in that little smile

One among the things which I find can make difference in our days is this: to appreciate others and honor their presence. When I look deeper into this, this is the first gate we go through if we want to pass on our love to others. Simply pause ourselves, look at their faces and feel their hearts through their eyes then we can start our ministry of presence to them, in the Lord's mercy. Yes, I admit that sometimes the thoughts, concerns and cares can be very demanding our (my) attentions. And I think it's good for us to stay focus on what we need to do as our responsibility. However, as long as it is in our power to stop the activity for a while so that we may offer help to others, it will be very beneficial.

This is very related to the attentive state of heart. We always keep watch and catch every opportunities given by the Lord in our days to glorify Him even through the least that we can do. When we are willing to be faithful in the little things, He is pleased.. and out of His love He'll entrust us to do great things. Let's have at least the desire to welcome others and to spare what we have -life, time, attention, care, belongings, money- to them in Love, and let's follow what the Lord doing in Scripture and our lives. Let's look to others in peace of heart... by gentle gaze, sincere smile and mindful listening... through small gifts, honest compliments. It's always good thing to give thanks to God for the people whom He sends us; and also to honor their presence and appreciate them ;)!

less imbalance

Some strong and attached felling can be counter-productive sometimes. One among the hardest aspects of life that is hard (at least for me) to understand is about feeling and emotions. It's just as mysterious, continuous and fluid as I expect it to be. The more I discover, the more I am convinced that it's something which needs to be trained and tamed, just like our tigers. Especially I am concerned of the way of expressing some kind of strong (even impulsive) and demanding feeling. In this is the spot of self-mastery lies.

When I think of the key principle of the expression management, I find something which almost always true: that we can not control others at any point. Let them think freely, judge freely and acts freely toward us according to what comes into their hearts. We can love and influence others as long as it is in our power to do that, yet we can not make that person to keep love us and to be what we want. There could be no love if there's no freedom. The hard part for me personally is to accept that at times. It's unpleasant to hear the harsh comments, critics or rough truth about myself. And lately, I have to face it in a little bit high dose.

I keep praying to the Lord that He grants me wisdom and discernment. Lest I fall into the trap of self-pity and fail to see others and to love them. Yes, it's easy for me to fall into that trap, I will only go forth in Lord's mercy alone... Thus, this beautiful prayer I ascend before the merciful God, the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

Where there is injury, pardon.

Where there is doubt, faith.

Where there is despair, hope.

Where there is darkness, light.

Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive.

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.

rhythm of day

Another thing came to my mind is to learn to be flexible and humble to accept whatever life may bring. In my ancestor's language, a word which refers to this is 'nrimo' which simply means (v) to accept. It's especially true when I walked in the villages where the villagers simply do what they need to do sometimes without any lofty ambition but to work and eat with smiles in their face (picture: a Javanese lady nrimo). In nrimo, we are taught not to be passive and giving up, but to be so much flexible and flow like the water in the stream. Be it in the trouble and great sorrow, be it in happy moments, simply accept what is going on and do what we can do with it in peace of mind, and not with ambitions. That what makes Javanese so meek and yet sometimes unheard, unmoved.

Now, it's time for me to recognize this and come back to the rhythm of the day... being present and give the heart totally to the Lord and what He entrusts me. There is time to draw the water and there is a time to pour it out. Freely receive, freely give. Never take a hold and nrimo, because the faithful Hands of the Lord is at work!