“In art, as in work, one must give heart and soul.”

Vincent Van Gogh, Dutch artist

“Oh! Teach us to live well! Teach us to live wisely and well!”

Psalm 90:12, The Message

The first epigraph was taken from a PICPA Talks article published last October 26, 2024, where I argued that viewing our work as art allows us to understand how it matters to us and that through our work we can integrate who we are with what we do.

Now, I am writing about a story and the “rule of thirds,” a visual composition guideline used in photography, art, and design. It involves dividing a frame into nine equal parts using two horizontal and two vertical lines, creating a grid. Key elements of the composition are placed along these lines or at their intersections, known as "sweet spots," to create balance, visual interest, and a dynamic arrangement.

As an accountant who tells and interprets stories through numbers, I became interested in this idea of the “rule of thirds” and explored its relationship with the concept of the number “three.” Can we apply the rule of thirds in photography to other concepts and real-life experiences?

In my work experience facilitating group decision-making, I often resorted to a triad, a group of three individuals. It is a highly effective way of resolving a work problem or issue because the triad balances size and diversity within the group.

When we study the Scriptures, there are many examples of the use of the number three or triads.

The Apostle Paul’s three requests to God to remove the "thorn in his flesh" reflect a pattern of earnest, complete petition, similar to other biblical triads.

This triadic repetition parallels other biblical instances, such as Jesus’ three prayers in Gethsemane and his three temptations in the wilderness. It highlighted persistence in prayer and ultimate submission to God’s will. These narratives underscore the transformative power of weakness and suffering in fulfilling divine purposes.

The resurrection of Jesus on the third day carries profound theological and symbolic significance in Christianity and is part of the Apostle’s Creed we regularly recite when we celebrate Mass. The "third day" is a recurring motif in Scripture, representing new life, divine intervention, and covenant fulfillment.

So that is the “rule of thirds,” but what is the story behind the subtitle, “What a Difference Three Days Make!”?

It is an interesting, scary, and very recent personal experience.

It all started four days before my birthday last April 4, 2025. I was attending a meeting. Towards lunchtime, my wife texted me to get my blood pressure (BP) measured. She had noticed that that morning, as I was on my way to the meeting, I was clutching my right hand. I told her that I felt some numbness.

I had my BP measured, which registered 180/105. I immediately texted it to my wife. She panicked and asked me to go home so I could take medicine to lower my BP.

I excused myself from the ongoing meeting, went home, and together with my wife, rushed to the Emergency Room (ER) of the nearest hospital. This was my scary first day in the ER.

The triage doctor’s initial impression was a “stroke.” He recommended sending me to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for close monitoring and immediately had Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and brain scan tests done. The results confirmed that I was suffering a mild stroke. I was wheeled to the ICU, where I spent the night closely monitoring my BP and other vital signs.

This first day in the ICU allowed me to experience some “firsts.” I had to be on an adult diaper. A lady nurse assisted me when I urinated using a portable urinal. I kept imagining how messy it would be to poop on a diaper and how I would be cleaned up by the attending nurse. It was good, though, that I did not need “to go” while in the ICU.

After a night in the ICU, I was transferred to a regular room. This was my second day in the hospital. In the evening, the neuro doctor visited me and explained my case. I asked whether I could already go home before April 4 because it was my birthday. After a few questions and tests with satisfactory results, he gave me clearance to go home the next day, my third day in the hospital, when I settled my bill and checked out.

These three days of experiences allowed me to see how fragile our lives are. One of my daughters messaged me, “Dad, you are given a new lease on life.” She was right!

It was a defining moment for me. I realized the wisdom of the second epigraph, “Oh! Teach us to live well! Teach us to live wisely and well!”

To live wisely and well is to understand the relationship between our life choices and how we effectively use our time here on earth. Time is the basis for organizing our priorities, tasks, and life goals purposefully, even artfully.

We take responsibility for our daily choices and gain wisdom from the consequences of our actions. Real wisdom is understanding what we know and evaluating what we have experienced.

What a real difference these three-day experiences made in my life. More than what I learned about the “rule of thirds” in art, there are “rules in life” that I will always remember. The apostle James rhetorically asked, “What is your life? It is a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4:14, NIV). Life is fleeting!

To all my colleagues in the accountancy profession who survived the proverbial grueling “busy season” experience last April, take a break and get your regular health check-up. Remember to be grateful to our Father in heaven, who gives us the grace and the privilege to serve Him through our professional ability.

And like the psalmist, we ask and pray always, “Oh! Teach us to live well! Teach us to live wisely and well!”