A Simple Case of He Said She Said

In today’s living environment where everyone is concerned about his or her own well-being, we often stuck in a situation where you have to choose to be just and wise or to save your own ass. Have you ever been in such situation? Well, I have and I can tell you that it is NOT FUN at all.

Lately I have been stuck in such situation where my only defence is myself and I could not bring myself to my own defend, hence everyone else choose to believe otherwise. Silly me, always choked when the time demand that I speak, always in tears when the time demand that I appear strong, and always trying to please everyone and end up beaten, bruised and broken.

I sure do not have some wise advise, good suggestion or way out, but I could I tell you what I always do in that situation, which are:
TRYING TO DO WHAT IS FAIRFair for everyone involves even if it means you have to go and cry it out in darkness or scream it out in silence. Remember that life is already unfair so why would we go and make it more unfair.

TRYING TO TELL THE TRUTHRegardless if people believe you or not, there is always HE who knows that, you are telling the truth. Remember that TRUTH is rare these days, so we have to preserve it and keep its existence.
So, no matter what happen to you in the end, if you do what I do, I can assure you that you will sleep better at night and wake up with a smile on your face. I know that should I have to face the same situation again, I would still do the same.

The Suburb VS The City

My last two weeks of 2008 was spent with nieces and nephews in the suburb on the east side of Jakarta. The house where I stayed in during the holiday is situated in a small housing complex. Having spent most of my time in the hustle city center of Jakarta, this was quiet an experience for me.

In that housing complex, your neighbours are practically your extended family. You can leave your keys at each other house so you do not have to leave it under the mat or flowers pot; you can share food; you can listen to each other’s grief and/or joy; you can even fight we each other.

What is more interesting to see is that children actually played outside their houses with their kites, bicycle or soccer ball. You could hear them chat, laugh, scream and cry from your porch. The sun are their ally and the rain their companion, the morning birds cheer them and the night crawlers intrigue them. What a rare view indeed, something that you will not be able to see or experience if you live in the city.

So, though I have to stay home most of the time because I was sick, I was actually enjoying these past two weeks. I could say that it was the most interesting holiday that I had in a long time.

JUST LOOK UP

Nowadays most people are worried by the emergence of these so-called “stateless army” – a group of people who are joined together by what they believed in. These are not a new religion or even a cult, although they sometimes based their group on religion, but in reality they do not even practise the religion or if they do practise it, they have blew it out of proportion that it makes no sense anymore.

In many nations around the world, we have seen more and more organization such as these. They recruited people as followers, make them agree with whatever the leader says, believe whatever the group choose to believe, and condemn or even destroy those who disagree with them. No nations, religious leader or even their own conscience is able to stop these group or organization.

What happen if this “stateless army” is strong enough to take over another nation?

Whatever happens to the term “AGREE TO DISAGREE”?

All these questions clouding my minds, as I watch the news everyday, people killing other people just for the sake of what they believe to be “the best of the best”, and the others are just not good enough to exist. In the past nations invaded other nations to expand their border, nowadays these “stateless army” invaded other people privacy, security and well being simply to be "THE ONE AND ONLY" in this big wide world. How crazy is that …?

The freedom of speech, the freedom of believes are manipulated by certain individual who has the brain to scheme it, the time and resources to develop it, and the “evil force” to back it. Innocent people are drawn into these groups because they are tired with the lies and deceits that their leaders put up everyday, they are looking for someone different. Someone who has the perfect charisma, the right charm and the clever words that could lead them, someone they could look up to.

Well, I could tell you one thing for sure, though, if you are looking for someone to look up to, you do not have to go very far – JUST LOOK UP! I have found Him there, and I will always find Him there. It is a crazy world we live in and only God could sustain you.

eSPIN Personality Test

I took "The eSPIN Personality Test"

and here are my results

Result: Saint (.... am I?)
You can't be a better person than a saint. You're selfless, sweet, and we wouldn't be surprised if you could perform a miracle or two. Of all the personality types on this test, yours is by far the most respectable. We mean, how couldn't everyone love you? Just remember, though - as nice as it is to help other people, sometimes you gotta help yourself a little, too. Don't be afraid to a little selfish every now and then. Seriously! We give you permission.

I wish I am all that and more ...

WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME ... ?

Result: Too Friendly (... again, am I?)
You're very open with people, which is great, but sometimes those people are wearing brass knuckles, which is not great. You tend to think that people are generally good at heart, and because of that, you're very trusting. People are drawn to your positive attitude and you tend to make friends easily. (You might also be a little vain, but hey, who could blame you? You're a good-looking individual, and you have a right to be a little cocky about it.) So where could you go wrong? Well, if you're too friendly, you might not be on alert for those folks you really shouldn't trust. So try to use more caution when you meet new people. And quit trading gym socks with strangers. That's just plain gross

JUST

In silence just betrays me

In denial just deceive me
Mere argument provoke the unjust
Strong debate obsolete the just
For no course of action could defend the just
When victory is on the side of the unjust

ON AGE

I think age is mind over matter, if you do not mind it doesn’t matter; those who mind usually are people who do not matter to you.

Favorites Mother Theresa’s quotes

• People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered; forgive them anyway
• If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; be kind anyway
• If you are successful, you will win some false friends, and some true enemies; succeed anyway
• If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you, be honest and frank anyway
• What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; build anyway
• If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; be happy anyway
• The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; do good anyway

Religion VS Faith

religions are MANMADE, a set of rules and regulations that bound to be a burdened,

whilst

faith is a CHOICE people made based on their own free will, a free will that God has given to each
and every living human being.

however

once you have chosen a faith, be faithful, after all you are the one making that choice!

Rules of My Life

• Pray always
• Assume nothing
• Expect little from everyone but more of myself
• Do more for others than I would for myself
• Need less
• Smile more often
• Laugh a lot
• Cry once in a while

IF BEST IS POSSIBLE, THAN GOOD IS NOT AN OPTION

Hari Minggu kemarin Romo Hani SJ memberikan homili yang bener bener kena di hati … Romo membahas soal arti tanda salib buat kita. Secara garis besar homilinya seperti ini:

Orang Katholik terkenal dengan ke-biasa-an nya membuat Tanda Salib sebelum melakukan segala sesuatu, seperi bangun tidur, mau makan, mau jalan, mau naik mobil, menang pertandingan, dll dsb. Setiap kali kita menyentuh kening, dada dan pundak, danmngucapkan DEMI NAMA BAPA DAN PUTRA DAN ROH KUDUS.

Romo mengartikan-nya, bahwa sebelum melakukan apa pun juga:

Dahi -- Gunakan otak / akal sehat mu agar dapat melakukan hal hal yang baik.

Dada – Gunakan hati mu untuk melakukan segala sesuatu dengan iklas.

Pundak – Gunakan seluruh kemampuan mu untuk melakukan yang terbaik yang kamu bisa.

Jadi ternyata prinsip aku untuk “DO THE BEST – ALWAYS” gak salah salah banget kan?! Jadi prinsip ku: “IF BEST IS POSSIBLE, THAN GOOD IS NOT AN OPTION”.

I always do the best I can, if I could do better I surely would, and when I can, I surely will.

Apologize -- One Republic

I'm holding on your rope,
Got me ten feet off the ground,
And I'm hearing what you say,
But I just can't make a sound,
You tell me that you need me,
Then you go and cut me down, away,
You tell me that you're sorry,
Didn't think I'd turn around, and say

That it's too late to apologize,
It's too late, I said it's too late to apologize,
It's too late, (Too late) Ooooooohhh

I take another chance,
take a fall, take a shot for you,
I need you like a heart needs a beat,
But it's nothing new, yeahhh yeahhh
I loved you with the fire red,
Now it's turning blue, and you said
Sorry like the angel,
Heaven let me think was you,
But I'm afraid

Human Nature

It is amazing how one can show their true colour when their very existence are threatened. It is human nature to put their interest before others; however should that attempt cost one, their conscience, their faith, even family and friends. How far is too far, how just is injustice if it is done to save one’s existence? I ponder at these thought day and night, and wonder would I have done the same to save my own ass. I came up empty … my own conscience betrays me! I guess my tendency to be accommodative would not suffice in many cases and I end up badly broken, beaten and un-conscious. For now, I just hold on to my tiny rope of faith, and hope that it will carry me through.

Ssamziegil Market

38 Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu

Ssamziegil Market is located in Insadong; it is my favorite shopping place in Korea. I know people talk about Itaewon, Nandaemun, Dongdaemun etc etc, but for me this is the best place. Talented and artistic people occupy the stores that are hip looking and trendy. You can even see some of the creator working in the shops. They sell all kinds of products from accessories to stationeries, clothing to house products, which are uniquely designed. It is a bit pricey tough, but it is worthy since you are buying a special design, on of a kind products. I would say this is a must visit place in Seoul