> Seorang lelaki berniat untuk menghabiskan seluruh waktunya untuk beribadah. Seorang nenek yang merasa iba melihat kehidupannya membantunya dengan membuatkan sebuah pondok kecil dan memberinya makan,sehingga lelaki itu dapat beribadah dengan tenang.
>
> Setelah berjalan selama 20 tahun, si nenek ingin melihat kemajuan yang telah dicapai lelaki itu. Ia memutuskan untuk mengujinya dengan seorang wanita cantik. ''Masuklah ke dalam pondok,'' katanya kepada wanita itu,''Peluklah ia dan katakan 'Apa yang akan kita lakukan sekarang'?''
>
> Maka wanita itu pun masuk ke dalam pondok dan melakukan apa yang disarankan oleh si nenek. Lelaki itu menjadi sangat marah karena tindakan yang tak sopan itu. Ia mengambil sapu dan mengusir wanita itu keluar dari pondoknya.
>
> Ketika wanita itu kembali dan melaporkan apa yang terjadi, si nenek menjadi marah. ''Percuma saya memberi makan orang itu selama 20 tahun,''serunya.
>
> ''Ia tidak menunjukkan bahwa ia memahami kebutuhanmu, tidak bersedia untuk membantumu ke luar dari kesalahanmu. Ia tidak perlu menyerah pada nafsu, namun sekurang-kurangnya setelah sekian lama beribadah seharusnya ia memiliki rasa kasih pada sesama.''
>
> Apa yang menarik dari cerita diatas? Ternyata ada kesenjangan yang cukup besar antara taat beribadah dengan memiliki budi pekerti yang luhur. Taat beragama ternyata sama sekali tak menjamin perilaku seseorang.
>
> Ada banyak contoh yang dapat kita kemukakan disini. Anda pasti sudah sering mendengar cerita mengenai guru mengaji yangsuka memperkosa muridnya. Seorang kawan yang rajin shalat lima waktu baru-baru ini di PHK dari kantornya karena memalsukan dokumen. Seorang kawan yang berjilbab rapih ternyata suka berselingkuh. Kawan yang lain sangat rajin ikut pengajian tapi tak henti-hentinya menyakiti orang lain. Adapula kawan yang Berkali-kali menunaikan haji dan umrah tetapi terus melakukan korupsi di kantornya.
>
> Lantas dimana letak kesalahannya? Saya kira persoalan utamanya adalah pada kesalahan cara berpikir. Banyak orang yang memahami agama dalam pengertian ritual dan fiqih belaka. Dalam konsep mereka, beragama berarti melakukan shalat, puasa, zakat, haji dan melagukan (bukannya membaca) Alquran.
>
> Padahal esensi beragama bukan disitu. Esensi beragama justru pada budi pekerti yang mulia.
>
> Kedua, agama sering dipahami sebagai serangkaian peraturan dan larangan. Dengan demikian makna agama telah tereduksi sedemikian rupa menjadi kewajiban dan bukan kebutuhan. Agama diajarkan dengan pendekatan hukum (outside-in) , bukannya dengan pendekatan kebutuhan dan komitmen (inside-out) . Ini menjauhkan agama dari makna sebenarnya yaitu sebagai sebuah sebuah cara hidup (way of life), apalagi cara berpikir (way of thinking).
>
> Agama seharusnya dipahami sebagai sebuah kebutuhan tertinggi manusia.Kita tidak beribadah karena surga dan neraka tetapi karena kita lapar secara rohani. Kita beribadah karena kita menginginkan kesejukan dan kenikmatan batin yang tiada taranya. Kita beribadah karena rindu untuk menyelami jiwa sejati kita dan merasakan kehadiran Tuhan dalam keseharian kita. Kita berbuat baik bukan karena takut tapi karena kita tak ingin melukai diri kita sendiri dengan perbuatan.
FYI
Semangkok Bakmi
Pada malam itu, Anna bertengkar dengan ibunya. Karena sangat marah, Anna segera meninggalkan rumah tanpa membawa apapun. Saat berjalan di suatu jalan, ia baru menyadari bahwa ia sama sekali tdk membawa uang, sementara perutnya sudah keroncongan.
Saat menyusuri sebuah jalan, gadis muda itu melewati sebuah kedai bakmi dan ia mencium harumnya aroma masakan. Ia ingin sekali memesan semangkuk bakmi, tetapi ia tidak mempunyai uang.
Pemilik kedai melihat Anna berdiri cukup lama di depan kedainya, lalu berkata "Nona, apakah engkau ingin memesan semangkuk bakmi?" "Ya, tetapi, aku tidak membawa uang" jawab Ana dengan malu-malu
"Tidak apa-apa, aku akan mentraktirmu" jawab si pemilik kedai. "Silahkan duduk, aku akan memasakkan bakmi untukmu".
Tidak lama kemudian, pemilik kedai itu mengantarkan semangkuk bakmi. Anna segera makan beberapa suap, kemudian air matanya mulai berlinang. "Ada apa nona?" Tanya si pemilik kedai. "Tidak apa-apa, aku hanya terharu," jawab Ana sambil mengeringkan air matanya.
"Bahkan, seorang yang baru kukenal pun memberi aku semangkuk bakmi, tetapi,. ibuku sendiri, setelah bertengkar denganku, mengusirku dari rumah dan mengatakan kepadaku agar jangan kembali lagi ke rumah. Kau, seorang yang baru kukenal, tetapi begitu peduli denganku dibandingkan dengan ibu kandungku sendiri" katanya kepada pemilik kedai
Pemilik kedai itu setelah mendengar perkataan Anna, menarik nafas panjang dan berkata "Nona mengapa kau berpikir seperti itu? Renungkanlah hal ini, aku hanya memberimu semangkuk bakmi dan kau begitu terharu. Ibumu telah memasak bakmi dan nasi utukmu saat kau kecil sampai saat ini, mengapa kau tidak berterima kasih kepadanya? Dan kau malah bertengkar dengannya"
Anna, terhenyak mendengar nasehatnya. "Mengapa aku tidak berpikir tentang hal itu? Untuk semangkuk bakmi dari orang yang baru kukenal, aku begitu berterima kasih, tetapi kepada ibuku yang memasak untukku selama bertahun-tahun, aku bahkan tidak memperlihatkan kepedulianku kepadanya. Dan hanya karena persoalan sepele, aku bertengkar dengannya."
Anna, segera menghabiskan bakminya, lalu ia menguatkan dirinya untuk segera pulang ke rumahnya. Saat berjalan ke rumah, ia memikirkan kata-kata yang harus diucapkan kepada ibunya. Begitu sampai di ambang pintu rumah, ia melihat ibunya dengan wajah letih dan cemas.
Ketika bertemu dengan Anna, kalimat pertama yang keluar dari mulut ibunya adalah "Anna kau sudah pulang, cepat masuklah, aku telah menyiapkan makan malam dan makanlah dahulu sebelum kau tidur, makanan akan menjadi dingin jika kau tidak memakannya sekarang"
Pada saat itu Anna tidak dapat menahan air matanya dan ia menangis di hadapan ibunya. Sekali waktu, kita mungkin akan sangat berterima kasih kepada orang lain di sekitar kita untuk suatu pertolongan kecil yang diberikan kepada kita. Tetapi kepada orang yang sangat dekat dengan kita (keluarga) khususnya orang tua kita, kita harus ingat bahwa kita berterima kasih kepada mereka seumur hidup kita (Sumber NN).
To my married and unmarried friends
When You Divorce Me, Carry Me Out in Your Arms
On my wedding day, I carried my wife in my arms.
The bridal car stopped in front of our one-room flat. My buddies insisted that I carry her out of the car in my arms. So I carried her into our home. She was then plump and shy.
I was a strong and happy bridegroom.
This was the scene ten years ago.
The following days were as simple as a cup of pure water: we had a kid; I went into business and tried to make more money.
When the assets were steadily increasing, the affection between us seemed to ebb. She was a civil servant. Every morning we left home together and got home almost at the same time. Our kid was studying in a boarding school.
Our marriage life seemed to be enviably happy. But the calm life was more likely to be affected by unpredictable changes.
Dew came into my life.
It was a sunny day. I stood on a spacious balcony. Dew hugged me from behind. My heart once again was immersed in her stream of love. This was theapartment I bought for her.
Dew said, you are the kind of man who best draws girls' eyeballs. Her words suddenly reminded me of my wife. When we were just married, my wife said,
Men like you, once successful, will be very attractive to girls.
Thinking of this, I became somewhat hesitant. I knew I had betrayed my wife.
But I couldn't help doing so.
I moved Dew's hands aside and said you go to select some furniture, O.K.?
I've got something to do in the company. Obviously she was unhappy, because I had promised to do it together with her. At the moment, the idea of divorce became clearer in my mind although it used to be something impossible to me.
However, I found it rather difficult to tell my wife about it. No matter how mildly I mentioned it to her, she would be deeply hurt.
Honestly, she was a good wife. Every evening she was busy preparing dinner.
I was sitting in front of the TV. The dinner was ready soon. Then we watched TV together. Or, I was lounging before the computer, visualizing Dew's body. This was the means of my entertainment.
One day I said to her in a slightly joking way, suppose we divorce, what will you do? She stared at me for a few seconds without a word. Apparently she believed that divorce was something too far away from her. I couldn't imagine how she would react once she got to know I was serious.
When my wife went to my office, Dew had just stepped out. Almost all the staff looked at my wife with a sympathetic eye and tried to hide something while talking to her. She seemed to have got some hint. She gently smiled at my subordinates. But I read some hurt in her eyes.
Once again, Dew said to me, He Ning, divorce her, O.K.? Then we live together. I nodded. I knew I could not hesitate any more.
When my wife served the last dish, I held her hand. I've got something to tell you, I said. She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes. Suddenly I didn't know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I raised the serious topic calmly.
She didn't seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, why?
I'm serious. I avoided her question. This so-called answer made her angry.
She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man!
That night, we didn't talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer, because my heart had gone to Dew.
With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, our car, and 30% stake of my company. She glancedat it and then tore it into pieces. I felt a pain inmy heart. The woman who had been living ten years with me would become a stranger one day. But I could not take back what I had said.
Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer.
Late that night, I came back home after entertaining my clients. I saw her writing something at the table. I fall asleep fast. When I woke up, I found she was still there. I turned over and was asleep again.
She brought up her divorce conditions: she didn't want anything from me, but I was supposed to give her one month s time before divorce, and in the month's time we must live as normal a life as possible. Her reason was simple: our son would finish his summer vacation a month later and she didn't want him to see our marriage was broken.
She passed me the agreement she drafted, and then asked me, He Ning, do you still remember how I entered our bridal room on the wedding day? This question suddenly brought back all those wonderful memories to me. I nodded and said, I remember. You carried me in your arms, she continued, so, I have a requirement, that is, you carry me out in your arms on the day when we divorce. From now to the end of this month, you must carry me out from the bedroom to the door every morning.
I accepted with a smile. I knew she missed those sweet days and wished to end her marriage romantically.
I told Dew about my wife s divorce conditions. She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she does, she has to face the result of divorce, she said scornfully. Her words more or less made me feel uncomfortable.
My wife and I hadn't had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. We even treated each other as a stranger. So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, daddy is holding mummy in his arms. His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly, Let us start from today, don't tell our son. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outside the door. She went to wait for a bus, I drove to the office.
On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest. We were so close that I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn't looked at this intimate woman carefully for a long time. I found she was not young any more. There were some fine wrinkles on her face.
On the third day, she whispered to me, the outside garden is being demolished. Be careful when you pass there
On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I seemed to feel that we were still an intimate couple and I was holding my sweetheart in my arms. The visualization of Dew became vague.
On the fifth and sixth day, she kept reminding me something, such as, where she put the ironed shirts, I should be careful while cooking, etc. I nodded. The sense of intimacy was even stronger. I didn't tell Dew about this.
I felt it was easier to carry her. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger. I said to her, It seems not difficult to carry you now. She was picking her dresses. I was waiting to carry her out. She tried quite a few but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, all my dresses have grown bigger. I smiled. But I suddenly realized that it was because she was thinner that I could carry her more easily, not because I was stronger. I knew she had buried all the bitterness in her heart. Again, I felt a sense of pain. Subconsciously I reached out a hand to touch her head.
Our son came in at the moment. Dad, it's time to carry mum out. He said. To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had been an essential part of his life. She gestured our son to come closer and hugged him tightly. I turned my face because I was afraid I would change my mind at the last minute. I held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly, as if we came back to our wedding day. But her much lighter weight made me sad.
On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Ourson had gone to school. She said, actually I hope you will hold me in your arms until we are old.
I held her tightly and said, both you and I didn't notice that our life lacked intimacy.
I jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my decision. I walkedupstairs. Dew opened the door. I said to her, Sorry, Dew, I won't divorce. I'm serious.
She looked at me, astonished. The she touched my forehead. You got no fever. She said. I moved her hand off my head. Sorry, Dew, I said, I can only say sorry to you, I won't divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn't value the details of life, not because we didn't love each other any more. Now I understand that since I carried her into the home, she gave birth to our child, I am supposed to hold her until I am old. So I have to say sorry to you.
Dew seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove to the office.
When I passed the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet for my wife which was her favorite. The salesgirl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and wrote, I'll carry you out every morning until we are old.
On my wedding day, I carried my wife in my arms.
The bridal car stopped in front of our one-room flat. My buddies insisted that I carry her out of the car in my arms. So I carried her into our home. She was then plump and shy.
I was a strong and happy bridegroom.
This was the scene ten years ago.
The following days were as simple as a cup of pure water: we had a kid; I went into business and tried to make more money.
When the assets were steadily increasing, the affection between us seemed to ebb. She was a civil servant. Every morning we left home together and got home almost at the same time. Our kid was studying in a boarding school.
Our marriage life seemed to be enviably happy. But the calm life was more likely to be affected by unpredictable changes.
Dew came into my life.
It was a sunny day. I stood on a spacious balcony. Dew hugged me from behind. My heart once again was immersed in her stream of love. This was theapartment I bought for her.
Dew said, you are the kind of man who best draws girls' eyeballs. Her words suddenly reminded me of my wife. When we were just married, my wife said,
Men like you, once successful, will be very attractive to girls.
Thinking of this, I became somewhat hesitant. I knew I had betrayed my wife.
But I couldn't help doing so.
I moved Dew's hands aside and said you go to select some furniture, O.K.?
I've got something to do in the company. Obviously she was unhappy, because I had promised to do it together with her. At the moment, the idea of divorce became clearer in my mind although it used to be something impossible to me.
However, I found it rather difficult to tell my wife about it. No matter how mildly I mentioned it to her, she would be deeply hurt.
Honestly, she was a good wife. Every evening she was busy preparing dinner.
I was sitting in front of the TV. The dinner was ready soon. Then we watched TV together. Or, I was lounging before the computer, visualizing Dew's body. This was the means of my entertainment.
One day I said to her in a slightly joking way, suppose we divorce, what will you do? She stared at me for a few seconds without a word. Apparently she believed that divorce was something too far away from her. I couldn't imagine how she would react once she got to know I was serious.
When my wife went to my office, Dew had just stepped out. Almost all the staff looked at my wife with a sympathetic eye and tried to hide something while talking to her. She seemed to have got some hint. She gently smiled at my subordinates. But I read some hurt in her eyes.
Once again, Dew said to me, He Ning, divorce her, O.K.? Then we live together. I nodded. I knew I could not hesitate any more.
When my wife served the last dish, I held her hand. I've got something to tell you, I said. She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes. Suddenly I didn't know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I raised the serious topic calmly.
She didn't seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, why?
I'm serious. I avoided her question. This so-called answer made her angry.
She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man!
That night, we didn't talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer, because my heart had gone to Dew.
With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, our car, and 30% stake of my company. She glancedat it and then tore it into pieces. I felt a pain inmy heart. The woman who had been living ten years with me would become a stranger one day. But I could not take back what I had said.
Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer.
Late that night, I came back home after entertaining my clients. I saw her writing something at the table. I fall asleep fast. When I woke up, I found she was still there. I turned over and was asleep again.
She brought up her divorce conditions: she didn't want anything from me, but I was supposed to give her one month s time before divorce, and in the month's time we must live as normal a life as possible. Her reason was simple: our son would finish his summer vacation a month later and she didn't want him to see our marriage was broken.
She passed me the agreement she drafted, and then asked me, He Ning, do you still remember how I entered our bridal room on the wedding day? This question suddenly brought back all those wonderful memories to me. I nodded and said, I remember. You carried me in your arms, she continued, so, I have a requirement, that is, you carry me out in your arms on the day when we divorce. From now to the end of this month, you must carry me out from the bedroom to the door every morning.
I accepted with a smile. I knew she missed those sweet days and wished to end her marriage romantically.
I told Dew about my wife s divorce conditions. She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she does, she has to face the result of divorce, she said scornfully. Her words more or less made me feel uncomfortable.
My wife and I hadn't had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. We even treated each other as a stranger. So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, daddy is holding mummy in his arms. His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly, Let us start from today, don't tell our son. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outside the door. She went to wait for a bus, I drove to the office.
On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest. We were so close that I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn't looked at this intimate woman carefully for a long time. I found she was not young any more. There were some fine wrinkles on her face.
On the third day, she whispered to me, the outside garden is being demolished. Be careful when you pass there
On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I seemed to feel that we were still an intimate couple and I was holding my sweetheart in my arms. The visualization of Dew became vague.
On the fifth and sixth day, she kept reminding me something, such as, where she put the ironed shirts, I should be careful while cooking, etc. I nodded. The sense of intimacy was even stronger. I didn't tell Dew about this.
I felt it was easier to carry her. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger. I said to her, It seems not difficult to carry you now. She was picking her dresses. I was waiting to carry her out. She tried quite a few but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, all my dresses have grown bigger. I smiled. But I suddenly realized that it was because she was thinner that I could carry her more easily, not because I was stronger. I knew she had buried all the bitterness in her heart. Again, I felt a sense of pain. Subconsciously I reached out a hand to touch her head.
Our son came in at the moment. Dad, it's time to carry mum out. He said. To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had been an essential part of his life. She gestured our son to come closer and hugged him tightly. I turned my face because I was afraid I would change my mind at the last minute. I held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly, as if we came back to our wedding day. But her much lighter weight made me sad.
On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Ourson had gone to school. She said, actually I hope you will hold me in your arms until we are old.
I held her tightly and said, both you and I didn't notice that our life lacked intimacy.
I jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my decision. I walkedupstairs. Dew opened the door. I said to her, Sorry, Dew, I won't divorce. I'm serious.
She looked at me, astonished. The she touched my forehead. You got no fever. She said. I moved her hand off my head. Sorry, Dew, I said, I can only say sorry to you, I won't divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn't value the details of life, not because we didn't love each other any more. Now I understand that since I carried her into the home, she gave birth to our child, I am supposed to hold her until I am old. So I have to say sorry to you.
Dew seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove to the office.
When I passed the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet for my wife which was her favorite. The salesgirl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and wrote, I'll carry you out every morning until we are old.
Temukan Cinta Anda...
Bila anda tak mencintai pekerjaan Anda, maka cintailah orang-orang yang bekerja disana.
Rasakan kegembiraan dari pertemanan itu. Dan pekerjaan pun menjadi menggembirakan.
Bila anda tak bisa mencintai rekan-rekan kerja Anda, maka cintailah suasana dan gedung kantor Anda.
Ini mendorong Anda untuk bergairah berangkat kerja dan melakukan tugas-tugas dengan lebih baik lagi.
Bila toh Anda juga tidak bisa melakukannya, cintai setiap pengalaman pulang pergi dari dan ketempat kerja Anda.
Perjalanan yang menyenangkan menjadikan tujuan tampak menyenangkan juga.
Namun, bila anda tak menemukan kesenangan di sana, maka cintai a apa pun yang bisa Anda cintai dari kerja Anda, tanaman penghias meja, cicak di atas dinding, atau gumpalan awan dari balik jendela.
Apa saja.
Bila Anda tak menemukan yang bisa Anda cintai dari pekerjaan Anda, maka mengapa Anda ada di situ ?
Tak ada alasan bagi Anda untuk tetap bertahan. Cepat pergi dan carilah apa yang Anda cintai, lalu bekerjalah disana.
Hidup hanya sekali, Tak ada yang lebih indah selain melakukan dengan rasa cinta yang tulus.
Rasakan kegembiraan dari pertemanan itu. Dan pekerjaan pun menjadi menggembirakan.
Bila anda tak bisa mencintai rekan-rekan kerja Anda, maka cintailah suasana dan gedung kantor Anda.
Ini mendorong Anda untuk bergairah berangkat kerja dan melakukan tugas-tugas dengan lebih baik lagi.
Bila toh Anda juga tidak bisa melakukannya, cintai setiap pengalaman pulang pergi dari dan ketempat kerja Anda.
Perjalanan yang menyenangkan menjadikan tujuan tampak menyenangkan juga.
Namun, bila anda tak menemukan kesenangan di sana, maka cintai a apa pun yang bisa Anda cintai dari kerja Anda, tanaman penghias meja, cicak di atas dinding, atau gumpalan awan dari balik jendela.
Apa saja.
Bila Anda tak menemukan yang bisa Anda cintai dari pekerjaan Anda, maka mengapa Anda ada di situ ?
Tak ada alasan bagi Anda untuk tetap bertahan. Cepat pergi dan carilah apa yang Anda cintai, lalu bekerjalah disana.
Hidup hanya sekali, Tak ada yang lebih indah selain melakukan dengan rasa cinta yang tulus.
Stone Soup
Three soldiers trudged down a road in a strange country. they were on
their way home from the wars. Besides being tired, they were hungry.
In fact, they had eaten nothing for two days.
"How I would like a good dinner tonight," said the first. "And a bed
to sleep in," added the second. "But that is impossible," said the
third.
On they marched, until suddenly, ahead of them, they saw the lights
of a village. "Maybe we'll find a bite to eat and a bed to sleep in,"
they thought.
Now the peasants of the place feared strangers. When they heard that
three soldiers were coming down the road, they talked among
themselves. "Here come three soldiers," they said. "Soldiers are
always hungry. But we have so little for ourselves." And they hurried
to hide their food. They hid the barley in hay lofts, carrots under
quilts, and buckets of milk down the wells. They hid all they had to
eat. Then they waited.
The soldiers stopped at the first house. "Good evening to you," they
said. "Could you spare a bit of food for three hungry soldiers?" "We
have no food for ourselves," the residents lied. "It has been a poor
harvest."
The soldiers went to the next house. "Could you spare a bit of food?"
they asked. "And do you have a corner where we could sleep for the
night?" "Oh, no," the man said. "We gave all we could spare to the
soldiers who came before you." "And our beds are full," lied the
woman.
At each house, the response was the same -- no one had food or a
place for the soldiers to stay. The peasants had very good reasons,
like feeding the sick and children. The villagers stood in the street
and sighed. They looked as hungry as they could.
The soldiers talked together. The first soldier called out, "Good
people! We are three hungry soldiers in a strange land. We have asked
you for food and you have no food. Well, we will have to make stone
soup." The peasants stared.
The soldiers asked for a big iron pot, water to fill it, and a fire
to heat it. "And now, if you please, three round smooth stones." The
soldiers dropped the stones into the pot.
"Any soup needs salt and pepper," the first solders said, so children
ran to fetch salt and pepper.
"Stones make good soup, but carrots would make it so much better,"
the second soldier added. One woman said, "Why, I think I have a
carrot or two!" She ran to get the carrots.
"A good stone soup should have some cabbage, but no use asking for
what we don't have!" said the third soldier. Another woman said, "I
think I can probably find some cabbage," and off she scurried.
"If only we had a bit of beef and some potatoes, this soup would be
fit for a rich man's table." The peasants thought it over, then ran
to fetch what they had hidden in their cellars. A rich man's soup,
and all from a few stones! It seemed like magic!
The soldiers said, "If only we had a bit of barley and some milk,
this soup would be fit for a king!" And so the peasants managed to
retrieve some barley and milk.
"The soup is ready," said the cooks, "and all will taste it, but
first we need to set the tables." Tables and torches were set up in
the square, and all sat down to eat. Some of the peasants said, "Such
a great soup would be better with bread and cider," so they brought
forth the last two items and the banquet was enjoyed by all. Never
had there been such a feast. Never had the peasants tasted such
delicious soup, and all made from stones! They ate and drank and
danced well into the night.
The soldiers asked again if there was a loft where they might sleep
for the night. "Oh, no!" said the townfolk. "You wise men must have
the best beds in the village!" So the soldiers spent the night in the
mayor's house.
In the morning, the villagers gathered to say goodbye. "Many thanks
to you," the people said, "for we shall never go hungry now that you
have taught us how to make soup from stones!"
their way home from the wars. Besides being tired, they were hungry.
In fact, they had eaten nothing for two days.
"How I would like a good dinner tonight," said the first. "And a bed
to sleep in," added the second. "But that is impossible," said the
third.
On they marched, until suddenly, ahead of them, they saw the lights
of a village. "Maybe we'll find a bite to eat and a bed to sleep in,"
they thought.
Now the peasants of the place feared strangers. When they heard that
three soldiers were coming down the road, they talked among
themselves. "Here come three soldiers," they said. "Soldiers are
always hungry. But we have so little for ourselves." And they hurried
to hide their food. They hid the barley in hay lofts, carrots under
quilts, and buckets of milk down the wells. They hid all they had to
eat. Then they waited.
The soldiers stopped at the first house. "Good evening to you," they
said. "Could you spare a bit of food for three hungry soldiers?" "We
have no food for ourselves," the residents lied. "It has been a poor
harvest."
The soldiers went to the next house. "Could you spare a bit of food?"
they asked. "And do you have a corner where we could sleep for the
night?" "Oh, no," the man said. "We gave all we could spare to the
soldiers who came before you." "And our beds are full," lied the
woman.
At each house, the response was the same -- no one had food or a
place for the soldiers to stay. The peasants had very good reasons,
like feeding the sick and children. The villagers stood in the street
and sighed. They looked as hungry as they could.
The soldiers talked together. The first soldier called out, "Good
people! We are three hungry soldiers in a strange land. We have asked
you for food and you have no food. Well, we will have to make stone
soup." The peasants stared.
The soldiers asked for a big iron pot, water to fill it, and a fire
to heat it. "And now, if you please, three round smooth stones." The
soldiers dropped the stones into the pot.
"Any soup needs salt and pepper," the first solders said, so children
ran to fetch salt and pepper.
"Stones make good soup, but carrots would make it so much better,"
the second soldier added. One woman said, "Why, I think I have a
carrot or two!" She ran to get the carrots.
"A good stone soup should have some cabbage, but no use asking for
what we don't have!" said the third soldier. Another woman said, "I
think I can probably find some cabbage," and off she scurried.
"If only we had a bit of beef and some potatoes, this soup would be
fit for a rich man's table." The peasants thought it over, then ran
to fetch what they had hidden in their cellars. A rich man's soup,
and all from a few stones! It seemed like magic!
The soldiers said, "If only we had a bit of barley and some milk,
this soup would be fit for a king!" And so the peasants managed to
retrieve some barley and milk.
"The soup is ready," said the cooks, "and all will taste it, but
first we need to set the tables." Tables and torches were set up in
the square, and all sat down to eat. Some of the peasants said, "Such
a great soup would be better with bread and cider," so they brought
forth the last two items and the banquet was enjoyed by all. Never
had there been such a feast. Never had the peasants tasted such
delicious soup, and all made from stones! They ate and drank and
danced well into the night.
The soldiers asked again if there was a loft where they might sleep
for the night. "Oh, no!" said the townfolk. "You wise men must have
the best beds in the village!" So the soldiers spent the night in the
mayor's house.
In the morning, the villagers gathered to say goodbye. "Many thanks
to you," the people said, "for we shall never go hungry now that you
have taught us how to make soup from stones!"
Pohon yang Kehilangan Rohnya
Kali ini, saya ingin bercerita tentang salah satu kebiasaan yang ditemui pada penduduk yang tinggal di sekitar kepulauan Solomon, yang letaknya di Pasifik Selatan. Nah, penduduk primitif yang tinggal di sana punya sebuah kebiasaan yang menarik yakni meneriaki pohon. Untuk apa? Kebiasaan ini ternyata mereka lakukan apabila terdapat pohon dengan akar-akar yang sangat kuat dan sulit untuk dipotong dengan kapak.
Inilah yang mereka lalukan, dengan tujuan supaya pohon itu mati.
Caranya adalah, beberapa penduduk yang lebih kuat dan berani akan memanjat hingga ke atas pohon itu.
Lalu, ketika sampai di atas pohon itu bersama dengan penduduk yang ada di bawah pohon, mereka akan berteriak sekuat-kuatnya kepada pohon itu. Mereka lakukan teriakan berjam-jam, selama kurang lebih empat puluh hari. Dan apa yang terjadi sungguh menakjubkan. Pohon yang diteriaki itu perlahan-lahan daunnya akan mulai mengering. Setelah itu dahan-dahannya juga mulai akan rontok dan perlahan-lahan pohon itu akan mati dan dengan demikian, mudahlah ditumbangkan.
Kalau kita perhatikan apa yang dilakukan oleh penduduk primitif ini sungguhlah aneh. Namun kita bisa belajar satu hal dari mereka. Mereka telah membuktikan bahwa teriakan-teriakan yang dilakukan terhadap mahkluk hidup tertentu seperti pohon akan menyebabkan benda tersebut kehilangan rohnya.
Akibatnya, dalam waktu panjang, makhluk hidup itu akan mati. Nah, sekarang apakah yang bisa kita pelajari dari kebiasaan penduduk primitif di kepulauan Solomon ini? O, sangat berharga sekali! Yang jelas, ingatlah baik-baik bahwa setiap kali Anda berteriak kepada mahkluk hidup tertentu maka berarti Anda sedang mematikan rohnya.
Pernahkah Anda berteriak pada anak Anda? Ayo cepat! Dasar leletan! Bego banget sih.. Hitungan mudah begitu aja nggak bisa dikerjakan.. . Ayo, jangan main-main disini. Berisik! Bising!
Atau, pernahkah Anda berteriak kepada orang tua Anda karena merasa mereka membuat Anda jengkel? Kenapa sih makan aja berceceran? Kenapa sih sakit sedikit aja mengeluh begitu? Kenapa sih jarak dekat aja minta diantar?
Mama, tolong nggak usah cerewet, boleh nggak? Atau, mungkin Anda pun berteriak balik kepada pasangan hidup Anda karena Anda merasa sakit hati? Cuih! Saya nyesal kawin dengan orang seperti kamu, tahu nggak?! Bodoh banget jadi laki nggak bisa apa-apa! Aduh.. Perempuan kampungan banget sih?!
Atau, bisa seorang guru berteriak pada anak didiknya. Eh tolol, soal mudah begitu aja nggak bisa. Kapan kamu mulai akan jadi pinter? Atau seorang atasan berteriak pada bawahannya saat merasa kesel. Eh tahu nggak, karyawan kayak kamu tuh kalo pergi aku kagak bakal nyesel. Ada banyak yang bisa gantiin kamu... Sial!
Kerja gini nggak becus... Ngapain gue gaji elu?!
Ingatlah, setiap kali Anda berteriak pada seseorang karena merasa jengkel, marah, terhina, terluka ingatlah dengan apa yang diajarkan oleh penduduk kepulauan Solomon ini. Mereka mengajari kita bahwa setiap kali kita mulai berteriak, kita mulai mematikan roh pada orang yang kita cintai. Kita juga mematikan roh yang mempertautkan hubungan kita. Teriakan-teriakan, yang kita keluarkan karena emosi-emosi kita perlahan-lahan, pada akhirnya akan membunuh roh yang telah melekatkan hubungan kita.
Jadi, ketika masih ada kesempatan untuk berbicara baik-baik, cobalah untuk mendiskusikan mengenai apa yang Anda harapkan. Coba kita perhatikan dalam kehidupan kita sehari-hari. Teriakan, hanya kita berikan tatkala kita bicara dengan orang yang jauh jaraknya, bukan?! Nah, tahukah Anda mengapa orang yang marah dan emosional, mengunakan teriakan-teriakan padahal jarak mereka hanya beberapa belas centimeter. Mudah menjelaskannya. Pada realitanya,
meskipun secara fisik mereka dekat tapi sebenarnya hati mereka begituuuu jauhnya. Itulah sebabnya mereka harus saling berteriak.
Selain itu, dengan berteriak, tanpa sadar mereka pun mulai berusaha melukai serta mematikan roh pada orang yang dimarahi kerena perasaan-perasaan dendam, benci atau kemarahan yang dimiliki. Kita berteriak karena kita ingin melukai, kita ingin membalas.
Jadi mulai sekarang ingatlah selalu. Jika kita tetap ingin roh pada orang yang kita sayangi tetap tumbuh, berkembang dan tidak mati, janganlah menggunakan teriakan-teriakan. Tapi, sebaliknya apabila Anda ingin segera membunuh roh pada orang lain ataupun roh pada hubungan Anda, selalulah berteriak.
Hanya ada 2 kemungkinan balasan yang Anda akan terima. Anda akan semakin dijauhi. Ataupun Anda akan mendapatkan teriakan balik sebagai balasannya.
Saatnya sekarang, kita coba ciptakan kehidupan yang damai tanpa harus berteriak-teriak untuk mencapai tujuan kita.
Inilah yang mereka lalukan, dengan tujuan supaya pohon itu mati.
Caranya adalah, beberapa penduduk yang lebih kuat dan berani akan memanjat hingga ke atas pohon itu.
Lalu, ketika sampai di atas pohon itu bersama dengan penduduk yang ada di bawah pohon, mereka akan berteriak sekuat-kuatnya kepada pohon itu. Mereka lakukan teriakan berjam-jam, selama kurang lebih empat puluh hari. Dan apa yang terjadi sungguh menakjubkan. Pohon yang diteriaki itu perlahan-lahan daunnya akan mulai mengering. Setelah itu dahan-dahannya juga mulai akan rontok dan perlahan-lahan pohon itu akan mati dan dengan demikian, mudahlah ditumbangkan.
Kalau kita perhatikan apa yang dilakukan oleh penduduk primitif ini sungguhlah aneh. Namun kita bisa belajar satu hal dari mereka. Mereka telah membuktikan bahwa teriakan-teriakan yang dilakukan terhadap mahkluk hidup tertentu seperti pohon akan menyebabkan benda tersebut kehilangan rohnya.
Akibatnya, dalam waktu panjang, makhluk hidup itu akan mati. Nah, sekarang apakah yang bisa kita pelajari dari kebiasaan penduduk primitif di kepulauan Solomon ini? O, sangat berharga sekali! Yang jelas, ingatlah baik-baik bahwa setiap kali Anda berteriak kepada mahkluk hidup tertentu maka berarti Anda sedang mematikan rohnya.
Pernahkah Anda berteriak pada anak Anda? Ayo cepat! Dasar leletan! Bego banget sih.. Hitungan mudah begitu aja nggak bisa dikerjakan.. . Ayo, jangan main-main disini. Berisik! Bising!
Atau, pernahkah Anda berteriak kepada orang tua Anda karena merasa mereka membuat Anda jengkel? Kenapa sih makan aja berceceran? Kenapa sih sakit sedikit aja mengeluh begitu? Kenapa sih jarak dekat aja minta diantar?
Mama, tolong nggak usah cerewet, boleh nggak? Atau, mungkin Anda pun berteriak balik kepada pasangan hidup Anda karena Anda merasa sakit hati? Cuih! Saya nyesal kawin dengan orang seperti kamu, tahu nggak?! Bodoh banget jadi laki nggak bisa apa-apa! Aduh.. Perempuan kampungan banget sih?!
Atau, bisa seorang guru berteriak pada anak didiknya. Eh tolol, soal mudah begitu aja nggak bisa. Kapan kamu mulai akan jadi pinter? Atau seorang atasan berteriak pada bawahannya saat merasa kesel. Eh tahu nggak, karyawan kayak kamu tuh kalo pergi aku kagak bakal nyesel. Ada banyak yang bisa gantiin kamu... Sial!
Kerja gini nggak becus... Ngapain gue gaji elu?!
Ingatlah, setiap kali Anda berteriak pada seseorang karena merasa jengkel, marah, terhina, terluka ingatlah dengan apa yang diajarkan oleh penduduk kepulauan Solomon ini. Mereka mengajari kita bahwa setiap kali kita mulai berteriak, kita mulai mematikan roh pada orang yang kita cintai. Kita juga mematikan roh yang mempertautkan hubungan kita. Teriakan-teriakan, yang kita keluarkan karena emosi-emosi kita perlahan-lahan, pada akhirnya akan membunuh roh yang telah melekatkan hubungan kita.
Jadi, ketika masih ada kesempatan untuk berbicara baik-baik, cobalah untuk mendiskusikan mengenai apa yang Anda harapkan. Coba kita perhatikan dalam kehidupan kita sehari-hari. Teriakan, hanya kita berikan tatkala kita bicara dengan orang yang jauh jaraknya, bukan?! Nah, tahukah Anda mengapa orang yang marah dan emosional, mengunakan teriakan-teriakan padahal jarak mereka hanya beberapa belas centimeter. Mudah menjelaskannya. Pada realitanya,
meskipun secara fisik mereka dekat tapi sebenarnya hati mereka begituuuu jauhnya. Itulah sebabnya mereka harus saling berteriak.
Selain itu, dengan berteriak, tanpa sadar mereka pun mulai berusaha melukai serta mematikan roh pada orang yang dimarahi kerena perasaan-perasaan dendam, benci atau kemarahan yang dimiliki. Kita berteriak karena kita ingin melukai, kita ingin membalas.
Jadi mulai sekarang ingatlah selalu. Jika kita tetap ingin roh pada orang yang kita sayangi tetap tumbuh, berkembang dan tidak mati, janganlah menggunakan teriakan-teriakan. Tapi, sebaliknya apabila Anda ingin segera membunuh roh pada orang lain ataupun roh pada hubungan Anda, selalulah berteriak.
Hanya ada 2 kemungkinan balasan yang Anda akan terima. Anda akan semakin dijauhi. Ataupun Anda akan mendapatkan teriakan balik sebagai balasannya.
Saatnya sekarang, kita coba ciptakan kehidupan yang damai tanpa harus berteriak-teriak untuk mencapai tujuan kita.
Old Parents
An 80 year old man was sitting on the sofa in his house along with his 45 years old highly educated son. Suddenly a crow perched on their window.
The Father asked his Son, "What is this?"
The Son replied "It is a crow".
After a few minutes, the Father asked his Son the 2nd time, "What is this?"
The Son said "Father, I have just now told you "It's a crow".
After a little while, the old Father again asked his Son the 3rd time,
What is this?"
At this time some expression of irritation was felt in the Son's tone when he said to his Father with a rebuff. "It's a crow, a crow, a crow".
A little after, the Father again asked his Son the 4th time, "What is this?"
This time the Son shouted at his Father, "Why do you keep asking me the same question again and again, although I have told you so many times 'IT IS A CROW'. Are you not able to understand this?"
A little later the Father went to his room and came back with an old tattered diary, which he had maintained since his Son was born. On opening a page, he asked his Son to read that page. When the son read it, the following words were written in the diary :-
"Today my little son aged three was sitting with me on the sofa, when a crow was sitting on the window. My Son asked me 23 times what it was, and I replied to him all 23 times that it was a Crow. I hugged him lovingly each time he asked me the same question again and again for 23 times. I did not at all feel irritated I rather felt affection for my innocent child".
While the little child asked him 23 times "What is this", the Father had felt no irritation in replying to the same question all 23 times and when today the Father asked his Son the same question just 4 times, the Son felt irritated and annoyed.
So……..…..how bout u?
The Father asked his Son, "What is this?"
The Son replied "It is a crow".
After a few minutes, the Father asked his Son the 2nd time, "What is this?"
The Son said "Father, I have just now told you "It's a crow".
After a little while, the old Father again asked his Son the 3rd time,
What is this?"
At this time some expression of irritation was felt in the Son's tone when he said to his Father with a rebuff. "It's a crow, a crow, a crow".
A little after, the Father again asked his Son the 4th time, "What is this?"
This time the Son shouted at his Father, "Why do you keep asking me the same question again and again, although I have told you so many times 'IT IS A CROW'. Are you not able to understand this?"
A little later the Father went to his room and came back with an old tattered diary, which he had maintained since his Son was born. On opening a page, he asked his Son to read that page. When the son read it, the following words were written in the diary :-
"Today my little son aged three was sitting with me on the sofa, when a crow was sitting on the window. My Son asked me 23 times what it was, and I replied to him all 23 times that it was a Crow. I hugged him lovingly each time he asked me the same question again and again for 23 times. I did not at all feel irritated I rather felt affection for my innocent child".
While the little child asked him 23 times "What is this", the Father had felt no irritation in replying to the same question all 23 times and when today the Father asked his Son the same question just 4 times, the Son felt irritated and annoyed.
So……..…..how bout u?
Menularkan Kebahagiaan
Seorang pemuda berangkat kerja dipagi Hari.
Memanggil taxi, Dan naik,...'selamat pagi Pak,'...katanya menyapa sang sopir taxi terlebihdulu, ... 'pagi yang cerah bukan?' sambungnya sambil tersenyum,.. .lalu bersenandung kecil, Sang sopir tersenyum melihat keceriaan penumpangnya, ...dengan senang hati, Ia melajukan taxinya.
Sesampainya ditempat tujuan,..
Pemuda itu membayar dengan selembar 20ribuan, untuk argo yang hampir 15 ribu, 'kembaliannya buat bapak saja,...selamat bekerja Pak,..' kata pemuda dengan senyum. 'terima kasih,...' jawab Pak sopir taxi dengan penuh syukur...wah, ..aku bisa sarapan dulu nih,... Pikirnya,... Dan menuju kesebuah warung..'biasa Pak?' tanya si mbok warung. 'ya, biasa,.. Nasi sayur,... Tapi,.. Pagi ini, tambahkan sepotong ayam'..jawab Pak sopir dengan tersenyum,
Dan, ketika membayar nasi , di tambahkannya seribu rupiah 'buat jajan anaknya si mbok,...'begitu katanya. Dengan tambahan uang jajan seribu, pagi itu anak si mbok berangkat kesekolah dengan senyum lebih lebar,.... IA bisa membeli 2 buah roti Pagi ini,... Dan diberikannya pada temannya yang tidak punya bekal,...
Begitulah,.. .cerita bisa berlanjut,..
Bergulir,... .seperti bola salju,...
Keluarga Pak sopir bisa lebih bahagia Hari itu,..begitu juga keluarga si mbok,... Teman2 si anak,...keluarga mereka,... Semua tertular kebahagiaan, .....
Kebahagiaan, seperti juga kesusahan, bisa menular kepada siapa saja disekitar Kita.
Kebahagiaan adalah sebuah pilihan...
Sudahkah Kita menularkan kebahagiaan Hari ini?
Have A Nice Day
Memanggil taxi, Dan naik,...'selamat pagi Pak,'...katanya menyapa sang sopir taxi terlebihdulu, ... 'pagi yang cerah bukan?' sambungnya sambil tersenyum,.. .lalu bersenandung kecil, Sang sopir tersenyum melihat keceriaan penumpangnya, ...dengan senang hati, Ia melajukan taxinya.
Sesampainya ditempat tujuan,..
Pemuda itu membayar dengan selembar 20ribuan, untuk argo yang hampir 15 ribu, 'kembaliannya buat bapak saja,...selamat bekerja Pak,..' kata pemuda dengan senyum. 'terima kasih,...' jawab Pak sopir taxi dengan penuh syukur...wah, ..aku bisa sarapan dulu nih,... Pikirnya,... Dan menuju kesebuah warung..'biasa Pak?' tanya si mbok warung. 'ya, biasa,.. Nasi sayur,... Tapi,.. Pagi ini, tambahkan sepotong ayam'..jawab Pak sopir dengan tersenyum,
Dan, ketika membayar nasi , di tambahkannya seribu rupiah 'buat jajan anaknya si mbok,...'begitu katanya. Dengan tambahan uang jajan seribu, pagi itu anak si mbok berangkat kesekolah dengan senyum lebih lebar,.... IA bisa membeli 2 buah roti Pagi ini,... Dan diberikannya pada temannya yang tidak punya bekal,...
Begitulah,.. .cerita bisa berlanjut,..
Bergulir,... .seperti bola salju,...
Keluarga Pak sopir bisa lebih bahagia Hari itu,..begitu juga keluarga si mbok,... Teman2 si anak,...keluarga mereka,... Semua tertular kebahagiaan, .....
Kebahagiaan, seperti juga kesusahan, bisa menular kepada siapa saja disekitar Kita.
Kebahagiaan adalah sebuah pilihan...
Sudahkah Kita menularkan kebahagiaan Hari ini?
Have A Nice Day
