Memandangi Ka’baah

Malam itu, aku duduk sendiri di depan Ka’baah. Tidak ada agenda atau niat, selain untuk berada di situ. Juga tidak membawa keluhan atau permintaan khusus. Atau doa apa pun bersamaku. Terpekur bukanlah kata yang tepat. Karena aku tidak termangu. Aku hadir. Dipenuhi Cinta (kepada)-Mu. Labbaik allahumma labbaik.

Tak ada adab atau prosesi yang ingin kuterapkan. Apakah diperlukan adab tertentu saat berhadapan dengan Kekasih? Mungkin ada, satu: menghadapkan diri sepenuhnya, menghamparkan diri seada-adanya aku. Hadir sepenuh jiwa dengan hati berbunga.

Worthwhile

I have been supporting Nila Tanzil Petersen in her amazing initiative to set up community libraries in the remote areas in eastern Indonesia, named, Rainbow Reading Garden (Taman Bacaan Pelangi) since its inception.

But it wasn’t until two years ago, when I went with her and another friend, Metta, to Flores to visit the libraries, that I realised what she was doing. The one in this picture is the library about an hour from Labuan Bajo town, which is an hour by smaller plane from Bali.

Glimpses of blessing

Sometimes I have glimpses of how blessed I am.

The words above provides such instance for me. I read it and thought, “Hey, I am like that.” I live in a big packed city, work to make ends meet, and face various incidents in life, but I am like what the post says.

Kusadari lemahku

Ah rasa itu muncul lagi
Layak molekul cairan yang entropinya meningkat saat dipanaskan
Berkecamuk. Bergejolak
Terjadi setiap aku merasa senang dan semangat
Karena mencicip sesuatu yang kusuka
Memalingkanku dari-Mu

That we keep kidding ourselves

There was something I have just noticed about myself. I seem to have a(n even) lower treshold for small talks. Perhaps small talks is not the correct term.

What I mean is that I am not inclined to be in a conversation where we do not talk about what matters – to each of us at the moment.

If money is no object

There was a question posed several days ago: If money is no object, what would you do?

I am happy to find out that my response to the question is: “I would do the same things I am doing now – but magnified. And without any worries.”

“Without any worries.” Isn’t that interesting?

Might write more later. But this will do for now.

Help is everywhere

Life is always set to bring us a feast of experiences – each time with different colour, flavour and texture. There is always something to sit with, to bring about smiles and tears from the heart.

This is a short post to dearly acknowledge that help is everywhere. As and when I need it, help is always extended, gladly, whole-heartedly, and lightly. Always.

I thank all the angels in my life for this. I thank God, too. I thank you.

And you, know that you don’t have to go through this alone.

Is there … relaxation?

We were having our usual conversation.
I was so excited to tell you about the response that I heard on my latest question. I was pondering on how to have constant remembrance.
“I heard the words: surrender, let go, relaxation,” said I, eagerly.
You were silent for a second or two, before quietly responded, “Is there.. relaxation?”
“Of course!” I said.

I was taken aback by my own response.

About today

Earlier this month (of Ramadhan), I was inspired to write a blog post a day. I didn’t ask why. I just did it. So far I have been doing okay, skipping only one day, which I intend to make up the month after.

“Comms specialist” no more

A couple of months ago, I was asked to write an article for magdalene.co. I did. The editor asked if I could provide a short bio to go with the article. It took me a while to write it.

That was when I realised, I could not write me as “a communications specialist” anymore.