Is Seeing Believing?

Sometimes we demand too much from The Almighty. We asked for loads of things, girl/boyfriend, wealthy, health, job, promotion, etc. And when we found out that God didn't answer our prayers we started to doubt HIS existence. We started to think that God is something that human created in order to find peace and satisfaction in facing the pity of real live situation (ie. rejection, sad moments, etc). We when doubt HIS existence we started to lose our faith, we don't believe 'BELIEVE' in God anymore. We acknowledge God, all the tales, good-bad behaviour, etc but thats it, end of the story. At this point we've become a very rationale-based person. 1+1 = 2. If I don't see it, if I can't touch/smell/eat it, then I don't believe it.

From the tales we've heard about the God's creation in the past, we always believe that God works in a mysterious way. Well guess what, HE still works in a mysterious ways, sometimes we're to blind to see how things work 'magically' in our lives. Try to look around, see what you can find? Every second that passed is God's miracle, is God's way to lead you to a better live. As I always believe, everything happens for a reason. Thus, we shall learn and appreciate life.

Okay enough about me babbling about God and faith. Today I feel like writing about seeing-is-believing, thats why, as a person who have faith, I believed this analogy would go along with the main topic.

I'm going to close this post with a story from one my favourite writers, Paulo Coelho. I found this story is related to the topic, and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I do.



Raj Tells Me a Story

A widow from a poor village in Bengal did not have enough money to pay her son's bus fare, and so, when the boy started going to school, he would have to walk through the forest all on his own, In order to reassure him, she said:
'Don't be afraid of the forest, my son. Ask you God Krishna to go with you. He will hear you prayer.'
The boy followed his mother's suggestion; Krishna duly appeared; and from the on, accompanied him to school every day.
When it was his teacher's birthday, the boy asked his mother for some money in order to buy him some present.
'We haven't have any money, son. Ask your brother Krishna to get you a present.'
The following day, the boy explained his problem to Krishna, who gave him a jug of milk.
The boy proudly handed the milk to the teacher, but the other boys' presents were far more superior and the teacher didn't even notice his gift.
'Take that jug of milk to the kitchen,' said the teacher to an assistant.
The assistant did as he was told. However, when he tried to empty the jug, he found that it immediately filled up again of its own accord. He informed the teacher, who was amazed and asked the boy:
'Where did you get that jug, and how does it manage to stay full all the time?'
'Krishna, the god of forest, gave it to me.'
The teacher, the students and the assistant all burst out laughing.
'There are no gods in the forest. That's pure superstition,' said the teacher. 'If he exist, let's all go and see him.'
the whole group set off. The boy started calling for Krishna but he did not appear. The boy made one last desperate appeal.
'Brother Krishna, my teacher wants to see you. Please show yourself!'
At that moment, a voice emerged and echoed throughout the forest.
'How can he possibly want to see me, my son? He doesn't even believe I exist!'

Paulo Coelho,
adapted from 'Like The Flowing River'.

Cheers.

Catatan Awal Tahun

Selamat Tahun Baru 2012! Semoga di tahun yang baru ini semua impian, cita2 dan harapan kita terwujud, dan yang paling penting kita bisa menjadi pribadi yang lebih baik dari tahun2 sebelumnya.

Untuk catatan awal tahun saya hanya ingin mengingatkan diri sendiri untuk selalu bersyukur atas segala hal. Baik, buruk, bahagia, sedih, terjadi, ataupun tidak terjadi semua itu hendaknya selalu disyukuri. Saat kita diberi kesempatan untuk hidup di setiap hari baru, di setiap pagi baru, itu adalah suatu anugerah yang wajib disyukuri.

Hal lain yang saya ingin ingatkan kepada diri sendiri adalah kita hidup dalam suatu aliran sungai besar. Semua bermuara ke satu tujuan akhir, yaitu ke laut yang luas dan indah. Terkadang saat perjalana dari hulu ke hilir, kerap kali kita menemukan rintangan. Bebatuan, lumpur, tanah, sehingga kita sering kali tertambat atau terjengkal di tengah perjalanan, yang pada akhirnya memudarkan harapan kita.

Hendaknya kita belajar untuk menguatkan diri dengan ikhlas dan pasrah kepada Sang Pencipta. Karena hanya dari-Nya lah kita peroleh semua kekuatan untuk meneruskan usaha kita sampai ke hilir.

Saya akan menutup postingan kali ini dengan mengutip tweet teman saya, "Sometimes God doesn't give what you desire, not because you don't deserve it, but because you deserve more."


Salam.

Darling I Do

Some things just never change, and I thank you for that. :'-)

despicable me!

I never get tired with this trailer. Enjoy!

baby its cold outside

I wish I could sing this song with you my dear *sigh*

Season's Greetings folks!

cc: fastidious

Just for Today

Lord, for tomorrow and its needs I do not pray:
Keep me, my God, from stain of sin, Just for today.
Let me both diligently work, And duly pray:
Let me be kind in word or deed, Just for today.

Let me be slow to do my will, Prompt to obey:
Help me to mortify my flesh, Just for today.
Let me no wrong or idle word Unthinkingly say;
Set Thou a seal upon my lips, Just for today.

Let me in season, Lord, be grave, In season, gay;
Let me be faithful to Thy Grace, Just for today.
And if today my tide of life Should ebb away,
Give me Thy Sacraments divine, Sweet Lord, today.

In purgatory's cleansing fires Brief be my stay;
Oh, bid me, if today I die, Go home today.
So, for tomorrow and its needs, I do not pray;
But keep me, guide me, love me, Lord, just for today.

Sister M Xavier

RIP Steve Jobs

Today the world has lost one its best visioners. The man behind the Apple brand passed away this morning. Such an irony that Steve passed one after the latest iPhone 4S is introduced to the public. Later on after the news spread people comes with new terms for iPhone 4S = iPhone 4 Steve.

I was never a big fan of Apple product. As a matter of fact, up until now I only have 2 Apple products. I had the first gen of iPod Mini, I got it in 2005, and now its broken. After that I dont believe in Apple anymore, but last year I decided to give Apple another shot to become the part of my life. I bought a Macbook Pro 15" and believe me or not, this so-called-best-laptop-ever managed to changed my paradigm about computer into a new level. I came out with a conclusion that Apple computer is a computer created for people who can't use computer. Since then I became a big fan of their product. I was thinking of getting the new iPhone 4S as well. At first, I have doubt with the new iPhone, but after I saw the presentation and its features, I've made up my mind. I have to buy that phone. And I would consider that as a tribute to Mr. Steve Jobs and to honor his work.

I dont know you that well Mr. Jobs, I never even met you, but if I know you from your products. Your products speaks for itself of how you are trying to so hard to create technologies that understand human, and I thank you for that.

Good bye Steve! Rest in Peace, the world will never be like what it is right now if theres no Apple products around.

I'm going to close the post with two of my favorite Steve Jobs' quotes:

‎"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

"Stay hungry, stay foolish"

What is Love?

Is funny how people describe love in such different ways. Today my friend shared a picture/note about love, and here's what it says:

I approached a kid and asked:
"What is love?"

The kid answered,
"Love is when a puppy licks your face."

I laughed, but then he added.
"Even after you left him alone all day."

For me personally this picture/note contains three messages.

1. As a canine lover, who own five dogs, there's no doubt about this kid's statement. I believe that a combination of kids and puppies (not literally) will create the most adorable thing in the world.
2. The last sentence the kid said. Love is about having faith in your love one, you believe that no matter where you go, how long you will be gone, you know that love is the bond that holds you both together.
3. Same thing apply in our relationship with the Creator of life. No matter what mistake(s) you did, how awful your behavior is, the Creator will always open His hand when you need His help. He never neglect His best creation.

Spread the love people!

cheers

The Piece of Bread That Fell Wrong Side Up

We all have a tendency to believe in 'Murphy's Law': that everything we do will turn out wrong. Jean Claude Carriere has an interesting story about precisely that feeling.
A man was quietly eating his breakfast. Suddenly, the peace of bread that he had just spread with butter fell to the ground. Imagine his surprise when he looked down and saw that it had landed buttered side up! The man thought he had witnessed a miracle. Excited, he went to tell his friends what happened, and they were all amazed; because when a piece of bread fall on the floor, it nearly always lands buttered side down, making a mess of everything.
'Perhaps you're a saint,' one friend said. 'And this is a sign from God.'
Soon the whole village knew, and they all started animatedly discussing the incident: how was is that, against all expectations, the man's slice of bread had fallen on the floor buttered side up? Since no one could come up with a credible answer, they went to see a Teacher, who lived nearby and told him the story.
The Teacher requested that he be given one night to pray, reflect, and seek divine inspiration. The following day, they all returned, eager for an answer.
'It's quite simple really,' said the Teacher. 'The fact is that the piece of bread fell exactly as it should have fallen, but the butter had been spread on the wrong side.'

(Paulo Coelho, Like The Flowing River)


remember there's always two sides for everything.

Have a great Monday!

do not be afraid

just when you thought you were alone, when you think you can't do it anymore, always remember.

Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you
I have call you by your name, you are mine

When you walk through the waters I'll be with you
You will never sink beneath the waves

When the fire is burning all around you
You will never be consumed by the flames

Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you
I have call you by your name, you are mine

When the fear of loneliness is looming
then remember I am at your side

When you dwell in the exile of the stranger
remember you are precious in my eyes

Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you
I have call you by your name , you are mine

You are mine, O my child, I am your Father
and I love you with a perfect love.