No Accounting Terms Please

*Asset - 1. A useful or valuable quality, person, or thing; an advantage or resource: proved herself an asset to the company.

2. A valuable item that is owned.

3. A spy working in his or her own country and controlled by the enemy.

4. assets

a. Accounting The entries on a balance sheet showing all properties, both tangible and intangible, and claims against others that may be applied to cover the liabilities of a person or business. Assets can include cash, stock, inventories, property rights, and goodwill.

b. The entire property owned by a person, especially a bankrupt, that can be used to settle debts.

5. opposite of liability

*Liability - 1. The state of being liable.

2.

a. Something for which one is liable; an obligation, responsibility, or debt.

b. liabilities The financial obligations entered in the balance sheet of a business enterprise.

3. Something that holds one back; a handicap.

Assets versus liabilities -- this is not about properties but people. As indicated by the dictionary entries above, the two terms can be applied to us. But I don't think they should be. People are not possessions but free entities. To assign a person even as an asset somehow challenges his or her dignity. That person will always be bound to prove him or herself worthy of the term, to keep him or herself useful no matter what the circumstance is. Although a person can choose to call him/herself an 'instrument,' an object for that matter, terms like that ought to be carefully used with another. As a priest puts it, every person is a subject to love, not an object to own and use. Thus, even when a person holds others back (a 'liability'), he or she still deserves attention. As St. Mary Euphrasia said: "A person is of more value than the world."

More value than the world, yes. Jesus views people as such. When He had His followers, He never relegated them to being 'assets.' He in fact called them 'friends' to share in His joy and sorrow. Even when they turned away from Him and to the eyes of others they became 'liabilities,' He did not put them aside: He forgave them, called them back, healed them and taught them again how to become truly His disciples. This is a challenge to those who avow to become like Jesus: How do they see the people around them now?

While climbing the narrow steps to the top of 'Kamay ni Hesus' yesterday, I had these thoughts: In the not-so-wide path towards God's kingdom, progress is often slow, for the pace of those who follow depend on those who go before them. If one of those ahead should stumble and fall, it does not mean those behind him or her would. However, everyone would have to stop until that person is back on his or her feet. They can allow him or her to do it alone, but it will be better if he or she receives help, not because he or she is the leader but as a co-pilgrim in the journey. No thoughts of asset or liability there.

Reference:

*http://www.thefreedictionary.com