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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