Move within

How beautiful and serene, to have a heart which is always happy, always satisfied and accepting. I really love to read the lives of the saints, among them who did not bother themselves with complains about anything, in regard  of their circumstances. St. John (Ivan) the Russian who was sold as a slave in far away country Turkey, yet he did his best in life, loving his Heavenly Master and his fellow mankind with such purity and humility. Blessed mother Gavrillia, who was so meek as lamb accepting God's calling and in keeping say yes to the Lord of Beauty.

These stories have always touched my heart and soul, and they moved me so much.
How many times have I not been grateful;  forgetting the most essential thing to pursue: to attain the love toward God and toward others. So many times have I been so occupied with pursue of my own fulfillment, enjoyment and indulgence in my day time? Nothing so wrong about enjoying life, though, because our Lord is Lord of joy, but it is in the excessive and seeking first the quick gratifications from time to time instead of the kingdom could put us in really great danger.
How lovely then it is to reflect back to what our beloved Lord and Master taught us, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and its righteousness." This is not merely a command as I ponder on this manner, it is also such a blessing and encouragement to us to go to the very original nature of us. We are created for Him and for the kingdom of God. It is the answer of answers about meaning of life and this should be in our deepest mind in anything that we do in and out.
He has pointed us to the deepest wisdom which human being could think of: to come back to the Loving Creator and to serve Him with all his heart, might and soul through his love toward his neighbors.
Could this be possible? With God everything is possible! But only with Him. Without Him, we can do nothing. So, it starts with the grace of Holy Spirit in us, and by then through this grace which we keep through constant repentance, our strength is sustained and strengthened. Thus, abiding in Him we are filled with awe of his love and faithfulness. This awe produces humility and trust in God no matter what. Refined soul is made radiant with such joy in knowing that God is working goodness for the ones who loves Him. And this beauty moves within the heart of His people to bear everything, to trust, to love all. And that is what we see in the life of His saints St. John the Russian, Mother Gavrillia and others through the ages.

Through the prayers of St. John the Russian, Blessed Mother Gavrillia, and all the saints, Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and save us!

Acts of mercy

This reflection made my heart leaps in joy! How beautiful and sweet is the truth that we are created in Christ and for Christ. Nothing can come between His love and us. He has pour out his love and it's not hidden before our eyes, when he faithfully and out of his good will, ascended to the Cross in the flesh to trample down sin and death, and bestow us victory and life.
From the very beginning of our life, it is about Christ and his faithfulness which sustains us day by day. And truly  it is a great and awesome mystery, what is son of man that Lord is mindful of him? Yet, the Lord's generous care is indescribable.
Yes, on this earth we still see so many sorrows and suffering due to ignorance, violence, worries and sickness, and that will always be with us, as a witness of how the world starving for the Original love which she had been designed for. The way suffering and sorrows can be transformed into joy in the Lord is not through despair and indolence or murmuring in the mouth, rather in the spirit of love, compassion and good will toward all. Even slightest kindness and acts of mercy does make difference. Yet, discernment is needed here as not to give materialistic hope.
The way of the kingdom sometimes turned out to be somehow different from what the world would suppose.  They think that by freeing people from poverty above all, somehow they will deliver people from torments of this world. They come and fix the infrastructure, teaching them how to live in better prosperity and education.   However the essence of the suffering stay the same and might even be untouched. It cannot be healed through making of better settlement or better civilization which supposedly deliver people from the sorrows.
"Go and sell all your belongings and give it to the poor." That could be in some sense work in quite contrary way. Act of emptying ourselves for the sake of the kingdom so that all that we are filled with God alone and His love is the core and heart of all reaching out. But the unfortunate thing would be if we exchange this with the desire to wipe out poverty and suffering at first hand. History witnesses how even God worked through times of trouble and harvest his saints all over places.
Thus, how? When all reach out is about love of God and His presence, then, that's it. The acts of mercy, kindness and generosity follows and falls into its right places. These acts won't overshadow the main purpose  nor be the substitute of the goal, that is to challenge people to come back to the Lord to be cured, healed and freed. It is like what Mother Gabriella used to tell, "Education is to teach children to love God."
Love Christ zealously, joyfully and whole-heartedly, then through this love, silence and prayers visit and love our neighbors. These two can never be divorced. Glory to God.

 

Speak into their language

When I went to Thailand and stayed sometime there, actually there was something which made me so glad and feel awesome. That something was to be able to speak and got connected with Thai friends. Even though I just know a little --pood nitnoy phasaa Thai, but simply to speak in their language was such a great joy! When I spoke like them, I feel very connected with them. I have not been in many countries yet, but I am totally in love with Thailand.
It's simply amazing to try to dive into the soul of people which are culturally different from mine. Their hospitality, respect and acceptance made me feel somehow related historically. And I think we did -- Javanese and Thai people shared some kind of relationship which made my heart so warm.
Yes, sometimes I really want to connect and build meaningful communication with neighbors. However, lots of times I forgot to speak and simplify my message into their language. It can be a challenge for an effective encounter when two charges involved insisted on the view of each other. When we are willing to give up our prejudice, bias and perception to be calm and clear as still water, then we can reflect the peace inside and be  a blessing even by our very presence.
This is a part of caring. Even the Lord God in His mercy spoke in human language so that his message could be understood. When understanding is present, then care and love is cultivated and nurtured. How I miss the time to hear the joyful moment of Pascha when Holy Gospel is read in different languages, proclaiming salvation of all. Glory to God!

Occasion of Prayer

I got this beautiful quote from the Church Father facebook group page. This piece is from St. Nikolai and I really want to share with you.

Sleep makes me weary, but You give me rest. There is no rest for one who is weary unless he looks at You, nor is there any sweetness for one embittered unless he converses with You, nor is there any health for one who is sick unless he touches Your hand, nor is there any purification for one who is impure unless he bathes in Your light.
St Nikolai

This quote reminds me of the joy of being Christians! The Lord is always there to love us with boundless love. And we, as His children it is for us to cling joyfully in Him and love Him with all we are. How His love has conquered all, even death.

Thus no reason for despair and coldness. Every moment, every occasion in life could be transformed into the occasion of prayer and into our persistence to endure all things so that His love might be revealed even more clearly and to love Him even more.

In happiness: offer radiant praise to the Merciful Lord
In distress: remember His faithfulness and seek His Guidance
In struggle: invoke His holy name fervently
At hard work: plea unto Him to sanctify us through it

In the moment of falling: ask His mercy and strength
In the company of joyous people: be joyful and sing the sweetest praise
In the company of difficult person: be silent and pray for him or her
At the shadow of sadness: seek His words and be comforted

In the moment of forgetfulness: knock with shameless persistence to implore His help
In the cruel weather: see His mighty clouds and be silent
In the charge of tending His children: trust His holy Name to lead and to transform
At the hour of temptation: flee unto Him and abide in His holy presence

In all occasion, stay in His presence and enjoy His countenance which is beyond description! O so sweet is the fragrance of the Lord's hands!

with eyes open

I am so intrigued to learn how ancient cultures got some new inventions, let's say for example the herbal medicine, paper, silk, etc. Those precious inventions were mostly came to be through the process which I prefer to say, "partly conscious." The story often included a little 'incident' which results in a vastly impacting result from generation to generation. Many people would easily ignore those little incidents or simply leave them unnoticed.

However, as the history witnessed, in the right people's eyes, those small events can be transformed into such creativity. It is the capturing and reflecting upon these insignificant happening with attention and understanding which make difference. An observant mind, a mind which is not lazy and doesn't let things goes by into nothing. It is creative mind which gains strengths through silence and deep thoughts.

What about today? Almost everything seemed to be just so-so. Then, may be listening more attentively and open the eyes more widely could help. But yes, again and again it is not the self-directed approach which will work. We always need guidance to make things sense. Through that filter and framework, we won't only see things properly but  also they will be transformed by our very presence in the Lord.

That's why the remembrance of the Lord is very essential, as when the mind and heart is occupied by the reverence of the Lord, she will absorb the sweetness and fragrance inside out. Only by then, those small and may be insignificant plots of the day can be transformed into the encounters which are filled with love, filled with creativity as the result of discernment and peace at heart.

With eyes open through your light
The vision becomes so bright
set all things into its right
and attracting the mercy might

Silently, quietly without sound
Let Him whisper in the chamber of heart
When life unto him is bound
then there it comes to the highest art

Good Will towards all

Whether it rains or pours, whether it's sunshine or drought, the Lord's faithfulness and wisdom made manifest. Bearing a little bit curiosity in my mind about what actually going on this week there in the sky above, I simply could only be quiet and felt the heat of the sunlight in Palembang (the name of city in South Sumatra which I live). It's just above the normal for me, reaching up to 35 Celsius. Eventually, yesterday it rained with hail and storm. The weather has been rather extreme!

Thank God for the protection and grace that He sustains us! How beautiful it is to know that the Lord has always good will and love toward us his creation. What else can be so consoling and giving peace but the remembrance of the love and mercy of the Lord at all times. It is our part to be receptive of his calling, of his ceaseless care and good will toward all.

Not only receptive, but being reflective of his love like a mirror, like a painting, as the image of Him in having good will, caring and loving toward even the least of His brothers and sisters. Yes, it can be so though struggle when it comes to the old-self tendency. This old self will prefer to dwell even in the slightest thought about other's weaknesses, very especially when those things had wounded us in someway.

Even the small negative thought of others can be harmful to the soul. Turning these thoughts into humble and sincere prayer is marvelous way to take refuge in the Lord. Well, this is not the matter of being nice and polite (which is so dominant in my culture), it's beyond that, simply because what is in the heart radiates through our words and actions. There will be significant difference when something is done in hatred and resentment or when something is done out of care, attention and good will. The Lord sees all! Isn't it He who told us to love each other, even to love our enemies. With the pure intention to glorify God and to be blessed by Him, we will radiate the love of Christ!

Glory to God!

Squeeze

Not giving up the best is away faster and easier for the one who wish quick gratification. But, unfortunately, this is not the path into holiness. The path of holiness consist in the totality of our strength, love, heart and mind being attached and obsessed with God. And as usual, when it is about denying our old-self, it is not easy process.
In this manner, I am pondering the word 'squeeze' which I really love. It sounds like when we want to extract the best from a flower or fruit, we squeeze it until the sweetest (or at least the strongest) essence of these herbs comes out. Again, I can see the examples of many of our Saints both in the Scriptures and afterward living such a life which softly but inevitably tell us,


Just like a fruit sweet and tender
or flower in fragrant robe 
They are squeezed 
and yet
glowing brighter
reserving all the best
for the Master

When I bring this reflection upon myself, I realize that how far I am from those God-pleasing persons. I still let all those spacious spots in my life untended, or rather half-hearted tended. Those who really loves God has great desires and energy for God and that always amazes the world from time to time.

Enthusiasm for the Lord and for His Kingdom! How beautiful and desirable. All His righteous prophets and beloved people always has this with them. That's why a humble faith moves the mountain, for they live by the love toward the Lord of all. And for My sheep knows My voice and they joyfully run after this.

How lovely it is, when in the grace of God we carefully keep our obedience and diligently tend it just like a simple gardener tend his beloved plants. It might seem so simple and quiet, but it doesn't matter how wide is the land, but how much careful attention and love we pour out on that simple thing and eventually we are enabled to be faithful in little matters. 

Thus we will work anything which is entrusted to us whole-heartedly, beautifully and with full of energy and enthusiasm knowing that this is a providence from God to sanctify us!
Taste and see How good the Lord is!