Human
person in nature desires for happiness. Such nature of human person can be
shown through his action to acquire his desire. There are some misconceptions
of desiring happiness that some men really have accepted for. For instance, first,
they see happiness as possession of material things such as money, prestigious
car, branded clothes and others. Secondly, happiness comes from fame that is to
become popular by being a leader, having a great profession, and others. In
this paper, I would discuss some misconceptions of happiness which are also the
emerging problems in our place. To make it concrete, let me share with you my
experience at my hometown Tagbilaran City. This is about the relationship
between employer and employee.
It
was summer on 2013 when we had a conversation with my employee cousin named
Clifford about his work. Clifford is a technician and he is in a relationship.
After our talk, the following are the things I have known from him. Clifford
worked at one of the companies in our place. This company is a place where there
are many machine games that can be operated by the Token worth 5 peso. The boundary
of his work was to entertain the costumer if there are problems of the machine,
to repair the damage of the machine and to get the Token when the machine
already full of Tokens and gave it to their cashier. He had also over time in repairing
the machine when it got damaged. But still he worked as a contractual with very
low salary that is insufficient with his needs and lifestyle. He also
experienced unhealthy relationship with his manager and other co- workers above
his status that is he was told to clean the area and others which are beyond of
his work. Thus, when he was a year on
his work, he had other way to earn more money that is to get Tokens from the
machines and sold them to his friends worth 3 peso instead of 5 peso. Although
it is immoral. In that way, he can meet his needs and demands in his life. Currently,
he works in the other company still contractual. Although his work is
contractual still he engages with this work in order to survive and meet his
needs and wants in life.
After
he shared his experiences with me, these are the emerging problems I observed.
Consumerism, Dehumanization, Unhealthy relationship with the employer and
employee and Absence of service. Consumerism is a belief that a human person
works as an extension of profit. In relation to what is stated above, Clifford
was a victim of consumerism since he works as a contractual with less salary.
He worked so that his employer earned profit. Moreover, if an employee is a
contractual he has less or no privileged at all like SSS, GSIS, and others
compared to regular. Thus, since Clifford were not given the privileges stated above, the
employer has a big profit. Dehumanization is a belief that the dignity of man
is being decreased due to abuse experiences like over work with less salary,
work like a machine, and others. Still my cousin qualified on this, since he
worked beyond his limit that is to clean the area like a janitor, overtime in
repairing the damage of the machine and others. Unhealthy relationship with the
employer and employee exists since in relation to the employee, Clifford
experience those things as a result, he got Tokens from the machine or it was
like stealing from the pocket of their employee. With regard to the employee,
he/she does not give the sufficient needs of his employee since he/she focuses
in his own profit. For this reason, we can see unhealthy relationship with them.
Lastly, the absence of service is there. In relation to Clifford, he could not
serve his employer or the people well that is to share well his talent in
repairing the damage of the machine since he was thinking to get the money in the
machine instead of repairing it. With regard to the employer, he cannot serve
well to his employee since he always think on the profit instead of the good of
his employee and to the people.
With
that emerging problems, the only way, if not to solve all these problems but to
lessen them, is to ground ourselves in Jesus Christ. Meaning to say, we have to
act like Christ. Two of many good characteristics I have known of Christ: Self-
mastery and His Golden rule that is doing to others what others we want to do
unto us. Self- mastery includes knowing ourselves, our purpose why we are here
and others. Knowing ourselves includes knowing our skills, talents and others
including negative attitudes we have. With regard to his Golden rule, we have
always do good things to others for the sake of Christ our saviour. Relating it
with Clifford and his employer. If Clifford have this two characteristics of
Christ, he would not come to the point that stealing is other way to earn money
instead he just adjust his lifestyle and he can integrate God in his work that
is serving to people and to God. With regard to the employer, he /she would
also do the same essentially, that is he/she would give what is just for
his/her employee and other privilege that the employee may enjoy. In that way,
they are exchanging good things with each other.
With
these things relating it to me. I had come to realize that it is essentially
the same with me. Many times I am like Clifford or the employer. I am also
stealing not money but in the formation because sometimes I will not cooperate
in the formation like not studying in the study period and others. Not
cooperating in the formation is for me an act of stealing in the formation. As
of now as a seminarian, my contribution to lessen the emerging problems is I
have to act like Christ in my own situation. Since I am a seminarian, I must
act like a seminarian like doing well my pastoral works, study well and others
so that hopefully they would see the presence of Christ in me and inspire
others to do the same. Knowing that, we are reminded that we really need Christ
to act like Him that is to master ourselves and others. In that way, we can
arrive on True happiness. So help us God.
