Di seputar kita

By Krakatau

Selama dunia masih berputar
perbedaan tak pernah pudar
terbawa keangkuhan manusia
tak ingin membagi rasa

bukalah mata hati kita
bayangkan masa depan dunia
bersatu rasa untuk melangkah
demi meraih harapan
dunia yang indah

bayangkanlah kita semua
berjalan bersama
menuju hidup damai sejahtera
sempatkanlah untuk melihat
di sekitar kita
ada kesenjangan antara manusia
lihat sekitar kita ..

adakah sepercik bahagia
yang tersisa di hati kita
bergandeng tangan dekatkan hati
tiada perbedaan dalam cinta dan kasih


Teriring salam dan doa bagi saudara-saudara saya di seluruh Indonesia yang tengah tertimpa musibah - baik di Sumatera, Kalimantan, Jawa, Nusa Tenggara, Sulawesi, Maluku, Papua, dan semua tempat lainnya.

Salam juga buat Pak Presiden SBY yang berjanji untuk lebih banyak bertindak di tahun-tahun mendatang ketimbang sekedar mencari konsensus.

Saya lelah mendengar kritik dari berbagai pihak mengenai negara ini. Lelah melihat orang bertengkar. Lelah melihat begitu banyak orang berkomentar tanpa bertindak, karena merasa itu bukan bagiannya atau merasa tak berdaya.

Mbok ya lebih optimis. Lebih positif. Ayo ayo kerja. Lakukan apa yang kita bisa. Apa pun itu.

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From veronica decides to die

One of my favorite quotes from Paulo Coelho’s Veronica Decides to Die was when Veronica thought that her days were numbered and she started to see everyday as a miracle. Imagine that, to wake up everyday and see it as another miracle.

Which reminds me of another quote. Ernesto Guevara (yes, THE Che Guevara) who suffered from Asthma once said, “You don’t know what it is like. To want to breathe but not be able to.”

To see the simple act of waking up and breathing as a miracle and be grateful for it. When was the last time we felt that?

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Still on the path

Yesterday I did what I have not done for a long time. I sat alone with my books at a café. Reading my books. Watching people pass by. Doing nothing. Letting whatever popped in my mind popped. Being caught up between full time work, meeting friends, exercising and family made it more challenging for me to find the time and energy to do so.

And what popped was the times when I allowed myself more time to spend with myself, the times when I rigorously meditated and prayed, and the times when silence and emptiness were always welcomed and even seeked.

I missed those days. I wondered whether I have strayed away from my path. Then I texted my friend about this. I went out with another friend and discussed this as well.

The two occurrence yielded the same conclusion: that this actually is part of the journey. It is a journey that I – that we – have to undergo to become who we are, who we are destined to be, who we really are.

Perhaps this is the pragmatic phase for me, the time-for-action put-theory-into-practice do-something-for-community phase. Even the title of the blog has changed from pilgrim for life to chipping in. Even the ideas for the blog threads for me have shifted to practical matters.

Thank You for the answer. I feel better already.

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Used school books to give away anyone?

Anybody interested in helping my friend in her Program Anak Asuh (helping children in need get their education) by giving away used elementary school books or Indonesia-English dictionaries? Let me know. Thanks.

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Christmas and new year!

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Let’s hear it for moms!


This entry is dedicated to you, a strong supporter for breastfeeding. And for good reasons to. Hats off.

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Welcome home, lad

A friend of mine has just returned to Indonesia – after staying for about eight years abroad. Talented. Insanely smart. Honest. Sincere. Cool. Hard worker. Idealistic. Loyal. Good sense of humor. Vast array of knowledge. And he plays guitar and sings to.

We need more people like that.

Now he is home. Now we can continue our dreams, the ones that we used to talk about when we were in the university. A dream for our almamater. A dream for our country, our people, or for whoever or whatever it is we dedicate this to. The time could not have been more perfect.

Welcome home, lad. Good to have you back.

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