LOSING SIGHT, BEING RIGHT

July 2003 Editorial of The General-The LOM's Official Publication

A famous poet once observed that we are all manufacturers in a way – making good, making trouble or making excuses. This is quite true as we take a look at the usual state of affairs of every Jaycee chapter, or of the Philippine Jaycees itself.

We see projects bungled because either of poor planning, or lack of it. We see good relationships turning sour. We see friendships disintegrating in the face of controversies and clashing interests. We see good organizations or chapters turning into shambles after a “healthy” and well-contested election. We see our members and officers seeming to lose sight of the very purpose and intent of the Jaycee Movement, we see our very leaders losing their idealism and forgetting their values in the face of the complexities of realities and the challenges of the times. The irony here is that…

All these circumstances have a fundamental and common denominator-Good Intentions. All of these started with the desire to make a good difference. All of these started with the noble purpose of “establishing a permanent world peace”.

If only we give importance to experience and the lessons it will give us; if only we try to see things in another man’s view point, not just our own; if only we can listen more instead of being too engrossed with sharing our good ideas and opinions to others; if only we can share a single minute of our busy time for a worthwhile endeavor or project; if only we put our personal interest as always the last and the least consideration; if only we can see project not as an object to attain and accomplish but rather, as people moving towards a goal; if only we step back from the drudgery of the rat race and try to reflect on our true missions as men and Jaycees; if only we can recreate the Jaycee vision that has lighted the path of our former great leaders; if only we practice a little more introspection and decide on changing ourselves first before taking on that enormous task of changing the world; if only we care more for others…

Only then we can say, we truly are Jaycees.