Understanding Serenity

The Serenity Prayer is attributed to American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr. The versions of the prayer were always printed as a single prose sentence; printings that set out the prayer as three lines of verse modify the author’s original version. The most well-known form is a late version, as it includes a reference to grace not found before 1951.

God, give me grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, Courage to change the things which should be changed, and the Wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.

As a customer we have certain rights that need to be addressed by the Management of businesses and companies. I can only count on my two hands on how many times I complained. Ten times, yes, I have ten fingers and I had only complained in that number. I always tell friends and family whenever I had enough of something, “I reached my quota.”

Here is an amusing synopsis of what transpired when I break a pattern and choose the flight-mode defense mechanism. For those ten times I chose to utilize the fight-mode mechanism. Father Mike Schmitz once discussed that Saints are warriors. I leave it to the younger ones, I am retired and had become a prayer-warrior instead.

On 02/5/2020 at 0807 hours Mr. Andres S. Cypres Jr. retrieved the printed Pag-IBIG contributions of the member, yours truly. Records show details for the following companies; Robinsons Bank Corporation, Accenture Incorporated, Smart Communications Incorporated/HR Team Asia Incorporated, and Convergys Philippines Services Corporation. He also inquired about Customer Contact Center, Software Ventures Incorporated/Clark Data Center Incorporated, although, there were no contributions found in the system.

The author arrived at Pag-IBIG Naga Branch, 3rd level Robinsons Place Naga, Roxas Avenue corner Almeda Highway, Triangulo, Naga City 4400 prior to its start of operation for the day. Pulling the account data took a considerable time and updating the member’s Pag-IBIG account. Mr. Cypres recommended for other services of the Government Office such as the Loyalty Card which the member has now and to continue the program that would be beneficial for the member upon retirement.

Notwithstanding, a lady approached the two and exclaimed that it was pointless. The author stood up, did not say anything, and, hurriedly walked out of the office.

Then, when the author went to Black Scoop Cafe Naga at Magsaysay Commercial District in one early evening he had seen Mr. Cypres with a lady companion. He approached him and apologized because it took so much time and he had the impression that it was Mr. Cypres’ superior who told this author the above-mentioned statement, that is was pointless. Mr. Cypres shed light on the matter and said that she in fact was another client waiting in line.

On 02/10/2020 at 0828 hours this author came back to pay in cash, Php 1,200, for MC-Members’ Savings Pag-IBIG I as prepared by Mr. Cypres and the cashier, Mrs./Ms. Charmie B. Zantua processed the transaction.

Finally, I was able to talk to the Manager of the Office-- a Mr. Fernandez regarding my primary purpose at Pag-IBIG, he then apologized for the other client and added that probably she had a bad day. I smiled and said I did not take it personally or even uttered it’s bygones.

The times that I argued in public in the past, again for emphasis I can count with my two hands, if I am not mistaken about 10 occasions, I had a valid/justifiable complaint for each time it happened. Still up to now I could recall telling an employee that it should be you understanding the customer and not the other way around as I was inspired by Saint Francis Prayer’s line-- O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek to be understood, as to understand.

Regardless, my brother would jokingly ask me if we could go to a place that a misunderstanding/miscommunication occurred. Of course I would always tell him. Why? I used to work for Customer Service and Sales in Smart Communications Incorporated in their top-most-earning-branch in Metro Manila, SM City North EDSA. My secret? I never argued with a customer. My Senior Manager then Mrs. Simonette T. Domingo would always tell us to make the clients happy. If you do not care about other people then you should not be in the front-line-arena instead it would be best working in the back office instead. Common sense. Nonetheless, all incidences are water under the bridge, everybody happy. Win-win situation. Wink*. Always.

Let us end with full recitation of The Prayer of Saint Francis. This is one of the best known and best loved prayers in the world today:

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace;

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

Grant that I may not so much seek

To be consoled as to console;

To be understood, as to understand;

To be loved, as to love;

For it is in giving that we receive,

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

And it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.