The Most Excellent Way

by: Atty. Carolina Lim-Gamban

Nowadays, it is difficult to do many things because of the pandemic. It has taken a toll on our nation and sometimes we are restricted to give our best – especially when one is afflicted by the ‘unseen enemy’. However, for a person who has made excellence a lifestyle, it seems nothing can stop them from achieving the goals.

Some of us had undergone the torment of either the quarantine, isolation, or termination from work this pandemic, but we have seen how some with perseverance and dedication, still managed to move forward, thrive, and serve excellently despite the circumstance. Some have found a way to utilize technology to continue and finish their tasks. Some innovated and used the wind and waves on their favor to reach the goals. While some took advantage of the crises and created an opportunity for them and others to flourish. These are just some of the ways excellence are manifested even in the midst of what is happening today.

How do we possess excellence even in the midst of this pandemic? Looking at the Scriptures, we can find some words of wisdom that can help us be excellent. It has been written that there are two greatest commandments: One is to love God with all our hearts, souls, and minds; and the second is to love our neighbor as our selves. First, when we love God, we desire to glorify Him in all that we do. So, every work of our hands, thoughts in our minds, words that we speak, are dedicated to please God. Whatever we do, we work at it heartily, as if we are working for God. Surely, as we dedicate everything we do to God, we want it to be excellent, if not perfect. Second, when we love our neighbor as ourselves, we also give the same, if not exceeding, love to them, care for them, compassion for them, and passion to serve them. We give due courtesy and respect, and we empathize with them. We do the ‘extra miles’ for them – extra time, extra effort, and all done with genuine care and concern that somehow doing these will make their situation better, satisfy their needs, or alleviate their condition. There is no exchange to that feeling and fulfillment when clients or stakeholders are very much satisfied with the services we deliver, and their sincere “thank you” motivates us to continue giving them quality service. Lastly, if we love ourselves, we do our best to improve our skills, knowledge, and attitude. We consciously put effort to improve or make right our bad habits, bad practices, and bad characteristics. We also become good stewards of our health, our family, our relationships, and even our environment. Doing with love is the secret ingredient to do excellent things. It is the most excellent way.
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Everything that we do ordinarily when done with love becomes excellent and extraordinary. Every extraordinary thing, when done without love means nothing. As the Scripture says, “If I have the gift of prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”