A thought about Magis

The Magis Awards 2008 Ceremony got me thinking.

Ah!!! The “M” word that my teachers keep on saying since nursery! What is Magis by the way? Aside from being the Latin translation of more, what is magis? I’m no Jesuit but growing with them for the past decade + 4 years may help.

Magis is not a standard. It is not a benchmark that students compete to achieve. In my way of looking at it, magis is an ability. It is an ability to see and extract the greatest possible potential of every moment. When I mean see, I touch on ones foresight in looking at situations, people and things. Magis is seeing more that what is obvious. It is seeing the potentiality of things and people. When I mean extract, it is also the ability to translate those potentialities into actual accomplishments. Another word to chisel is accomplishment. Accomplishment now a days are equated to glorious moments of victory. But in the context of magis it is as simple as winning a smile from a new friend, making orphans laugh, giving bible sessions to school children and sharing what you’ve learn to a scholar. This is what I see magis is. It is making the best of what you have; Making the best of every situation, of every moment. Further more, Magis is a process. It is dynamic. It does not stop when you extract the potential, it goes beyond that. It then grows into a personal disposition. It then translates into a personal sense of openness and willingness to grow and mature through those experiences. Lastly, to balance the equation, Magis is something to share. Seeing, extracting, growing and maturing will deteriorate if it is not being shared. Magis then as the yardstick of our actions is about receiving and giving. Receiving what is present and giving more than what is expected.