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Thursday, June 18, 2020

CROSSING THE FRONTIERS OF MIDDLE AGE



by: Norberto Betita



While in elementary, his reading of the children’s detective novel series The Hardy Boys, revealed his earlier deep interest in education. I thought that such detective stories will lead him to the military. However, during high school his interest changed to art and he ended up being interested in fine arts. During one of our father-son conversation, I discouraged him from taking fine arts as it would confine his life inside a painting shop and instead suggested that he takes architecture. Yet I leave it up for him to decide. He eventually qualified for a Bachelor of Science in Architecture course at the University of the Philippines-Diliman.

However, more than his many talents, what I am seriously following about since his youthful years was his character. I believe that our character is the window of the goodly virtues and attributes that are hidden beneath the soul. And it is more important than all other attainments. In high school he was admired by his teachers for not being tempted in joining the common vices of students---smoking and drinking liquor. He had never broken curfew rules in the family. When he joined UP Diliman and stayed in the dormitory, he was recruited to join a fraternity, but his affluent classmate and dorm mate told the recruiters, “He is too good to be a part of us.” During one of their high school reunion while yet in college, I felt disconcerted and unsettled, when for the first time, although we allowed him to be out beyond family curfew, he went beyond the limits. Knowing most of his classmates, I was kind of exasperated and suspecting that he must have finally gave in and submit to the lure of his peers. Sleep did not visit my weary eyes until he was finally home at past 3:00 o’clock in the morning, sober and firm in his conviction to stand by his standards.



Such earlier character formations continued to flourish as he finally served a full time mission in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Immediately following his missionary service interview, our Mission President told me that “His Mission President in the field will be very lucky to have him.” After his mission he relinquished his UP Scholarship in favor of her sisters. He married at an early age and deferred college. He was called and volunteered to serve as Branch President. He finished college 13 years after high school graduation. But during that stretch of time, he had never been without employment no matter how meager the income while at the same time finishing his college degree in an exemplary arrangement with his very supportive wife.

His diligence and perseverance had already provided for him computer programming knowledge even before he took his information technology course. He graduated and was immediately employed in a mining company. The first challenge to his character was when his boss told him in a dinner that if he will not drink beer, he will be fired. He said, there is no need to fire him. He will submit a resignation letter immediately the following day. Good that his boss took it only as a joke.



His honesty and integrity gained for him the respect of people around him. He should have reached the heights of his career, when suddenly the company temporarily closed and his supervisory position terminated. There had been several offers for him to be assigned in Manila, twice his salary, but he never dared. He instead opted to apply for the humble position of a clerk in a government agency. He consigned his fate to God after he was again called to a higher voluntary calling to serve and preside over seven units of the church, as District President. His talents and leadership is needed by no less than his Heavenly Father.

He will now be crossing the frontiers of middle age carrying in his temporal backpack his humble employment and his voluntary service in God’s Kingdom. Middle age is the time when temporal successes are supposed to be at hand. It is generally the time when one should rise above the boundaries of despondency and deprivation. It would be the best time when one should have the luxury of having to do things as he pleases and enjoy a fortune of having more than enough reserve in the family treasury. It is likewise the time when the spotlight of life is focused on one’s attainments. Yet he chose to avoid the earlier enticements for the vanities of the world and rather be satisfied, for the moment, with something enough and to spare. To him middle age is the best time to increase his knowledge of more important priorities where happiness and joy for himself and his family are made attainable. Still he believes with greater faith the admonition of the Lord: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33). “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36).

 

The middle age range from 40 to 60 years old is still long. Should God would release him from his present voluntary calling, he still can catch up with time with unflagging determination to bring added success in his temporal life. What is important as of now is the assurance that his family is under divine protection and spiritual safety. He knows and understands that we are now in the end times or the days of tribulations. This is now the seventh thousand year of the earth’s temporal history---the seventh seal---as spoken by John the beloved (see Revelation 8:1). We are now in “perilous times” (see 2 Timothy 3:1-7); when “nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in diverse places.” (see Matthew 24:3-7). This “war of the great day of God the Almighty” as revealed to apostle John or “the day of the Lord (Jehovah)” as spoken by prophet Isaiah or “the day of God” as recorded by the apostle Peter, (see Revelation 16:14, 16; Isaiah 13:9; 2 Peter 3:12), will surely come as prophecies continue to be fulfilled.



During his last virtual training with the priesthood he reminded us of the impending destruction that is to come, and quoted from Doctrine and Covenants Section 88:86-91. “Abide ye in the liberty wherewith ye are made free; entangle not yourselves in sin, but let your hands be clean, until the Lord comes.

“For not many days hence and the earth shall tremble and reel to and fro as a drunken man; and the sun shall hide his face, and shall refuse to give light; and the moon shall be bathed in blood; and the stars shall become exceedingly angry, and shall cast themselves down as a fig that falleth from off a fig tree.

“And after your testimony cometh wrath and indignation upon the people.

“For after your testimony cometh the testimony of earthquakes, that shall cause groanings in the midst of her, and men shall fall upon the ground and shall not be able to stand.

“And also cometh the testimony of the voice of thunderings, and the voice of lightnings, and the voice of tempests, and the voice of the waves of the sea heaving themselves beyond their bounds.

“And all things shall be in commotion; and surely, men’s hearts shall fail them; for fear shall come upon all people.”

In the light of the perilous prophesied events, he reminded the priesthood holders of one more important priority:

“Behold, now it is called today until the coming of the Son of Man, and verily it is a day of sacrifice, and a day for the tithing of my people; for he that is tithed shall not be burned at his coming.

“For after today cometh the burning—this is speaking after the manner of the Lord—for verily I say, tomorrow all the proud and they that do wickedly shall be as stubble; and I will burn them up, for I am the Lord of Hosts; and I will not spare any that remain in Babylon.

“Wherefore, if ye believe me, ye will labor while it is called today.” (D & C 64:23-25).



To our only son---Robert Sherwin---as you are now blessed to cross the frontiers of middle age, we hope you will carry with you in memory and treasure in your mind these marvelous words of Max Ehrmann in his “Desiderata”. As I pondered the words and phrases, they point to the kind of person you are. It is about you. We are sure that this will inspire you as you slowly walk the most compelling and challenging lane of middle age.

“Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

“Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

“Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

“Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

“Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

“Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.

“Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

“Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

“Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

“And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.” (Original text by Max Ehrmann, 1927).



We add our best wishes on this your 40th birthday celebration that you will continue to find new doors of opportunities for spiritual growth and temporal development during the 20-year range of time that you are to cross towards old age. May Heavenly Father recompense, as He always does, all your sacrifices in service to Him and His spirit children. May you continue to honor the covenants of the priesthood and be grateful of the trust and confidence which the Lord has given you to act in His name. May your family be foremost and preeminent in all your plans and aspirations in life. We trust that Heavenly Father is mindful of you and your family and He will not forsake you. His hands are extended still. We know you have already attained the heights of your personal discipline and we hope and pray that you will continue to do so as you perform your high and holy calling in the church and as you establish love and friendship and camaraderie with other people in your associations. We love you very, very, very much! Papa, Mama and family

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