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Burning Heart

let God burning your heart and warmth you days.

Grace Dice of Life

everything is God's grace. Providentia Dei

Rain for Everyone

never walk alone, God always there like every rain

Fresh from God, fresh the whole day

always praise the Lord for He create colorful world.

SMILE: GOD loves you

one of the BEST grace from GOD is ability ti SMILE

Tuesday, December 6, 2011


A mercy prayer by St. Faustina:-

O Lord. I want to be completely transformed into your mercy and to be your living reflection.

May the greatest of all divine attributes, that of your unfathomable mercy, pass through my heart and soul to my neighbour.

Help me, O Lord that my eyes may be merciful, so that I may never suspect or judge from appearances, but look for what is beautiful in my neighbour’s souls and come to their rescue.

Help me, O Lord that my ears may be merciful, so that I may give heed to my neighbour’s needs and not be indifferent to their pains and moaning.

Help me, O Lord that my tongue may be merciful, so that I should never speak negatively of my neighbour, but have a word of comfort and forgiveness for all.

Help me, O Lord, that my hands may be merciful and filled with good deeds, so that I may do only good to my neighbours and take upon myself the more difficult and toilsome tasks.

Help me, O Lord, that my feet may be merciful, so that I may hurry to assist my neighbour, overcoming my own fatigue and weariness.

Help me, O Lord, that my heart may be merciful so that I myself may feel all the sufferings of my neighbour.

May your mercy, O Lord, rest upon me.


Wednesday, November 2, 2011

The Priest : A Prayer On A Sunday Night


Tonight, Lord, I am alone.

Little by little the sounds
died down in the church.
The people went away,
And I came home,
Alone.

I passed people who were
returning from a walk.
I went by the cinema
that was disgorging its crowd.
I skirted café terraces where tired strollers
were trying to prolong t
he pleasure of a Sunday holiday.
I bumped into youngsters
playing on the footpath,
Youngsters, Lord,
Other people’s youngsters
who will never be my own.

Here I am, Lord,
Alone.
The silence troubles me,
The solitude oppresses me.

Lord, I’m 35 years old,
A body made like others,
ready for work,
A heart meant for love,
But I’ve given you all.
It’s true of course, that you needed it.
I’ve given you all, but it is hard, Lord.
It’s hard to give one’s body;
it would like to give itself to others.
It’s hard to love everyone and to claim no one.
It’s hard to shake a hand
and not want to keep it.
It’s hard to inspire affection,
only to give it to you.
It’s hard to be nothing to oneself
in order to be everything to others.
It’s hard to be like others, among others,
and be an other to them.
It’s hard always to give
without trying to receive.
It’s hard to seek out others
and to be oneself unsought.
It’s hard to be told secrets,
and never be able to share them.
It’s hard to carry others
and never, even for a moment, be carried.
It’s hard to sustain the feeble
and never be able to lean on one
who is strong.

It’s hard to be alone,
Alone before everyone,
Alone before the world,
Alone before suffering,
death,
sin.

Son, you are not alone,
I am with you.
I am you.
For I needed another human vehicle
to continue my Incarnation
and my Redemption.
Out of all eternity, I chose you.
I need you.

I need your hands to continue to bless,
I need your lips to continue to speak,
I need your body to continue to suffer,
I need your heart to continue to love,
I need you to continue to save,
Stay with me.

Here I am Lord,
Here is my body,
my heart,
my soul,
Grant that I may be
big enough to reach the world,
Strong enough to carry it.
Pure enough to embrace it
without wanting to keep it.

Grant that I may be a meeting-place,
but a temporary one,
A road that does not end in itself,
because everything to be gathered there,
everything human, must be led to you.

Lord, tonight, while all is still
and I feel sharply the sting of solitude,
While people devour my soul
and I feel incapable of satisfying their hunger,
While the world presses on my shoulders
with all its weight
of misery and sin,
I repeat to you my “yes”
—not in a burst of laughter, but slowly,
clearly, humbly.

Alone, Lord,
before you,
In the peace of the evening.

- – - written by Fr. Michel Quoist, 1954, France

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

If You Know

If you know who you are, you will make it your greatest ambition to make other people’s lives better because you showed up.

If you know who you are, you will be gracious in defeat and humble is victory, knowing that you can’t be defined by a single event in life.

If you know who you are, other people’s opinions of you won’t make you doubt your own ability or character.

If you know who you are, it will simply be because you know who He is.

If you know who you are, you also understand that all of heaven and earth has been set up to help you fulfil your God-given destiny.

If you know who you are, it’s a Life of Integrity easy to celebrate other people because their greatness takes nothing away from your own legend.

If you know who yo are, you are not so caught up in trivial and local championship contests since the whole world is your for the taking.

If you know who you are, the future is not something you dread but something you can hardly wait to shape into a masterpiece.

If you know who you are, other gifted people don’t provoke inferiority in you because you know that you also have something significant.

If you know who you are, you will understand that you are greater than the circumstances of your birth and your present environment.

If you know who you are, you will realize that the best environment for your Spirit and Soul is the presence of God.




(Source:www.turnabacktoGod.com)

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Fighting For Faith


The strange phenomenon among frustrated Christians is basically that God doesn’t care at times of crisis. He neither offers solutions nor a way out of it. An apt opinion would be, ‘God is angry with me or because of my sins, I undergo or face these problems in life.’
Many have shared about their crisis in life, and one among them is ‘Faith Crisis’. Their dwindling faith and declining beliefs in God and in oneself makes the bridge of faith slowly breaking into a blur standpoint in one’s spiritual ladder. What is stagnant? Why does it happen? All these queries can be answered through tremendous soul-searching and asking questions like, do we only care about worldly things? For it offers more glamorous things, a feast to our eyes, an entry into the world of gadgets and technologies.
But Scripture is totally different, it doesn’t give sensational issues or glamorous caricatures enticing to induce passion or pleasure, but it offers what you need, a window to a new way of life, which you long for, a message to your life, an atmosphere conducive to live in, a book packed with all sorts of instructions, solutions and guidelines. Remember! “Faith and pleasure never go together.”
Gone are the days of rituals, traditions and offerings. But today, it makes no sense to the people of the postmodern trend. Saints are not seen, disciples have no address, and martyrs blood spreads only a momentary inspiration. Beliefs are ceasing, trends are in swift change, and churches are half empty, postmodern world urges to step out of the frames to light your own spirituality.
Amidst all these chaos, can you go deep down into yourself to ask, is my prayer life consistent? Is there a daily record of my appointments with God? Am I constantly in touch with scriptures? Many are at vigorous search for peace and happiness without any initiatives in forming oneself. The problem is not somewhere else; it is in us, unwilling to go deep down into oneself to find out the problems.
The point is this; blur beliefs and wavering faith are mostly due to lack of prayer, infrequent reading of Holy Scripture, rare visit to Blessed Sacraments etc resulting in dryness, a certain amount of depression, weariness finally leading to spiritual crisis. A person can’t be a Christian without faith. And formation of faith is an internal activity in align with the cooperation of the Holy Spirit. Formation and reformation of faith involves meticulous testing and scrutiny during its perfection.
While one is led to temptations, dark nights, idleness, drowsiness etc. these are a normal hurdles. When it comes to faith, dark nights are a necessary evil for the aspiring soldier of God. Have you indomitable spirit to discover faith? Well! It is amidst patience, perseverance in problems and impediments. And those who give up are consciously in “spiritual slumber” opting to be in the clutches of darkness.
We have icons from bible like JOB and ELIJAH who displayed faith in their lives in accordance with the Lord. When Job’s possessions including his sons and daughters were taken he said, “I came from my mother’s womb and naked I shall return there; the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, Blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). In all these Job did not sin nor shun God and commit wrong doings but pursued his faith in the Lord. Even when his wife rose up against him to despise God and die, he said, “you speak as any foolish women would speak, shall we receive the good at the hand of God and not receive the bad? In all these Job did not sin with his lips” (Job 1:9-10). He withstood all this believing in the providence of God, which God returned to him in hundred folds.
We also read about Prophet Elijah, (1Kg 18:20-40) a faith filled man who challenged the prophets of Baal. Take a moment to reflect, suppose, God had not sent the fire prophet Elijah would have been brutally murdered unto death. But Elijah was not scared he was sure about the helping hand of God, because, he had no doubts, no wavering faith and no double thoughts but, a complete trust and faith in God that his God won’t deceive him.
Faith is a personal issue which grows gradually in making you a full-fledged Christian. Faith is the only strength that can compensate to realize the power of God, to know Him and to experience Him. It is a gift from God, not all possess but can gradually attain. It is a strength to the weak, hope to the hopeless, boost up to the broken hearted and an enemy to the fear.
Fear and ignorance takes you where you do not want to go, but faith takes you where you want to go. It is a thriving force for the world of knowledge and spirituality. It expands your mental horizons for radical changes and makes you a dynamic person. Faith is a simple gift from God loaded with profound visions and missions.
St. Augustine says, “Faith is to believe what we do not see and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe.” Hence, one should first believe in oneself to tackle the entire crisis in one’s own life. To hold belief in oneself, one should discard evil elements like guilt feelings, low self-esteem, pessimistic attitude, doubts etc to pave way for stronger self-conviction in oneself and in Christ. “Faith is another form of treasure, one who has found, has found God.”
God never lets us go down unless we do to ourselves. So, let’s submit all our bundle of burdens and problems, for God can bring a radical change in our lives. God can do much with our lives than us. Hence let us accept that our faith is weak and believe that nothing is impossible to God and continue to pray unceasingly at all circumstances, for He will surely build our faith and answer to all the problems and questions for He can not deceive Himself.

Friday, April 22, 2011

Feelings of every Mom

 

We celebrate Easter once every year

to remembering the greatest love of GOD for us

HIS beloved children even upon HIS only Child, JESUS.

What a remarkably LOVE for He CHOOSE you and me

above all, above HIS LOVE for Jesus.

Let us open our heart for HIM.

Because HE LOVE you and me more than a mother love her child.

A Poem: An Angel Left Her Wings

© Tina M. Marascia
I have this little angel. For me she left her wings.
She has no idea how much happiness she truly brings.
She brightens up my days with her smiles and her laughs.
She helps me to remember all the blessings that I have.

Her face, it is so perfect, she's sweet and soft and pure.
Sometimes she can be willful and sometimes she is demure.
She tries her very hardest to please and do what's right.
She gives the greatest hugs from morning until night.

Every person that has known her sees this light within her soul
I know that in this whole great world, she has a special role.
She's helpful and considerate to everyone she knows
This light in her shines brighter as my angel grows.

When she sees someone is sad, it opens up her heart.
She wants to do all that she can; she wants to do her part.
She'll squeeze away the sorrow and make me forget about my pain.
She shows me where the sun is when we're hiding from the rain.

I know that God must love me, He showed me with His Grace
I knew just how completely when I saw my angel's face.
And in that very moment when she came into my world,
I knew that she was so much more than just my baby girl.

She would be my sunshine, with a sweetness that won't end.
And when she grows up one day she would be my closest friend.
She would be the reason I would always try my best.
For my little angel baby girl would be my greatest test.

When God entrusts to you an angel, who has left her wings for you.
Encircle her with love with everything you do.
Let her know God made her, and that He trusts you with her care.
Be sure to make time for special moments with her to share.

And when at night she finally says her prayers and goes to sleep
I Thank Him for my angel, and ask for him to always keep
A watchful eye and hand to protect her from this world.
Protect my little angel; protect my baby girl.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Love means respect

Sister Mater and me

Her name is Sister Materna. Means: mother.
And no doubt she is a very good mother and grandmother (for me)
She was small, looks fragile (but tough-old-lady), always smile and warmth

On the day i met her, she said:
my dear Sister. Being a nun means becoming an open heart person and respect others, always.
by doing so, you can fully accept and love others.
we live in rough water of life, so we always need each other.
Please be kind and give more.
so our the Kingdom of our LORD be here, at this momment.
Pray sister... pray... we need pray more.

i was and am touch by her words.
Me with my big ego.
Starting that day, i have been trying to respect others
by listening first, helping and doing what i want them to do first
and most important is: praying...

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

A Connection With Christ


Our ministries go out of strength due to lack of proper connection with the true power source.
A man from a remote village had gone to the city. He was wonder struck by seeing the modern technologies and the city way of life. He saw the whole city was illuminated with bright lights, drinking water was supplied to houses and fans gave cool air in the hot summer. He wanted to enjoy the same, back in his village. Therefore, he bought some electric lights, fans and water taps. When he reached his village he fixed the light and fan waiting for the light and cool air. He fixed the water tap in a wall and waited for water. But nothing happened because the electric bulb and fan were not connected to electricity and the water tap was not connected to a source of water.
Today, we too are attracted to Christ and want to be partner in His mission work. Therefore we build massive buildings and spend lot of money to help the poor and the needy. But if we are not connected to Christ and live a Christ centered life, we cannot be effective and faithful in the mission of Jesus Christ. Therefore, the scripture tell us to go beyond, and be rooted in Christ and have an intimate experience of God, only then we would be able to withstand the trials and persecution that come on the way.
This message is beautifully brought out in the life of St. Paul. Prophet Amos tangibly experiences the living Word of God and that experience leads him to raise his voice against the unjust structures of the society and exploiting religious leaders of the time. He cries out: “Let justice role down like waters and righteousness like an ever flowing stream.” Yes, he is fully aware that challenging the then existing system would bring danger to his life. But he listens to the Word of God and relies on the power of God.
In the New Testament, we see Jesus sending the 12 Apostles for His mission. But before He sends them out for the mission, He keeps them with Him, because He wants them to have a personal relationship with Himself. He desires that they live in His presence to learn, to draw strength, courage and spiritual energy from Him. He wants them to see Him praying, healing and teaching so that their faith in Him may be deeply rooted and they may eventually begin to absorb and assimilate His very character and behavior.
We too are called to be with Him, to experience Him deeply and follow Him very closely. Only then we become the true ambassadors of Jesus and full representatives to carry out His message to the whole world. Like the prophet Amos, St. Paul, the 12 apostles and there are many, we too are sent on a mission to fight against the evil, sinful, unjust and ungodly ways of the world. We are sent to alleviate pain, suffering, sorrow and misery from the lives of people around us.
In Japan there was a beautiful statue of Jesus Christ placed in the middle of a village. During the World War II, bomb fell in the village and the statue was broken into pieces. The parish priest collected the broken pieces and joined them together. Unfortunately the hand of Jesus was not found. So, the parish priest wrote bellow the statue that, “who would be my hand to help out my people?” By seeing this all the people came together and extended their hands to rebuild the lives of the people over there.
Today we are like Christ’s hands to raise those who are fallen. We are like His feet to go in search of the lost sheep. We are like His ears to listen to the cries of the sufferings and the lonely. We are His tongue to comfort and encourage those who are sad, disappointed, sick, lonely and depressed.
- – - written by John Singarayar SVD

Monday, March 28, 2011

Ten Inch on Water


A boy was sitting in a park bench with one hand resting on an open Bible. He was loudly exclaiming his praise to God. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! God is great! he yelled without worrying whether anyone heard him or not.
Shortly after, along came a man who had recently completed some studies at a local University. Feeling himself very enlightened in the ways of truth and very eager to show this enlightenment, he asked the boy about the source of his Joy.
Hey, asked the boy in return with a bright laugh, Don’t you have any idea what God is able to do? I just read that God opened up the waves of the Red Sea and led the whole nation of Israel right through the middle.
The enlightened man laughed lightly, sat down next to the boy and began to try to open his eyes to the realities of the miracles of the Bible. That can all be very easily explained. Modern scholarship has shown that the Red Sea in that area was only 10 inches deep at that time. It was no problem for the Israelites to wade across.
The boy was stumped. His eyes wandered from the man back to the Bible lying open in his lap. The man, content that he had enlightened a poor
naive young person to the finer points of scientific insight turned to leave.
Scarcely had he taken two steps when the boy began to rejoice and praise louder than before. The man turned to ask the reason for this resumed jubilation.
Wow! Exclaimed the boy happily, God is greater than I thought!
Not only did He lead the whole nation of Israel through the Red Sea, He topped it off by drowning the whole Egyptian army in 10 inches of water!


Saturday, March 26, 2011

When You Thought I Wasnt Looking


When you thought I wasn’t looking
I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator,
and I immediately wanted to paint another one.
When you thought I wasn’t looking
I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind
to animals.
When you thought I wasn’t looking
I heard you say a prayer,
and I knew that there is a God I could always talk to,
and I learned to trust in Him.
When you thought I wasn’t looking
I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick,
and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.
When you thought I wasn’t looking
I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it,
and I learned we have  to take care of what we are given.
When you thought I wasn’t looking
I saw how you handled your responsibilities,
even when you didn’t feel good,
and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.
When you thought I wasn’t looking
I saw tears come from your eyes,
and I learned that sometimes things hurt,
but it’s all right to cry.
When you thought I wasn’t looking
I saw that you cared,
and I wanted to be everything that I could be.
When you thought I wasn’t looking
I learned most of life’s lessons that I need to know to be a good
and productive person when I grow up.
When you thought I wasn’t looking
I looked at you and wanted to say,
‘Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn’t looking.’
———————– ———————– ———————–
A message every adult should read because children
Are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say.
I am sending this to all of the people I know
Who do so much for others,
But think that no one ever sees.
Little eyes see a lot.
Each of us (parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, friend) influences the life of a child.
How will you touch the life of someone today? Just by sending this article to someone else, you will probably make them at least think about their influence on others.
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak Kindly.

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Doa Untuk Korban di Jepang

marilah kita berdoa untuk korban gempa dan gelombang tsunami di Jepang.
pada 11 maret, Jepang dihantam gempa 8,9M dan memicu tsunami disana.
Marilah kita berdoa bagi para korban dan jiwa-jiwa yang pulang ke ruma Bapa di surga.
Little Hope from GOD

Doa untuk Korban di Jepang
Allah yang berbelas kasih dan penuh kasih,
pemberi Hidup dan Cinta,
dengarkanlah doa kami
dan biarkan jeritan kami sampai kepadaMu.
Kami menangis bersama umatMu di Jepang
Kami mendengar tangisan anak-anak yang kehilangan orangtua mereka dan orangtua yang kehilangan anak-anak mereka
Kami merasakan keputus-asaan dari mereka yang masih mencari orang-orang yang mereka kasihi
kami berduka atas keheningan yang tercipta dari desa yang hilang
kami melihat kehancuran
kami tak mampu menanggung semua ini sendirian
Hati kami terdiam, pikiran kami buntu
Buatlah tangan kami tidak berhenti, suara kami tak bisu
Allah pemilik jagad raya
Bukalah hati kami untuk merasakan cintaMu
Kuatkan kami untuk mau terus memberi
Ikatkanlah kami dengan tali kasih persaudaraan, perempuan pun laki-laki
Tenangkan dan sembuhkan yang sakit, yang menderita dan yang hilang
Kuatkan para sukarelawan yang menolong dan para medis
ketuklah hati para pemimpin dunia, pemerintahan dan orang-orang yang punya kekuasaan untuk menolong
Bukalah jalan damai dan kersajama melalui tragedi ini
Dalam namaMu yang berbelas kasih dan menyembuhkan dan penuh cinta, kami berdoa
Amin

Let us pray for the victims of Japan earthquake and tsunami waves. An 8.9 earthquake struck Japan on March 11th, triggering tsunami tidal waves on the northeast part of Japan. Let us pray for all those victims and also for the souls who departed us.
Prayer for Earthquake And Tsunami Victims:-
Most merciful and compassionate God,
Giver of Life and Love,
hear our prayers
and let our cries come unto you.
We weep with your people in Japan
We hear the cries of orphaned children and laments of bereaved parents
We feel the desperation of those searching for loved ones
We behold the silence of vanished villages.
We see the devastation.
We are overwhelmed by the enormity of it all.
Our hearts are hushed, our minds are numb.
Let not our hands be stopped, our voices dumb.
God of the universe,
Open our hearts to feel your compassion
Galvanize in us the act of continued giving
Bond us to our sisters and brothers in need
Comfort and heal the injured, the bereaved, the lost
Strengthen the aid workers and medical personnel
Bolster the resolve of governments and those with power to help
Open through this tragedy pathways to partnerships and peace
In Your Name of mercy and healing and compassion we pray,
Amen.

Sumber/source:
www.Turnbacktogod.com

Friday, March 4, 2011

Sunday: The Visiting Day


He was looking forward to this moment all day long, after 6 days of labor and it finally arrived – Visiting Day!
The man with the keys arrived to swing open the large, heavy doors. The cold gray hall springs to life in the warm glow of light. He could hardly control His emotions.
The families began to arrive. He peers from the corner of the room longing for the 1st glimpse of His loved one. He lives for the weekends. He lives for these visits.
As the cars arrive, He watches intently. Then, finally, they arrive, for whom He would do anything. They embrace, eat a light lunch and reminisce how things used to be.
At one point, they break into singing, with interruptions of laughter and applause. But all too soon it is over. A tear comes to His eyes as they depart.
Then the man with the keys closes the heavy doors. He hears the key turn in the lock marking the end of a special day. There He stands, alone again.
He knows that most of His visitors will not contact Him again till next week. As the last car pulls away from the parking lot, Jesus retreats into loneliness as He waits until next Sunday – Visiting Day.
Reflection:
Is the time that we spend with Jesus an everyday thing, or do we just visit Him on Sunday?


Thursday, March 3, 2011

The Visitor


One day, a man went to visit a church. He arrived early, parked his car, and got out. Another car pulled up near him, and the driver told him, “I always park there. You took my place!”
The visitor went inside for Sunday School, found an empty seat, and sat down. A young lady from the church approached him and stated, ”That’s my seat! You took my place!” The visitor was somewhat distressed by this rude welcome, but said nothing.
After Sunday School, the visitor went into the church sanctuary and sat down. Another member walked up to him and said, “That’s where I always sit. You took my place!” The visitor was even more troubled by this treatment, but still said nothing.
Later, as the congregation was praying for Christ to dwell among them, the visitor stood, and his appearance began to change. Horrible scars became visible on his hands and on his sandaled feet. Someone from the congregation noticed him and called out, “What happened to you?”
The visitor replied, “I took your place.”
—————- —————- —————-
Jesus died for us. He took our place and died for our sins on the calvary.
Live this new life that He gave us, expressing our gratitude to Jesus for taking our place.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Instructions For Life by Dalai Lama


1. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
2. Memorize your favorite poem.
3. Don’t believe all you hear.
4. Don’t spend all you have.
5. Don’t sleep all you want.
6. When you say, “I love you”, mean it.
7. When you say, “I’m sorry”, look the person in the eye.
8. Be engaged at least 6 months before you get married.
9. Believe in love at first sight.
10. Never laugh at anyone’s dreams.
11. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it’s the only way to live life completely.
12. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
13. Don’t judge people by their relatives.
14. Talk slowly, but think quickly.
15. When someone asks you a question you don’t want to answer, smile and ask, “why do you want to know?”
16. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
17. Call your parents.
18. Say, “God bless you” when you hear someone sneeze.
19. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.
20. Remember the 3 r’s: respect for self; respect for others; responsibility for all your actions.
21. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
22. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
23. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.
24. Marry a person you love to talk to. As you grow older, his or her conversational skills will be as important as any other.
25. Spend some time alone.
26. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.
27. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
28. Read more books and watch less tv.
29. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll get to enjoy it a second time.
30. Trust in God but lock your car.
31. A loving atmosphere in your home is so important. Do all you can to create a tranquil, harmonious home.
32. In disagreements with loved ones, deal with a current situation. Don’t bring up the past.
33. Read between the lines.
34. Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality.
35. Be gentle with the earth.
36. PRAY. There’s immeasurable power in it.
37. Never interrupt when you are being flattered. Say, “thank you”.
38. Mind your own business.
39. Don’t trust a person who doesn’t close his or her eyes when you kiss them.
40. Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.
41. If you make a lot of money, put it to use helping others while you are living. That is wealth’s greatest satisfaction.
42. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a stroke of luck.
43. Learn the rules, then break some.
44. Remember that the best relationship is one where your love for each other is greater than your need for each other.
45. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
46. Remember that your character is your destiny.
47. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

You Never Know Who Is Watching Your Actions

Saturday, February 26, 2011

The Path of LOVE


#1
Every child will know God
For their soul is God.
So look to the child in you
And you will find GOD

It is the time
And the world
And you growth in the world
That makes you forget about  GOD in you
You cannot sense HIM
You cannot touch HIM
You cannot hear HIM
He lost in you as you lost in the world.

Go to your child
Back to your GOD
Find HIM
He is always there
Waiting for you
As He is your soul

#2
The path with HIM is alone
You cannot enter with anybody else
It is alone, always
You might thinks you take something
But at the end , you know  you cannot
You may try to bring someone 
But at last you know, it is useless
There is a reason
A good one, when He says
“Don’t bring anything with you”
For He knows
Things only a thing
Someone is nothing
They just slowing you down

But a man had to experience it
Otherwise the heart of a man would not understand

The meaning of to walk with HIM
In a very lonely, dark, empty and dry path of love


Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Antara aku, Allah dan Salib


Nama ku, Grace.

Kata papa dan mamaku, nama itu adalah terjemahan bebas dari nama tiga hurufku: Oen Ai Sien yang artinya rahmat cinta dalam keluarga Oen. (Ehem.. cashingku memang choco-manize ambon ikut mamaku; tapi aku tetap saja blasteran tionghoa dari papaku). Berhubung aturan main dari pemerintah yang melarang penggunaan nama Tionghoa tapi tak melarang nama dari daratanAmerika, jadilah orangtuaku memutuskan agar aku menyandang nama Grace. Rahmat. (entah mengapa orangtuaku ndak terinpirasi untuk pakai nama Jawa-Indonesia; kalau iya, mungkin sekarang aku dipanggil: Rahmawati)

Lalu, apa hubungannya dengan Allah; apalagi dengan salib?

Begini, sejak masuk di Postulat sampai lulus Novisiat, salah satu renunganku dalam kisah Injil tentang Janda yang Miskin, aku selalu mengatakan pada pembimbingku: “Suster, saya masih memberi dari kelebihan saya. Belum dari kekurangan saya; sehingga….” Dst, dsb, dll……

Lalu saya menjalani masa Yuniorat dan berjumpa dengan Teologi Salib di Sekolah Fisafat Dryakara. Pada perjumpaan pertama (saya bolos sesi Pengantar.. ada tugas.. ehem!) saya mulai dengan tema: Penderitaan Dalam Perjanjian Lama.  Tema yang begitu mendengarnya sudah membuat perut jadi lapar! Sudah membahas tentang “penderitaan” dilihat dari konteks jaman kuda bengong melihat besi. Di kepalaku berputar film telenovela 3 babak yang menggambarkan orang-orang berwajah kaku macam di semen;  bicaranya ngeluh dan negative melulu;  harapan digantung seperti jaman sekarang berharap para koruptor bisa diberi “pelatihan” yang pas supaya jadi pribadi yang puas dengan apa yang ada sehingga tidak sibuk raup jatah nasi orang lain. Aduh, lapaaaarrrr ni.

Munculah Pastor Deasy dengan kemeja bercorak batik. Hmmm… cocok juga. Pikirku. Rambutnya yang dibabat habis membuat wajahnya jadi segar. Hmmmm bagus juga. Pikirku. Ndak membayang Pastor Deasy muncul dengan jubah belel dengan rambut gondrong-gimbal-anti gunting.  Ditangannya beliau menenteng tas dan bukan tongkat gembala. Well, baik juga kalau beliau bawa tongkat gembala.... bakal membuat semua yang hadir mengurangi ketegangan karena mau bicara soal: p.e.n.d.e.r.i.t.a.a.n. 

Lalu mulailah pastor Deasy mengulang pertemuan pertama (yang saya tidak hadir itu loh..) bahwa penderitaan adalah sebuah keadaan yang tak terhindarkan. Bahasa kerenya: “malum”. Lalu si malum ini dibandingkan dengan “bonum”, “unum”, “venum” dan “pulchrum” tapi tidak dengan chrysanthemum, tentunya. Beda spesies. Kondisi yang takterhindarkan ini muncul karena ada kehendak, hasrat atau desire. “Kalau tidak ada desire maka manusia tidak merasakan apapun,” singkat kalimat: tanpa kehendak maka tak ada perasaan, tanpa perasaan tak ada peneritaan yang notabene termasuk dalam keluarga perasaan. 

Ok deh!.

Aku menarik napas panjang, duduk sedikit lebih tegak (di depan saya seorang bapak yang cukup tinggi) dan tangan di atas kertas catatan sambil memegang pena merek Sarasa warna hitan yang saya sukai. Saya lirik Sr. Ayda dan Sr. Reta di sebelah kiri saya. Serius bo’!

Pastor Deasy memulai dengan jenis dan pola penderitaan yang dialami bangsa Israel dalam Perjanjian Lama. Bagaimana Allah digambarkan sayang banget sama bangsa Israel (heran.. kok ndak dengan bangsa Indonesia saja yang ramah, lemah lembut dan suka menabung ini ya?). Sebegitu sayangnya Allah pada Israel  sampai-sampai  Allah mengorbankan bangsa lain demi bangsa Israel (phew.. untung bangsa Indonesia ada dibelahan dataran yang berbeda dengan bangsa Israel).  Pastor Deasy mengajukan pernyataan yang membuat perut kosong semakin melompong: bangsa Israel merasa dibela Allah, sementara bangsa lain mengalami kekerasan Allah. (Hmmm… bangsaku tergolong yang ….??) 

Lalu Pastor Deasy semakin membangun profil Allah (wah! Macam para detektif di film Profiller tu) dalam konteks Perjanjian Lama dengan mengungkapkan bawah Allah memang membela Israel, tapi kalau Israel tidak setia: cilaka!!!. Allah digambarkan sedemikian adilnya sampai-sampai Allah rela mendidik bangsa Israel (yang digandrungiNya) dengan mengirimkan segala jenis kesusahan dan penderitaan sebagai usaha Allah mengembalikan Israel. (WOW! Allah pasti lebih capek dari KPK ya?!) Tiba-tiba, Pastor Deasy mengajukan pertanyaan yang membuat perut kosong melompong jadi nyaris bolong. “Apakah anda siap beriman pada Allah yang bersikap dan berkepribadian seperti itu?” Lalu belaiu melanjutkan: “Moga-moga sudah mulai gelisah”. TUINGGGG!!!!

Ternyata Pastor Deasy belum selesai. Baru babak pembuka ni. Beliau melanjutkan dengan: Penderitaan Tanpa Makna. Dengan suara yang dalam, Pastor Deasy menjelaskan sesuatu yang sudah dihayati oleh pada umumnya manusia (tentu termasuk saya) yaitu Hukum Retribusi dan Kebebasan Allah.
Hukum Retribusi paling mudah karena sudah dipelajari sejak lahir. Anak baik dapat hadiah, anak nakal dapat hukuman.  Orang baik masuk surga, orang jahat tinggal di neraka.  Orang rajin akan beruntung sedang orang malas akan buntung. Kembali profil Allah digambarkan sebagai pribadi yang adil 100%.
Hukum yang sudah terima dan dihayati sejak kecil ini mulai dapat counter strike dari kenyataan hidup. Tidak selalu yang malas jadi buntung tuh! Bahkan malas, culas dan beringas happy-happy saja. Sebaliknya, sudah jujur, berani mengungkapkan kebenaran malah tetap jadi miskin bahkan masuk penjara. Sun Tzu, moyangku (hi..hi), pernah berkata: orang yang paling malang di dunia adalah orang baik yang mebawa payung saat hujan. Kenapa? Karena saat hujan turun, datanglah orang jahat yang merebut payungnya itu. (Hiks… sad but true). Terus, Allah ada dimana waktu hujan turun ya?. Mulailah Pastor Deasy menjelaskan Kitab Ayub. Dimana Ayub, si orang super baik itu tetap mendapat penderitaan walau ia tidak melakukan apapun yang dapat membuatnya patut mendapat hukuman.  Allah tampil dalam  pribadi yang bebas. Manusia baik atau manusia jahat tidak ada urusan; bagi Allah yang dapat memberikan penderitaan sesuai dengan kebebasanNya. “Jadi, tidak ada patokan tertentu atau aturan baku” kata Pastor Deasy. Kemudian pastor Deasy kembali mengajukan pertanyaan yang membuat perut kosong-melompong dan nyaris bolong jadi mengong-gong. “Seberapa mau kita mengakui dan membiarkan serta menerima Kebebasan Allah?” Waduh…..

Saya membayangkan Allah. Keren seperti Piere Brosnan. Matang seperti Sean Connery, suka berpetualang macam karakter Indiana Jones. Cerdik, iseng dan doyan main seperti Johny Deep dalam karakter Jack Sparrow dan tentu saja lucu seperti Jacki Chen. Sebuah gagasan sempurna untuk Allah versi saya pribadi. Lalu saya tempelkan kata “Kebebasan Allah: mutlak!” wah! Saya kaget sendiri dengan perubahan perasaan dari romatis-dramatis ke kecut-muncrut!. Hah??!! Siapa sudi? Cetusku. Well… Allah memang baik tapi….
Saat itu pop-up di kepalaku kalimat sakti dari suster Jeane Hartono, pembimbing retret 8 hariku  “Suster, kebebasan bukan segala-galanya” Entah bagaimana kata-katanya seperti membuka kotak kebijaksanaan yang selama ini ditabung oleh para pembimbingku. (Tabungan yang kurang ku hargai dan otomatis jarang ku pakai).
“Maukah kamu memberi?”
“Bagaimana kamu memberi?”
Bayangan berbagai tantangan hidup, terutama sikap perfeksionisku yang ditantang habis-habisan dalam 6 bulan pertama di Jl.Pos membuat aku sadar. Tidak hanya aku belajar lebih dalam pada hidup doa. Tidak saja aku belajar menyeimbangkan hidup doa, komunitas dan karya. Tapi secara berkesinambungan juga mengkoreksi cara pandangku tentang: Allah. Lalu secara alamiah Allah mengundang saya untuk belajar memberi walau tidak punya.  (kok loncat ya??? Saya juga tak tahu…)

Ternyata  Allah mau agar saya sadar bahwa saya sudah dicekoki  dengan cinta kasih versi Perjanjian Baru tetapi masih saja menghayati Perjanjian Lama. Cara pandangku tak berubah, sehingga dalam menghayati hidup dan bertindak saat ini pun saya tidak mengalami perubahan apapun. Motto: “kalau bisa dipermudah mengapa dipersulit” yang pernah saya genggam mulai kehilangan daya tarik. Kemudahan terutama karena kebebasan  bersifat relative. Kebebasan apalagi yang mendatangkan kemudahan memiliki kesengsaraannya sendiri. Saat saya meletakan kebebasan pada Kebebasan Allah, maka kebebasan pribadi  tidak menjadi segalanya bagiku. Kebebasan Allah jadi segalanya buatku. Dan aku belajar menghayati ketaatan dengan menangkringkan salib yang bebas dari beban emosi. 

Akhir dari topic Kebebasan Allah ditutup dengan penjelasan: Kematian sebagai sebuah titik penting! Ibarat sudah dihajar habis-habis, tiba-tiba Pastor Deasy member peluang untuk hit & run ala Mohamad Ali. “Kata Pemazmur..” ujar Pastor Deasy yang berkelit dengan bawa nama orang lain bahwa Allah perlu menolong manusia untuk keluar dari penderitaan dan dosa. Soalnya, tidak ada orang mati yang bakal memuji Allah; hanya manusia hidup yang memuji Allah. Seolah-olah Allah dibujuk oleh Pemazmur untuk membantu manusia.
Kematian sebagai awal dari kabar Keselamatan inilah yang membuat seseorang seperti diberi jendela untuk tetap hidup walau mendapatkan hajaran dalam hidup. 

Dan ini baru babak pertama dari Pastor Deasy. Selanjutnya beliau mulai dengan Penderitaan Bermakna. Bahwa penderitaan dalam Perjanjian Lama juga bermakna: Memurnikan dan Mematangkan serta Penebusan.
Penderitaan bermakna yang memurnikan dan mematangkan seperti api (Yeh 22:17-22) dan (Yes 48.9-10). Manusia diharapkan sebagai mahluk kesayangan Allah yang  sipa diuji dan dicoba agar semakin murni. (Sir.2.1-5).  Lalu Pastor Deasy melontarkan pertanyaan menggelitik “yang jadi persoalan, sampai kapan pemurnian itu?’ Yahhh… perut kosong melompong nyaris bolong terus mengong-gong itu jadi monyong. Sudah diangkat seperti dibanting lagi. “ya seperti Yesus, sampai akhir hayat!” cetus si Pastor santai. Seolah pertanyaan dan jawaban hanya buat dirinya sendiri dan tidak berdampak apapun buat yang dengar.
Penderitaan bermakna yang berikut adalah penderitaan yang membawa keselamatan dan penebusan.  Penderitaan dari sudut pandang ini, menurut Pastor Deasy, bakal member ruang bagi setiap orang untuk memikul penderitaan sebagai sebuah usaha mendatangkan berkat. “seperti kemartiran,” tegasnya. Dimana kematian juga dipandanga sebagai titik bagian dari proses sebuah kehidupan rohani yang tak berawal dan berakhir.

Lalu, apa hubungannya antara saya, Allah dan salib?
Nah, hubungannya jelas. Allah memberi saya banyak rahmat sesuai dengan nama saya, Grace. Allah membuay saya lebih dalam  mengenaNya sebagai Bapa dari perspektifNya. Dia pun melatih saya untuk lebih sadar dalam memanggul salib dengan caraNya. Alhasil sekarang saya bisa lebih gembira, dan mulai mampu berkata: “suster, Allah Bapa ngajarin saya cara memberi dari ketidakmampuan dan ketidakpunyaan saya loh. Dia memperlihatkan bahwa dDari ketidakberdayaan saya, saya tetap bisa member;  karena Allah yang BEBAS telah mendidik  saya untuk  belajar membiarkan DIA bebas dalam mengatur saya.”
Amin… Amin… Amin…

Aduh Mak! LAPAR ni… 
Semoga next week Pastor Deasy tidak bicara dengan tema yang mendatangkan petaka kelaparan seperti ini.

Jakarta, 22 Feb 2011 PESTA Tahta Suci S.Petrus



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