This is a testimony of God's love and miraculous providence.

2006.08.14    I was surfing TD Bank Financial Group HR intranet and saw a Financial Advisor job posting.  I applied for it.  I did not expect to hear from the hiring manager.

2006.08.18    Hiring manager left me a voice message asking me to attend an interview.  I was surprised because I felt I was under-qualified.

2006.08.24    09:30    Interview.  It took a little more than 1.5 hours.  First part of the interview involved a role play with another FA conversing in Mandarin.  During second part of the interview I was asked to present my 30-day, 60-day, and 90-day plan, known as "Rockson's FA Strategy", to the hiring panel.  I spent two day preparing "Rockson's FA Strategy" and basically it's about how I will manage a portfolio of assigned high value customers at TD Canada Trust.  And the final phase was Q&A session between the hiring panel and me.  One of the questions I asked was why the hiring manager decided to invite me to this interview.  At that time, I thought this might not be a smart question, but I was curious.  I was only on the personal banker position for only 10 months. And the FA position usually requires applicants to possess at least 1 year of experience being a personal banker.  Also, I knew some candidates had way more experience than I do...plus the current FA team's age range is from early 40 to 60+ meaning I will be working with a team of very experienced bankers.  So why would they even consider me?

2006.08.24    19:00    The hiring manager dropped by at my office on her way home.  She said, "Rockson, you definitely had a lot of qualities that we are looking for in a Financial Advisor.  And through your individual scorecard and our conversation with your manager, we can see that you have the ambition, the energy and the drive to succeed and become an outstanding financial professional.  At the same time, we feel that it will be a challenge for you to work with a team of mature financial advisors..."  Honestly, I was very anxious at the beginning of the conversation.  But when the hiring manager was mentioning the list of "But's", I said to myself, "It's okay.  It's okay.  It's okay.  You didn't even expect to get an interview when you click on 'submit' button on the HR Intranet...so why would you be so concerned?  Just treat this as a good practice for job interview."  But my heart was pounding a thousand times when I continue to listen to her "But's".  I was sweating, sweating, and sweating.  Finally she said, "Rockson, I would like to offer you the position.  The compensation package would be such and such...would you like to take some time to consider the offer?"  "Wow...you know, I am surprised.  I am really surprised.  Yes, I accept the offer.  I do."

This is a simple story.  And maybe a simple and boring story to some readers.  So what?  What's so special?

Let me tell you.  And I will tell you again and again...that God's love is amazing!

Who am I?  That I got promoted in such a short period of time?  Is it because of my performance and the awards I won at work?  It might seem so to some, but definitely not to me.  I know full well that without God, I won't become who I am today.  Isn't He who provided me with the right opportunity at the right time to learn the right skills?  Isn't He who gave me the wisdom and strength?  Yes.  Therefore, I refuse to take any credit in all that has happened.  He provided.  He made it happen.  And I truly thank God for all these.

His providence is far beyond what I can fathom.  He did not give me what I need.  Instead, He gave me more than what I wanted and could imagine.  On 2006.03.12 xanga blog entry, I wrote:

Wow...this is so true!  Now words just seem so inadequate to fully express my gratitude to God.  I want to play a thanksgiving music to God.  I want to sing to Him a new song.

 25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
       And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

 26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
       but God is the strength of my heart
       and my portion forever.

 27 Those who are far from you will perish;
       you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.

 28 But as for me, it is good to be near God.
       I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;
       I will tell of all your deeds.

May this become my daily prayer.

iPod . 福音 / 2006.08.04 / Currently Playing: Gail Jhonson - Soleh

TD Canada Trust 轉戶口送 iPod campaign 終於在今日結束.  而完全在神的恩典眷顧下 , 祂讓我成為道明銀行太平洋區第三季度 Everyday Banking Campaign 排名第三的 banker.  這當然要感謝神和所有支持我的客戶啦 !   有份參加轉戶的客戶當中有不少是我的朋友, 哈哈 ... 我的朋友當中差不多有 90% 都有道明的帳戶和享用道明的理財服務 .   說實的 , 我也不知道為什麽我對我的工作充滿熱誠 , 也許是我深信道明的理財方案真的能夠幫助每一位客戶達到他/她的理財目標 .   看到這篇文章 , 可能你覺得我好 hard sell .  是嗎?  其實不然 ,  我對理財的熱誠和認識 , 加上對道明由衷的情感促使我有不斷宣傳道明銀行的動力 .

請不要誤會 ,  我不是在賣廣告 .

既然我知道道明理財服務的好處 , 而因此一直努力宣揚推廣 ; 那我對於今生和來世都無比重要的福音又存一個怎樣的態度 ?

我從不強迫客戶採立我的建議 , 盡管有些時侯我知道我的建議對他們是最合適的 .  其中理由包括 :

( 一) 勉強無幸褔

( 二) 最終的選擇權理應落在客戶身上

那傳福音的態度也不應是一樣嗎?

接受福音不是比收 iPod 更好嗎?

傳福音不是比宣傳道明銀行更重要嗎?

我的朋友當中差不多有 90% 都有道明的帳戶和享用道明的理財服務 , 但是我認識的人當中不足 50% 認識和接受主耶穌成為他們的個人救主 .

為什麽我不積極地去傳福音? 我怕什麽?

宏觀最近世界上的動盪 , 可以注意到的是 , 這一切都正在印証著末世的來臨 .

對於我的鄰舍 , 我會把福音閉口不言 , 抑或隨時隨地去宣揚 ?

今天 , 神賜給我這個感動 , 而我亦願意履行從這個感動而來的責任 .

我是一個全職的基督徒 .

- 琴秀 . 石仔