PROPHET VERSUS PROFIT

BY: Michael A. Aun, FIC, LUTCF, CSP, CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame

I had known him for years and yet we seldom had the opportunity to spend time with one another. Both he and I were so busy in our work lives, we seldom had time for anything but family. His name was Dr. Romualdo Dator and he recently died.

It's interesting that while we lived in the same town for so many years, I didn't really get to know the man until recently. We're both part of the same parish, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in St. Cloud, Florida.

I had the opportunity to work with him on a project known as the St. Thomas Aquinas Medical Clinic, a project dedicated to assisting those who are unable to get medical assistance elsewhere via Medicaid, Medicare or private insurance.

As much as anyone, Dr. Dator was responsible for the resounding success of the clinic. My respect and admiration for his commitment to the clinic is matched only by the hard work he put into convincing dozens of doctors and scores of nurses and lay volunteers to donate their time, talent and treasure to making the clinic the success that it is today.

In short, were it not for Dr. Dator and his lovely wife, Nora, I'm not sure the clinic would be a reality. In his eulogy about his friend and parishioner, Msgr. Fabian Gimeno referred to event as a festival of life and of immortality. "We are surrounded by symbols of life in this church," said Msgr. Fabian. "Symbols of peace… symbols of life... and that's exactly what Dr. Dator was for so many."

Death should be a celebration of life. What a wonderful life this man had. A native Phillipino, he earned his MD and later came to America in 1964. He opened a private family practice in 1978. Unlike many of his colleagues, Romualdo Dator was not about "profit." Instead, he was more of a "prophet."

He was a prophet for the prayer group he headed up at St. Thomas Aquinas. He was a prophet who found time to attend Mass every day of his life. He was a prophet who became an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. In his remarks, his own son referred to St. Thomas Aquinas as a home away from home.

In his own humble way, Dr. Dator quietly served as a foot solder, laboring in the vineyards of his beliefs and faith. He was interested in being a "prophet." He was not interested in profit though many medical professionals focus solely on that.

As a "prophet" he presided over his association of professional colleagues here in central Florida. He was a "prophet" to his family as well with a devoted marriage of nearly a half of a century and two wonderful daughters and a son. Even the Diocese of Orlando honored this humble servant with honors over the years.

Would that we all be as dedicated to being a "prophet" to others. I found it interesting that Dr. Dator decided to write his own farewell in his Mass card.

"Death has taken me from this world, and though we are apart, I am still near. All that we meant to each other remains true, in trust and faith, have no fear. Keep me always close to your heart. Know that I leave with you what no one can steal, a treasure chest of precious, happy memories: the tender, love filled moments we shared, as well as the hard times that brought us together. When you are in need, speak to me, call my name. I will come to you, with wisdom and light to fill your soul with peace, and to guide you always in the pathways that lead to life forever with our Loving God. I also offer you this solemn promise: when I am home in God's embrace, whenever you call me, I will still be present to you, for neither death nor grave can break bonds of love that we on earth once knew."

One of the most profound exercises I've ever been through is to write an "Ethical Will," which, for the lack of a better description, is a last love letter to people you care about. Not only is it cleansing for the soul, it's a nice touch to the people in your life that are important. Go to http://www.ethicalwill.com and you'll find some terrific samples.

Dr. Dator's parting love note was a nice touch, a sweet goodbye. I've now put that on my list of things to do at my own funeral along with my own video tribute to my family. Are you about "profit" or being a "prophet?"