On Being a University Professor and a Pastor

I consider teaching not as a career but as a vocation/mission. Matagal ko nang tinanggap ang katotohanang I will always be a teacher, either in academic or church setting. Teaching is my passion and my life.

Minsan pumasok sa isipan kong iwan ang pagtuturo sa university at mag-full-time sa pagpapastor. Pero pinigil ako ng Panginoon. Isang lang ang isinagot Niya sa akin: "Tinawag kita upang maging propesor dahil iyan ang paraan para maging epektibo kang pastor." God proved this message sa halos 5 taon kong pagtuturo sa mga high school at college students. Hindi ko maaring paghiwalayin ang pagiging lingkod ng Panginoon at pagiging propesyunal na guro.

Kung wala kang tiyagang humubog ng isipan at asal ng mga estudyante, hindi ka magtatagal sa academic community. Kung hindi mo kayang intindihin ang kahinaan ng mga kabataan at tulungan sila sa kanilang mga personal issues, hindi ka maaring maging epektibong youth pastor.

I would like to quote what George Bernard Shaw expressed. "To me the sole hope of human salvation lies in teaching Man to regard himself as an experiment in the realization of God, to regard his hands as God's hand, his brain as God's brain, his purpose as God's purpose. He must regard God as a helpless Longing, which longed him into existence by its desperate need for an executive organ.” Teaching is one of the greatest means to reveal to students the love of God. Hence, I will always be a teacher.

Hindi tayo ilalagay ng Panginoon sa isang lugar nang walang dahilan. God is a God of purpose and perfect plans. Just be teachable and learn to accept His dealings.