motorcycle delivery services when people’s mobility were restricted due to the pandemic; OFWs who were sent back to our country set up their own businesses using their skills and talents; While others maximized the use of the internet by working online, teaching online, and selling online.
 
One famous manifestation of resourcefulness is the community pantry which was started by Ana Patricia Non. Her simple act of sharing what she has to those who have nothing more to eat through an outdoor “community” pantry paved way for her hungry neighbors to be filled. Her resourcefulness was not for personal gain, convenience, nor accolade, but for the love of her neighbors whom she deeply cared for. This is another level of resourcefulness as it is powered by selflessness. Ms. Non’s resourcefulness reminds us about the story in the Bible where a boy who offered his five loaves and two fishes paved way for the five thousand men to be fed. In the case of Ms. Non, although only her community was benefited by her simple act of kindness, it multiplied and fed the “thousands” when others replicated the same in the different provinces, municipalities, and cities. It even reached far places when this was adopted by other nations.
 
The highest level of resourcefulness is one that would create signs, wonders, and miracles. And that happens when we have our full reliance on God, when we tap on our ultimate source. As defined by the Oxford Languages, resourcefulness is the ability to find quick and clever ways to overcome difficulties. We have many stories in the Holy Scriptures where the people who were confronted with difficult circumstances overcame with victory by relying on God’s Word. Say for example, Moses when the Pharaoh Ramses and his armies were running after them, tapped on the Heavenly sources which resulted to the splitting of the Red Sea and they were able to cross safely. Daniel, when thrown to the den of lions, came out unhurt as he tapped the Creator of all and sent angles to shut the mouths of the lions. David, using only a pebble but tapping the accurate source, precisely hit Goliath on his forehead that stopped the mockery of their enemy. There are more stories in the Holy Scriptures that when we meditate, will give us endless possibilities if we tap to the Right Source.
 
Possibilities have no limit with resourcefulness. To further develop resourcefulness, let us follow the model of the boy with five loaves and two fishes. Know the need, know what you have - your skills and talents, act on the need by first consulting God, listen to what needs to be done, and accurately implement.  This times of pandemic, let us not limit ourselves with physical resources but prepare ourselves for greater things by tapping on our spiritual resources. Where it seems to be no way, connect to Him through prayer, worship, and reading His word, and surely, God will make a way. ​(CGLG, CRFV)