Some define resourcefulness as the ability to deal skillfully and promptly with new situations and difficulties. Some define it as the ability to meet situations. For others, resourcefulness means having the necessary resources to adapt to different situations and effectively solve problems. How about us? How do we define resourcefulness? How do we perceive that a person is resourceful?
We can see resourcefulness in many short stories in the Holy Scriptures. Remember the description of the wife with a noble character as King Lemuel’s mother had taught him? She is like a merchant ship, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings, she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the coming days. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She diligently oversees the affairs of her household, refusing to indulge in idleness. What the noble wife has, she lets it multiply with her skills and talents and gets benefit from it. She never lacks and has a surplus for her servants and others to whom she can extend her hand. She manages her time effectively and ensures that nothing remains unused.
Many of us are being tested in resourcefulness in the many facets of our lives. Some are tested in financial resourcefulness, some in decision-making, while others are tested in the area of their task or work, young or old. This value is prominent during contests and competitions wherein the contestants are given limited time and resources. Some are content with the basic output they can come up with and reason that they can only do that much due to the limitations. On the other hand, there are others who, despite the limited resources, can come up with creative and outstanding output.
In life, many problems come, but their solvability depends, most of the time, on our resourcefulness—how we handle them despite the circumstances. Arthur Ashe, an African-American Grand Slam titleholder, said, “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” See where we want to go and take the first step. Look around at what we have; these are the available physical resources. Look inside, strategize, and optimize—these resources are internally available. When we cannot find around and inside, look up to God—He is our unlimited Source, the ultimate Source of all. Therefore, the key to resourcefulness is not only what we have around us but also what we have inside that we can use to enhance, enrich, or multiply what is available outside, but most importantly, what we have above—He will make the impossible possible and the invisible into reality.
𝑨𝑪𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵 𝑷𝑳𝑨𝑵
- Reflect on situations or problems that are most challenging to solve. Identify what we have in and around that can help solve such a problem. Do not resort to solving the problem in a corrupt or illegal manner. This will not help but worsen the scenario. Ask God to intervene and work on what we have physically and internally.
- When in need or when circumstances come, consult our reliable resources—God, the Holy Scriptures, our elders, and what we have inside and around us.
- Determine if we have future projects or plans. Think ten or more steps ahead to see the potential problems or obstacles. Act on the potential problems now so that our project or plans will have a smoother implementation.
Values Restoration Officer: Mrs. Josephine L. Amor
