Summum Bonum

What is the supreme good or the thing of greatest importance to you - your summum bonum?

We need to figure out our own summum bonum in life. Until and unless we do that, life is meaningless and utterly devoid of direction. Your summum bonum will make your life meaningful and purpose driven. It will make your life worth living!

However, before you can labor for that something important for you; it is a condition precedent that you must identify that something first.

Say for instance, what is important for you, money or love? Love of what? Country! Family! Friends!

So, if your goal is to amass wealth, then by all means go where pastures are greener. Most Filipinos believe that going abroad or out of the country to live and work is a lot better than living and working in their native land. Sad but true. If money is your summum bonum then you have to leave. Leave your country which is in dire need of your services; leave your loved ones who need your presence more than your presents. Leave everything behind in your pursuit of wealth. If money is your be all and end all, then you really must leave.

On the contrary, if your goal is to sanctify the dust which you are made of through service and love, then stay where you are and do what little you can to brighten your corner of the universe by serving and loving and leaving this world a bit better because you have lived in it.

Speaking of brightening one's corner of the universe, one is reminded of the dilemma of whether or not to stay or leave. That would bring us back to square one, which is important, money or love? Those who would opt to stay and love the homeland by serving the people in it apparently choose the latter. Yes, it may surprise many but there are those who choose not to abandon the country in times of crisis, real or imagined. They are the people who have much to give. Bless them!

Speaking of crisis, the root of all crisis-financial and otherwise- is the eternal battle between good and evil and money is said to be the root of all evils. The good that is innate in each and every man temper the evil brought about by the might of money. The clash between the good and the evil is one continuing saga fueled by greed of money.

Needless to say, in the perennial clash between good and evil, each of us must take sides. We must decide bearing in mind that God stands as the judge at the end of all our journeys, just right after we "cross the bar," to borrow the words of Alfred Tennyson.

So, what is your summum bonum?