For a Christian born like me, or if you usually attend Sunday school, you will know who Ruth and Boaz were. Ruth and Boaz were the great-grandparents of King David. We learned that Ruth was a widow that followed her mother-in-law, Naomi, and refused to leave her after her first husband, Mahlon, passed away.
That's precisely the basic information you need, at least to answer some questions in religion class in high school, LOL. However, being a Jesus follower is not about knowing the Bible's history and details, but how you learn from the Bible, God's Words, and it will guide your way of life and the decisions you make.
Catch up with the Chapters
In my exile time here, I catch up with my daily prayer books and read the bible chapters I missed. Lately (within these months), I have had difficulties praying, including reading my daily prayer book and Bible. I skipped reading from Numbers until Job:
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Job
They seemed a lot, but it's okay. I think I am blessed to be able to have my whole time learning more about God, guided by the Holy Ghost and my KJV Cross Reference Study Bible.
Reading these all bibles in the sequence, focus, and additional footnotes in the Bible helped me understand more about God. How faithful God is to his covenant, how powerful God, His plan is always above our understanding, and only one thing that God keeps asking us to be obedient to His Words.
Bible in Context
Therefore, when I read all chapters in Ruth, Holy Ghost revealed how important she was and what I can learn from her life and the decisions she made.
Agape (1)
Ruth was a Moabite; she was married to Mahlon in her country for ten years. One day, her father-in-law passed away, his husband passed away, her brother-in-law passed away, and her mother-in-law, Naomi, insisted on returning to her hometown, Israel, alone.
Based on Israeli law, if a husband passes away and has no child yet, his brother may take the widow and marry her as a way to continue the family bloodline. However, in Ruth's case, Naomi had no other son. Naomi was an old widow; there was no way she would marry again and had more children her age.
Naomi asked her daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah, to leave her. Naomi suggested they have a new life as single in Moab rather than be with her, returning home to Israel. Ruth and Orpah refused to do so, but in the end, Orpah left. When Naomi still insisted Ruth leave her, the compassionate and kindhearted Ruth answered,
16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” 18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her. (Ruth 1:16-18).
In Ruth's context, she was a Moabite, a stranger who was visiting/staying in another country, Israel, which was difficult. People in Israel thought Moab was a country for people who did not know God and worshipped gods/Baal; they were gentiles. Israel was a foreign land to Ruth.
Ruth had choices, whether to have a new life in Moab, she was still young and able to get married again, but she chose to be with her alone mother in law where they were not sure also what would happen in Israel because Naomi was not a wealthy widow. Because of Ruth's agape, she loved her mother-in-law and was confident (faith); this was the Way she chose. She chose to believe in the living God, the same God that Naomi and her family's worship.
Agape (2)
Struck by 'luck' Ruth collected the dropped harvest in a field owned by Boaz. There is an Israeli law for the field owner to let poor widows gather their dropped harvest from the ground. Later, Boaz recognized who Ruth was and how she loved Naomi and followed her home to Israel.
It was interesting that Ruth's author shared how Boaz was a kindhearted man and loved God from the beginning. Boaz's introduction in the Ruth's story was opened by his greeting, "The Lord be with you" to his workers. Boaz was not an ordinary man.
After hearing who Ruth was, Boaz's willing to help Ruth by asking his worker to let Ruth drink water and share lunch from Boaz's table. Boaz's kindheartedness was shown by purposely asking his worker to pull out more grains and let them drop on the ground. He just did it out of respect and showed agape's love.
The 'Matchmaker'
Once Ruth arrived home, Naomi wondered how many grains she had brought. Therefore, Naomi was curious and asked where did Ruth collect the grains? Once she knew the field belonged to Boaz, she realized that Boaz came from the same bloodline on her husband's side. Therefore, Boaz could be a help as part of the Israeli's law, to get married to Ruth and continue their family bloodline.
One day, Naomi asked Ruth to be prepared to wear her best clothes and use perfume to have a midnight 'attack' on Boaz's threshing floor. It was interesting that it never crossed Ruth's mind to seduce or think about Boaz that way, but more on her mother-in-law's creative mind, lol. Vice versa, about Boaz, who respected Ruth.
However, I think the actual matchmaker was not Naomi; it was God! From the beginning, God was the one who guided Ruth to work and come to Boaz's field, where they did not know each other but admired each other's agape!
The Midnight 'Attack'
It was interesting; if we read the Bible text above, it seemed like Ruth was the one who proposed. She introduced herself and Naomi's family blood relation to Boaz and how Boaz needed to consider obeying the Israeli's law by marrying Ruth. Such the woman emancipation in her time! Love it!
If Boaz was not interested at all, he could reject the proposal. But he did not. He thought about it deeply and said he needed to check if there was another man who had closer blood relation with Naomi first. Boaz also did not do something 'naughty' that midnight. He just let Ruth lay down below his feet on the threshing floor.
I believe in Israel's old-time, having a woman sleep below your feet already something romantic and made a man's heart 'explode.' I can't wait to have my romantic story with my future husband; I think holding hands with him for the first time will make me feel crazy, lol.
Ruth and Boaz in Our Context Today
Ok, just what I shared with you at the beginning of this post, I knew the story of Ruth and Boaz long ago. However, I just realized that Ruth and Boaz's story taught us about agape love.
Ruth was a Moabite, a gentile; she was a poor widow and was responsible for an old mother-in-law. No ordinary Israeli's man would take her as any wife in their time's context. However, both Ruth and Boaz's agape loved by God; God was the one who set them up as a couple and blessed their future son, Obed as the grandfather of King David. Their names were recorded in the Bible forever!
Therefore what do I reflect about Ruth and Boaz in our context today? First of all, this whole time, I thought that I was waiting for my Boaz. I thought I was looking for the Godly man who could love me and cover me with his protection. After reading this, I realized that Ruth and Boaz's context is not about gender. One time you can be that Ruth or another, you can be that Boaz for your spouse.
Each one of us is not perfect. We have issues or struggles in life, "the baggages" that come with us, just like Ruth, who came with her citizenship, her status, her economic background, and even alone and old her mother-in-law, but she prioritized the agape love for her mother in law. We wish to have that Boaz who loved us with his agape love, and accepted us with all of our baggages, but can we be that Boaz for our spouse? Or to become Ruth who prioritized the agape love, no matter what?
Agape (3)
Marriage is a real thing! When you decide to marry, can you go the extra miles for the agape love? Marriage is not only to be a happy end story; Marriage needs love, respect, acceptance, sacrifice, hard work, and total commitment from both sides. No one is perfect, everyone can make a mistake, and someone who will hurt you the most is the one to who you are closest. It needs two to tango.
What can make you stand, stay, and fight for the agape love? It is only because of God.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
Jesus exemplifies how far a sacrifice can go for agape love.
Therefore make sure you and your significant other understand what agape love is, how Christian marriage's purpose differs from this world, ready for that total commitment, and of course, prayers are everything you need.
God bless you, and I wish every one of us (and the SO/spouse) can be Ruth and Boaz in our relationship and (upcoming) marriage. Keep our loved one closer and be faithful in our prayer.
I have shared with you that I rarely post any book reviews on this blog. I put most of my book reviews in my Goodreads account. He Came to Set the Captives Free, which Rebecca Brown Yoder wrote, is one of the extraordinary books that I think is essential for me to share through my blog.
What is so special about this book?
First of all, I am pretty romantic with the way I got a beautiful book recommended to read. There is always a story behind the most amazing book I have read. He Came to Set the Captives Free was recommended by my church pastor (which I haven't shared with you in detail) in our bible studies last week.
I searched for the book through Amazon Store on my Kindle. However, the book is not available to be bought in Indonesia. Unfortunately, I had to download the pirated ebook, but I promised to buy the printed copies from the US and forward the books to my Christian circle.
When I read the first cover of the book, something inside me spoke that this was not an ordinary book. Therefore, I knew I needed to pray and ask God to protect me and help me understand the book's content. Whenever I stopped reading the book, I would have the same prayer before rereading the book.
Was I becoming very paranoid? Pray before reading the book, and you will understand what I said.
The Story is About...
He Came to Set the Captives Free is a non-fiction story from a Christian doctor who had a close relationship with God and kept bringing her patients in prayer.
By reading this book, you will understand that Christianity is not a religion but a way of life. How do you have a total commitment to have Jesus, the savior, as your priority and to avoid life from sins. Satan used our sins as his gate to enter and destroy our life.
Even though having a life free of sins seems impossible, Jesus's death on the cross forgives every sin. As long you admit what you've done is wrong in front of Jesus, have a close relationship with Jesus, and repent, not do the same mistake again.
The author gave us the testimony of what she had done in the way of helping the top bride of Satan who repented into Jesus Christ, our savior. From the description, we know that Satan is near us, in our daily life, even in places you never thought of before, i.e., the church and music rock band.
Will you sacrifice for others who you know in the battle with Satan? Are you willing to pray, fast, and share shelter for the captives who need freedom and needed to be saved by Jesus, our Savior?
The Reflection
The book struck me and made me reflect, do I have the right choice? Do I have a trusted Christian circle? How about my family? Is there anyone into a contract with Satan? How about my grandparents and ancestors? Was there anyone related to this Satan circle? Am I visiting the right church?
FYI I am gifted with dreams and interpretation. Occasionally I can have dreams through my sleeping, which usually have a meaning. My mother has the same gift also her uncle. After reading the book, I pray to God to remove any Satanic relation within me in my blood, in the name of Jesus Christ.
I am more sensitive now and check 'new' information which looks and sounds like Christian values. Is it true for Jesus Christ's glory or just a disguise from Satan?
Satan's Disguise
Primbon, Horoscope, Zodiac, Palmistry, Hypnotherapy, and the World Meditation (which asked you to empty your mind, I had a terrible experience with this too) are not Christianity values. Heresy is anything that does not put God as the first ruler and priority in our life.
'Christian' Meditation
Moreover, do you know why I am writing this in the middle of the night, at 2 am? I woke up from the bad dreams of listening to the acclaimed Christian meditation, which is popular on Youtube and Spotify. Once I woke up, I shouted in the name of Jesus Christ to stop what Satan wanted to do and to break anything evil that tried to enter my mind.
I checked again about this 'Christian' meditation company, but there is no detailed information about who they are. It is suspicious and also dangerous. You do not know what words or something infiltrated your mind in the middle of your sleeping. I also checked the words spoken in that Christian meditation I listened to halfway, which said to ask 'God' to present in our dream.
If you are a Jesus follower, you will understand that it is not required for us "see" God with our visible eyes. John 20:29 said, "Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” What is essential for us, the Jesus' Followers is that we know God loves us. Jesus' death on the cross and his resurrection to redeem us from sinful life.
I wonder who this 'god' is mentioned in this 'Christian' meditation Youtube channel. Thank you to God who awakens me from this Satan's disguise. FYI this is not the first time of me listening to this 'Christian' meditation program. However, at this moment, I am in a time of fasting and prayer to be able to listen to God's voice. God let me understand His message, in part of me also finding and reading Rebecca Brown Yoder's book He Came to Set the Captives Free.
Satan's Followers in the Church
I also found what Rebecca said about Satan's followers who are involved in church is a match. We have read news of pastors who failed to be a sample of God's representatives on Earth. They abuse their fame and charm into wealth and adultery. Be careful when you know the new church who put their pastors in the spotlight, only telling you the prosperity gospel and sharing motivational speech but lack in prayer groups and bible studies, not acclaim that Jesus Christ is our savior and redeemer.
Also, be careful with the ability to speak in the tongue if there is none to interpret it. Always check your bible yourself if the pastor told you a bible verse. Be diligent in reading the bible and have a close relationship with God.
Ambiguous 'god' in the Song's Lyric
I also checked the phenomenon of young people coming to a 'Christian' concert. Do they sing the Christian values lyrics? Does it mention Jesus Christ as the savior, or is it ambiguous who is mentioned in the song's lyrics?
I can't tell you her name, but I found a singer who created songs and sang Christian lyrics, but it is ambiguous who is the 'You' she mentioned. Why could she not say it bluntly and out of loud it is Jesus Christ, the Savior?
And, of course, we need to filter out song lyrics that we know already have curses and bad words. We are what we read and what we listen to. It created bad influences on our life.
Godly Offspring
Can you imagine how difficult it is to build a family and raise children in this world if our family does not have a close relationship with Jesus Christ, our savior? Therefore, choose your partner carefully, and make sure two of you understand the marriage's purpose and why we need to remain close to God.
With God, everything is possible! Thank you, Rebecca Brown Yoder, who wrote this beautiful book, an essential book to read by people who claim to be Jesus' followers. I am grateful that God came across my pathway to being able to read this book at the right time and opened my "eyes" about the Satan's disguise in this world.
In Jesus' name, by Jesus' blood on the cross, we are the winner. God is the ultimate truth, ruler, and the Universe's most powerful force.
Like what I wrote in my previous post, I seek and shall find. After my first step in bible studies in Orchard Road Presbyterian Church (ORPC), God showed me that it was not enough. One day, the church told us they have the Kairos program to understand our mission in this world.
For the details:
KAIROS is a course that helps transform worldview so that the believer understands God's purpose for every cultural group in the world, including those that still have few or no churches. The course clearly demonstrates God's love for the peoples of the world and our call to be a blessing to them.
KAIROS is a nine-session course that utilizes a variety of learning methods including group discussions, short lecture introduction, devotions, video teaching and student participation in specially designed activities. It covers the biblical, historical, strategic and cultural areas of mission concern.
Finding Kairos
The problem is that ORPC only held the nine Kairos sessions on weekdays. Even though I lived in Batam, near Singapore, I still couldn't catch up on the weekday lesson with the last boat's schedule returning to Batam. I could give up and forget about it from an ordinary human's perspective.
However, something from inside me said that I needed this Kairos session. I had to find a way to find any available session if it was possible on the weekend. I believed that if God allowed me to find ORPC and its bible studies if it were God's will, God would help me find a way to get into the Kairos program.
Being a librarian is helpful to find a way, lol. Therefore, I did a little research through Google and found a website for Kairos with Singapore domain URL. I checked on the schedule and found several churches running Kairos within the same months. Most of them run the program on weekdays, but there is ONE church that runs it on Saturdays! Lucky me!
Grace Assembly of God
I found the church's website and was blessed to know that the church website is constantly updated. They attached the weekly church bulletin to their website and shared the contact number for the Kairos program. I was truly blessed and prayed that the contact person was willing to open the opportunity for a stranger like me to be involved in their Kairos program.
I am a stranger Indonesian, and I did not know anyone in that church; they could reject my registration and said that they only opened the program for their church members. Therefore, I prayed to God that if it were God's will, God would open the way and touch the contact person's heart that I accepted into the program.
The contact person asked me to fill up the registration form and said it was okay for me to join the program. Moreover, she asked me more details like how will I reach the church and where did I stay? This is the unique thing about being a Christian family member. You are very welcome, and they greet you warmly as part of Jesus Christ's family, even though they have never met me (yet).
Later, these beautiful friends became my new family in Singapore, compared to the opportunistic Singapore friend I had before. Thanks to Sis Jocelyn, who welcomes me heartily, Ps Peck Yin, who holds me to stay over in her apartment whenever I visit Singapore, Sis Juliette & Bro Jo-my mission trip gank, and the whole family from Grace Assembly of God.
To be a Blessing
I am truly blessed to be able to complete the nine weeks of the Kairos program in Grace Assembly of God. What the inner voice said to me was right; I needed it!
For years, I only think that being a Christian is only going to the church, worshiping God in the church, becoming a responsible citizen, and following the law and legislation. However, Kairos's ultimate goal shows us that our true purpose is to be a blessing to other people. Forward the love. Period.
Can't you believe that it is a straightforward task, but sometimes we forget about the simple thing as easy as that? Moreover, I also learn that salvation is not coming from us doing good deeds. We are saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus and not by our own efforts or works. ORPC was also telling this confirmation through its bible studies.
I am truly blessed and feel that God's presence is always near us. All we have to do is ask God through prayer: seek, and you shall find. And by the way, this is not the end of my seeking journey. We will have to continue to the next post, lol.
Because this question haunted me, I searched for the answers for years. I prayed, "God, I want to know you more. Show me the way to understand more about you." And just what Matthew 7:7 says, "Ask, and it will be given to you." God answers my prayer in unique ways.
My First Presbyterian Church
My first visit to Presbyterian happened when I visited Singapore in 2017 as part of our Papua community presentation. I could stay over in a hostel/hotel in Singapore, but I would like to have more friends in Singapore. Therefore, I sent a couchrequest from Couchsurfing website. Danny & Lisa gladly accepted my couchrequest, and later on, I found that they are also Jesus Followers.
Lisa, Danny, the kids, and I were visiting their church, which is a Presbyterian Church. It's a Calvary Pandan Bible Presbyterian Church. Lisa and Danny didn't know that I had my birthday three days ago, and I thought my visit to Singapore this time must be extraordinary for my character growth.
At that moment, I was pretty dizzy because I was confused with some weird men's attempt at romance for me, but they were not Jesus Followers. I still remember that time the Pastur said it loud, "Bible is the answer for all our problems." His statement had an impact on my heart.
The Bible
Therefore, after the Sunday service, I visited the book store on the second floor of the church building. And I saw there were many kinds of bibles there. FYI, the bible is translated into many languages, with different versions, and I hold my sight longer on this KJV grey bible.
I stopped over for a while, checked on the bible, and was surprised to know that this is not an ordinary Bible. It is a study bible with cross-reference and footnotes based on data/reflection. I thought it was a perfect bible for me to know more about God. Even though I have a bible at home (the Bahasa Indonesia's bible), I do not think it suits what I need to learn more about Jesus. Since then, the bible has been within me, but I only open it occasionally.
Moved to Batam
I moved to Batam in 2018, where geographically, it is near Singapore, only around 40 minutes by boat. Before leaving Papua and flying to Batam, I prayed that I believe that Batam is where God has a plan for me, and I wish God bless my way there and the people I am going to meet.
I was looking for a church where I could learn more about God. I joined a bible study for three months in a local church in Batam. However, upon " graduation " in November, I knew it was not the place. That's not the place where I could grow spiritually. I prayed again and asked God, "Please, God show me where I can learn more about you."
Orchard Road Presbyterian Church
That December, my family visited me in Batam, and we traveled between Batam, Bintan, and Singapore. However, on that Christmas eve, I knew I could not miss going to church. Therefore, I skipped my shopping time with my family and visited the nearest church on Orchard Road, Singapore.
I found several churches nearby, but when I read "Orchard Road Presbyterian Church," I knew I would go there! I still remember the beautiful moment I had in the Presbyterian Church in 2017. Surprisingly, I got the church book of worship and a brochure for their upcoming schedule. Their schedule was 'crazy' and exactly what I had been praying for!
The church shared their bible studies annual program called School of Ministry (SoCM), with the subject's titles to learn and the schedule, which Sunday they will run for the program! They made the schedule neatly, to have the SoCM only twice a month after the Sunday service, where I knew this was something I could not miss! I would attend the whole sessions of SoCM. Rev Clive was the one who taught us about what is Christianity from the basics.
Rev Clive did not teach us only who Jesus is as part of the knowledge, but he challenged us to be more like Jesus. Whether Jesus is God or not, heresies of Jesus, Christology, Discipleship, Knowing God, what is Presbyterianism, having all the church members as part of it, and what we will do after knowing these all? SoCM indeed became my blessing.
Therefore from 2019 until now, even though we are the pandemic, we can still manage to have SoCM through Zoom. The church also provides the voice recording and the presentation file through the church's website. However, they did not include the question-answering session in the recording.
Only by God's Grace
The SoCM sessions in 2018-2019 were no longer available on the church's website. However, this was something I could predict because of the website's memory capacity. Therefore, I saved every recording we had, and I know these files are precious, and it is only by God's grace I could find God through Orchard Road Presbyterian Church. And the KJV Bible that I bought became very handy and helpful in knowing more about God. I still have it with me and read it more frequently now.
After all, this is not the end of my journey in seeking God. More stories are upcoming after this post. Stay tuned.
For many Christians, we have the proverb said, "Prayer is a Christian breath." I forgot when it happened, but I believe my first prayer was when I was a kid. I was a frequent visitor to Sunday School for many years. Afterward, I make it a habit that I always pray before eating the food and before going to sleep.
However, by the time I learned the wisdom that prayer is not a way of as demand on something we want from God. God has given me a lot of things for me. Most of the things I never planned even never crossed my mind, but God is the provider, and God is the best mastermind of my life planning.
I learned to humble myself, not to bother God too much for my benefit, and mostly pray for my family and friends. If I pray 'something' for me, I always ask God if this is something that he wants me to do, if this is what God wants in my life, and if it is part of his will and his kingdom master plan. I always close my prayer with "Thy will be done."
The Weird Prayers
Therefore, I remember having the weird prayers during the most challenging times. Four of the weirdest prayers are:
When I knew I had a complex and stone heart, I prayed to let God soften my heart.
When I am becoming paranoid about falling in love, I pray that God only let me fall in love with the man who will be my husband.
When some of the unbeliever men approached me for romantic moves, I prayed that God would let me use more logic than my feelings.
When I was worried about my registered Bataknese church, I prayed that God would lead me to the good church where I could be planted well.
Whenever I am confused and do not know what to do, I will pray. If I have a question and do not know the answer, I will pray and ask God to help me find the answer. When I am hesitant about something, I will pray and ask God to help me and what decision shall I make. Prayer has become my sanctuary and place to run whenever I face problems for many years.
I can't Pray
During the last couple of months, I have had someone to be prayed. This person's problem is so complex and challenging, and it is impossible to answer from the human's mere perspective. I only succeeded in praying for this person twice with a peaceful heart. The rest of my prayers went into worries and troubles on my side. Until, at one moment, I gave up on praying. Not only to pray for that person but stop praying on many things.
I might be able to pray during Sunday's church service but no longer for asking anymore to God. I was disappointed why God let this happen in my life. Several times I only folded both of my hands and only cried without any words coming out. I am so devastated. Where was the old me who always loved to talk and share stories with God? The one who likes to pray whenever I face any problems in my life? I miss the old me.
The Meditation
Since the spiritual incident last December, I have enjoyed the quality time between God and me. My soul craves that meditation time! Therefore, I know this July holiday, I need this; I will use the time as the quality time meeting with God.
I rented an apartment in West Jakarta for a month and stayed there, focused on learning about God again, reading my bible, catch up with my Daily Bread (where I also skipped many days/months of it). I signed out from social media, did not open my WhatsApp, and only went out of the building for the church matter. That was the plan.
By night before leaving my dorm and arriving in the apartment, I prayed to God to bless this meditation journey. I asked God I surrender to whatever God wants in my life, let me listen to what God says and wants in my life, and give me the courage to be able to do His's will. The first night was very challenging. I could not ask for anything else but was only able to pray, "Thy will be done" with tears.
This Wednesday, I attended the bible studies group meeting through Zoom, which led to the discussion of why someone could not pray. Precisely this is what I am experienced.
Romans 8:26-27 New International Version 26
"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God."
What God Says About Prayer
My pastor shared this bible verse in our bible studies group, and I was shocked to find the answer. If the Spirit is the one who makes us able to pray, then what I asked in my prayer is against God's will. Holy Spirit is unhappy about my prayer. Deep down inside, maybe I think I pleaded to God to make my wish happen. Just like Aladdin, who asked the Genie to grant his wishes.
Moreover, I read the book about Unlimiting God, listened to Don Moen's song, "God Will Make a Way", and watched Don Moen's sharing about perspective, I know I was wrong. We are not capable of reading God's master planning. I force my narrow-sighted vision to God's unlimited perspective. I limit God in my prayers, and this is my huge mistake!
When I pray "Thy will be done", I have to put the faith that any problems I face now are nothing compared to God's sovereignty and the master plan of our life as part of God's kingdom. I need to learn to have faith in God!
Thank Jesus for always being there for me; find me the lost sheep again and again.
Last night I had the Bible Study Group and we discussed about Sermon on the Mount. First of all, Jesus spoke on the mount where was no electricity, microphone, or sound system. However, Jesus' voice reaches into people's heart. Therefore, Jesus was followed by a lot of people on the Mount.
Second, Jesus taught something that never been taught of. Jesus are with sinners, poor people, people who are helpless. His teaching speaks to us, why us Jesus Followers are different with the rest of the world. Therefore, no wonder, if sometimes I feel like a geek or very different compare to people around me.
Third, these are several points of what Jesus' taught on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-12)
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Irrational?
If you read these 8 teachings, you may say that they are irrational, and not related one to each other. Out of logic, you may say. However, what I learned from Jesus' sermon on the Mount, it gives humanity a hope for a better future.
Life is full of uncertainty. None can give you any guarantee that everything will be turn out well, or run as your planned ahead. Even the insurance policy still has a term and condition applied or force major policy, LOL. However, with Jesus, by faith, we are running our time and endeavors with positive mindset that everything will turn out to be okay, as long as we do what God wishes.
Today we might cry, but later on, we will comforted and learn lesson from it. Today we might be humiliated or people let us down, but we learn about humility and forgiveness because of Jesus. Today we might be hungry and have no money at all, but somehow, a way out is prepared by God. We do not have bad intention on people, Jesus protects us and shows us good friends and circle. People spoke ugly about Jesus or being Christians, we learned to accept that the Holy Spirit and this wisdom is for the chosen ones.
Be The Jesus Follower
I would say that becomes Jesus follower is never easy. You will be different from people of the World. Some people might think you are crazy, weirdo, illogical, and why to bother yourselves to follow some rules made by this unseen person.
However, like my post I was the Lost Sheep, I was lost. However, now I want To be Planted. The way I take decisions is different now. I usually pray and ask God, what shall I do, and ask the Holy Spirit to help me deliver what I meant in words, and to bless the another person (whom I am going to meet), to let that person understands the true intention of my words.
To be a Jesus follower is to know Him personally and it includes to pray, read His Words, read bible, join a bible studies, have a place to ask and discuss your thoughts, and having the supportive community, and the most difficult thing is: to do what God asks you to do, even though it is not easy or against your ego.
But why we bear with it? Because we understand that Jesus has His unconditional love for all people in the World, each one of us. But, do you even recognize Him as your savior? I pray may the Holy Spirit bless you with wisdom to understand this truth.
Having Jesus in my life giving me strength. Nothing to worry about. My task is to do my best for God's purpose. In this part I am still being tested.
For people who know me, I had problem with Huria Kristen Batak Protestan (HKBP) church. I had bad experience with Batak's culture patriarchy and one of the result was, I am not really pleased visiting the HKBP church. Moreover, I was not really interested to be part of the church's program, volunteers, or anything that's related with this 'holy' thing. I thought those people in the church are hypocrites.
It went like that for years, and by the time I kept moving from one city to another city. I thought that I could just go anywhere for the Sunday service, as long as it was a church. I thought that my purpose was to meeting God and it could be anywhere. For so many time, the pastors in the several church that I attended the service, kept telling the same message, "Be planted in a church."
Nothing moved my heart.. until something was happened last December.
Last December
I had a spiritual journey, where it was a confirmation from God whose showing His sovereignty to me. I was shock and thought what would be my response? I could not stay the same, I needed to be changed. Until I attended the Christmas sermon from Orchard Road Presbyterian Church (ORPC). ORPC is a very special church for me, I think I will write in another post about how special this church is.
The Message from the Church
Rev Clive told me the same messages that I have been heard for many times, and in years, "To be Planted." The phrase "to be planted" is a Christianity terminology to be said that as a Christian, we need to have growth in Jesus Christ, and we need to be in a good community (church) as our base/soil. From the world "To be planted," we will be nurtured within this community (church), and God will allow us the growth and bear the "fruits." That's the huge difference with a Christian who goes to the church independently, read bible alone, and do prayer alone. Having a community (church) will help your growth.
The weird thing was, I had listened the same messages over and over again. However, why on that particular December, I was moved, and finally able to make decision and pray, "God, I want to be planted in your church. Please show me where I should go and be planted." What has been moved me?
Parable of the Sower
If you read the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-23; Mark 4:1-20; Luke 8:1-15), Jesus told us that there are four kind of soils.
The sower spread the seeds and some of it landed/planted in the different kind of soils:
1. The Path
It would not be planted, because people will walk on the path, and before the seed was taken into root, it would be taken/eaten by the birds. As the matter of your heart, it means you might listen the voice of God, but you choose to go away and ignore it.
2. Stoney Ground
The seed that spread on the stoney ground is difficult to grow. Usually they will be dead soon. You keep your heart as strong as the stones, and slowly the seed will be dead.
3. Thorny Ground
The seed that spread on the thorny ground, it means the soil has the pest that you need to remove. If you do not remove it, your plant could not have a healthy growth and bear good fruits. It means you listen and try to do what God's tell you. However, you do not remove the your old bad habits, you compromise with evil. Therefore, in some aspect you will think you might have the growth in God, but the evil is still around you, having the growth as well, and you will have difficulties to bear the good fruits.
4. Good Soil
The seed which spread on the good soil of course would be the one planted well. The good soil is already prepared to have the seed be planted inside it. It just like us, who might experience terrible life, challenge, and temptation but we would not give up on it. We pray and ask God to be be able to listen to God's voice, and we wish to be changed to be a better person, a person who does what God ask you to do. Even though you are fighting with your ego and your human's flesh.
What Happened to Me? Which Soil Am I?
Years ago, this 'incident' happened to me, and since I prayed to God, asked God, that I want to know God more. God answers prayer. God showed me the way to learn more about him through Orchard Road Presbyterian Church, life problems, though decisions I should make, and of course later Last December. It means, on the progress, by years, I was preparing my heart to be the good soil which is ready to have God's seed. And everything happens in God's Kairos-time, last December, my heart is prepared to have the seed, hear God's voice, and my heart answered that I am ready to be planted.
The work of preparing the good soil is not an easy task. Have you seen how the the good soil is prepared? You have to filter it from the stones, remove the pest, add more fertilizer on it, and water it. I prayed, but it was not enough. I need to do the action as well. I should be able to have commitment with God. To do the whole process and stayed with God. When I was faced with problems, what decision I will make? Decisions that will benefit me as the flesh or God's will? I keep eager to learn God's words by attending church service and join the Bible studies group (even though I am not planted yet), I need to stay near with God.
I believe that people have different process in preparing their heart. However, praying only and not doing anything is not enough. Not only pray, but you frequently need to do something that might be not comfortable to do as a human (because it against your ego and flesh), but still you need to do that, because you know that what's God ask you to do.
I am Ready to be Planted
For me these process took years, and it was the time my heart said in the beginning of January, "God, I am ready to be planted." Now, God is in the whole process of the planting, God helps me to have the desire to register myself and have commitment to be planted in a church in Jakarta. This is a super huge difference compare to the previous me who hated and refused to go to the church for years in my teenager time. I was the stoney ground.
I am grateful that in this whole journey, even-though I am being tested, and it was very difficult, I could stay and stand to be in Jesus pathway. I am ready for the next process, of the little seed which planted in my prepared heart. I might face the extreme climate, have pests around me, or people who might step on me. However, I have the Great Sower and I believe that God will take care of me in this whole process, give me growth, and bear the fruits in Jesus Christ.
Thank you Jesus for unfolding this revelation for me. Thank you for being there with me this whole years, where actually I am sinful and not worth to be saved. Thank you Jesus, it always been you T.T
I haven't update you all with what all things happened in my life within this year. I returned to Jakarta since last September. Life is good and I get closer with family.
I had a spiritual journey last December, and it was the scariest level 10 ever. Love life decisions, planted in a church (finally after decades wondering around), and currently busy with 2 bible studies: Orchard Road Presbyterian Church Singapore and the All Saints Anglican Church Jakarta.
It is interesting that by attending these two bible studies, I got enlightenment and mostly it came in the right timing! One thing for my concern and reflection is how special God relationship with us described, as a shepherd and the lambs.
1. "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." (John 10:27)
The amazing thing by reading bible (if you are blessed with the Holy Ghost), many times you read it you might get inspired by more new things. I have read this John 10 passages several times since my childhood, however, the Holy Ghost showed one new revelation for me. The keyword is "my sheep." If you are Jesus' sheep, you know who is He, and of course because you know He is your Master, you will follow Him."
2. I was the Lost Sheep
Some animals might like to have fun, enjoy the wind, scenery on the hill, or get trapped by the bushes beneath the flowers. In my situation, I might involved in some temptations, trapped in the situation, or between choices that could make me leave my sheep group and my master. I might already walk in a yard or hundreds meters away, but suddenly I listen there is a voice calling me. Either my Master, or my sheep gank (lol). Now, the issue is, after I listen to that call, will I obey and return to my Master?
I have choices: to listen but not obey, or listen and obey.
3. Listen and Obey, or just Not?
My Master said, "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man." (John 10:28). Definitely, my Master would not harm me. He will make sure that I will be taken care of back there in my sheepfold. Then, what will happen if I do not listen, even worse, to run away from my Master? I will get lost, hurt myself, trapped in the middle of the cliff, or dead being hunted by the predators.
All decision is back to myself. God give us the free will.
3. What Happened to the Other Sheep?
In the Christian perspective, we can conclude, the sheep who does not know Jesus would not follow him. Then, what do the other sheep know of? In the positive light, we might say, if there were another shepherd. However, if you believe in monotheism, this would not seem correct, lol.
Therefore, I would say, the world out there outside of Jesus' protection is a true dangerous world and full of predators.
For what happened 2 years ago, I learned that I need to separate working matter with private life. Work is work, and our life (outside the school) is supposed to be private.
I decide to move out from the house I rented for a year. The contract shall be ended at the end of this June. However, money is no longer my concern because we are talking about my life at risk here. No need to be a whining child, asking a favor, or help from someone in my working circumstance. They are out of this.
I prefer to depend on myself, taking the safest decision in the matter of life. Thank you Jesus for this lifetime lesson, to learn not to have a debt of gratitude on humans but you.
I purposely write this post (after a quite long time) as a note to my self, to remember this lesson, to cherish myself who choose to having dignity in my life. I love me and have a respect on myself.
Pustakawan Mendunia has been 2 years and the vision keeps going!
I have this (weirdly) urgency to leave a legacy in this world.
I want to have a little token from me to give a glimpse of hope, a better world, in my capacity. What is my capacity? I am a librarian by profession and I have a passion for reading, literacy, and librarianship. I find this is rare even between my circle of alumni. I am blessed to be graduated from the best university in Indonesia with this major, and passionate about it too.
Then? What shall I do?
The Past
Years ago, when I was in Jakarta, my friends and I were helping a community library nearby Ciliwung River. When I left Jakarta for a job in Surabaya, the library activity was stopped. Since then, I am terrified to join or build a community if there is no one to continue the initiative.
When I joined a youth community to teach kids in the remote areas in Mimika Regency, Papua Province, I still had this in mind. I need to make sure that even though I am no longer there, the community may survive. However, it is not easy to find an idealistic person, with the same view, and has perseverance as me. This is not boasting, but I had tried to find that person/s for years.
In Papua, I still have that positive mindset, as long as we were working on the same children and the same projects, that would not be a problem. But, it had problems then. My vision is idealistic and not compatible with others who thought of our projects lightly and did that as a matter of having fun. I am serious about teaching the students with a well-managed preparation and program. For others, why am I making it so difficult?
Then it came true, the moment I left the community in Mimika Regecny, the activity was collapsed! The community is no longer active. I moved out to Batam.
Leaving a legacy is not that easy. A good deed is not enough.
Therefore, I make sure to be more careful in Batam. I would not join any community if I know the people's values are different from mine. At all. At all. At all. Nada. I would not join at all. I met several communities in Batam, tried to attend their gathering, or joined one of their programs. However, I found out that these people only taking this as a matter of having fun and to have something nice to be shared in their IG feeds.
The Present
Enough with the lesson from the past and I make a promise to myself.
If I can't find it, then I will make it.
I will make my vision happen, and that's how Pustakawan Mendunia comes up 2 years ago. I still have that urgency to have Pustakawan Mendunia as a legacy, and this is going to be continued by the next visionary librarian/s. Even though I am retired or meeting my Father in heaven, I still wish this vision keeps going.
I am building my path on my way there. I make contact with Library Science students in UI and Uncen. Students are the key to a better future, and they shall realize that through our profession we may touch people's lives, help people to unleash their potential, giving hope, build a better world for everyone. However, most library science students do not realize their strength that well.
Therefore, I am delighted that we just finished 9 sessions with Library Science students in Universitas Cenderawasih, Papua Province. At the first moment, I really hope that this meeting would help the library science students bridging the theory they had in college with the reality in the working environment. These sessions are free, they do not need to pay anything. However, the number of attendees keep reduced until our last 2 meet up. Only Ridho and I were there in our last 2 meetups.
The Future
Future is something that we can't have yet but we can plan to.
I am feeling sorry for Papua who doesn't grab this opportunity well. Our learning session is only temporary until December 2020. I am not really sure about next year because I have a lot of projects to do with my planner.
However, I appreciated what Ridho has done and I could see his spirit of learning is so strong. After some consideration, I offer him to be part of Pustakawan Mendunia team, at least for a year. If he is willing to. And yes, he is very happy and almost ends in tears. Before, I really hope at least there would be a Papuan student standing until the end of our session. But there is none.
If you read what I have read in "The Past," you know for sure that I am very careful to make decisions about the community. Therefore, having someone get into Pustakawan Mendunia is not really easy for me. In a way to open the path of Pustakawan Mendunia as a legacy for the future, I have to overcome the fear. I need to mentor the next/another Pustakawan Mendunia, and it begins from Ridho.
Having a dream is free for everyone. However, from my reflection, there are 2 barriers which ruining our dream :
Ourselves
Listening to people who said we can't
My life is like a boat and it never sail on the calm ocean. It keeps wavy, but I would not be a person who give up to the storm or the big waves. I keep going.
As I child, I was a rebel. At least in my mind. Born and raised in a strong patriarchy culture as Bataknese (you may read my previous writing here), my barriers were my parents. So that, once I was in college, I got my freedom to say: NO. Since then, nobody could force me to do anything which is not reasonable or out of my common sense.
Been in Papua for 5 years, I grasp the essence of life: Love in a humble life. Some things might happened out of my common sense, in the term of God's perspective. This is something that we could not predict. I learn to live in faith, "in the God's time". I become a more reflective person, I found me. I am blessed to have this understanding very early, before my 30s.
Then I come to the conclusion again, the greatest barriers for your growth are:
Yourself
Listening to people who said you can't
I felt bad for my little brother who was not allowed to choose his dream college, because of the circumstance. My parents were lacking in confidence of him. They ruined my brother's self-esteem. This is something that we could not overdo, since the result of the university exam has been published. Yes, my brother is accepted in a good national university, but it's not his dream college. He was crying on the phone when I called him at midnight. I have difficulties for sleeping this whole month, I do not know if this what what you called a 'sign.' I think my little brother felt terribly sorry about himself.
The Power to be able to Dream is Very Expensive
Having a dream is free, but to have that power to allow yourself to be able to dream and go for it, to pursue it, to give the best effort for that, it's coming from yourself. Nobody could replace you. It shall coming from you. Hundreds or thousands of people might said No. However, it's you who define yourself. Are you just like what these people said about you? Or are you the person you define who you are?
I just choose the second option. I define myself.
Last month, our book club reading Laskar Pelangi, or the Rainbow Troops, which is written by Andrea Hirata. I read Laskar Pelangi twice. The first was in Bahasa Indonesia, then I just finished the English version for my book club's. My first time reading this book when I was in college. I just enjoyed the story as a fiction based on real story, oh yeah. It was another adventure story about kids. However, in my second time reading this, I read this in a totally different perspective. I worked for 5 years in remote place, not the capital city of the province. Moreover, I met these bright beautiful children who had limited access for education not because of lacking in the facilities, but in their own mindset.
Lintang gave the Rainbow Troops courage to dream! Something that Ikal dan the other troops never dare to think that further. There are more possibilities for them out there, and they have people who believe in them: Ibu Mus, Pak Hafan, and Lintang!
How to Response when Somebody Sharing His/Her Dream with You?
Said thank you. It means that you are a very dear for that someone. If you heard his/her dream kinda like giving you to response by answering "Really??"; better you hold your tongue.
For my brother's case, I felt sorry about him, because I was away not in Jakarta when the family made decision. They just decided and reported the result to me. Just like the old days hahaha (this sarcasm btw). However, I told my brother that the power to be able to dream, this is a blessing where not everyone has it.
Not everyone encouraged enough to think that they are actually able to reach their dreams by effort and working hard on it. Not everyone brave enough to see themselves as helpless and they are not capable (yet) in way to reflect, and see what else I can do to make myself do better.
My parents are not blessed by this traits. They are very simple and practical. Living a permanent life, doing good, working hard, life is good enough, and that's it. I told my brother we could not blame on our parents but that's how they are.
What Would You Do and How is Your Plan?
Therefore, I asked my brother, what would you do and how is your plan? He told me that he would having the next's year university entrance test. I told him that he has the chance for a year preparing and working hard for that. I also shared my failures and the turning points which shaped me as the current me. Moreover, I told my brother, even for me, life is not ended as just like these days. I do not see myself graduated with a bachelor degree from library and information science as the end of me. I do also have my goals. It needs effort, and I am working on it.
Like what I believe, we shall be a role model to people we love. If I encouraged my brother to be a person who is brave to dream, then I should be a person who is willing to dream and surely make the efforts on it. I told my brother that he always has his brother and sisters, and me as the 'out of the box' sister to share his stories and worries with. I am glad to know at the end of our conversation he felt better, and we prayed. I told him, never feeling alone, because nowadays, God's answering people's prayers in various ways. God might be not talking to you directly but God's words could be delivered through other people.
Some people mentioned that 'luck' is the most important aspect in someone's success. Good for me, that I do not believe in luck. You might work hard, the effort was there, you might reach for your dream, or might be not. Not because you are not capable (after those all hardworking and labor), but we are limited in our perspective as human. God provides you with even better result. This 'secret' would be unfolded once then we would say, "Oh, that's why..." hahaha. But yes, it usually take a long time until we reach that reflective mode on.
I wish more children and people in the world have the same opportunity, to have that power to be able to dream. There is one quote that I really like,
“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it you will land among the stars.”
I am blessed to be lend books from my inspiring boss (Please do read my previous post). She just lend me other book, Grit : the power of passion and perseverance. The book is written by Angela Duckworth. You may watch her famous Youtube TedX video below:
If the previous book, Lean In pumped me with full spirit and strength; the Grit book put my brain on fire hahaha. The book is a research summary that has been done by Angela Duckworth and other psychologists about the psychology of achievement for years. If you really into "grit," I believe you are going to finish reading the book until the last page. Moreover, you would not stop, but reflect. First, you would realise your grit score and challenged yourself that you could done better from the current you.
Actually when my boss lend me this book, I was not really interested. Because I have seen Angela Duckworth's video on Youtube before. At that moment, I did agree with her: Grit defines success, even though it's not definite only because of grit alone. I am confident to tell myself, I have this grit in my life. Angela Duckworth just helped me to define this trait as the 'grit'. So then what? This was my first response when I read the first pages of the book.
However, after reading into the part III : Grit from the Outside In. It really helped me to see grit from outer perspective. How to initiate the grit for other people? Especially in my job as a librarian who work in school. Working alone as a grittier person is not enough. You should be supported by a grittier team that lead by a grittier leader.
I do not know whether my boss really aware about this. How I see this, why did she give me this book to read? I believe not every employee has offered to borrow my boss' books. This WHY keep bugging me. If I am not mistaken then, based on Lean In and the Grit Book, my boss is going to make a grittier teamwork! Perhaps she thought that I could be a part of that dream team.
Meanwhile, as for my personal vision, I am determined to shape my vision and grit into something realistic and measured. Including this revelation I just got this morning, I would pursue my graduate program not in library science. For years, I thought a postgraduate program in Library Science is my ultimate goal. I was wrong! I would tell you later once everything has confirmed. Meanwhile, I would find details of the program and save more money for that. I am really relieved to wake up this morning once I realised my old dream!
Thank you so much for God's blessing! My boss really destined to meet me, inspired, and challenged me with many new things. A self-development life to the fullest!
Meanwhile, I am going to copy here some quotes or paragraphs that I found interesting:
How Darwin Seeing Grit
"One biographer describes Darwin as someone who kept thinking about the same questions long after others would move on to different-and no doubt easier-problems:
The normal response to being puzzled about something is to say, "I'll think about this later," and then, in effect, forget about it. With Darwin, one feels that he deliberately did not engage in this kind of semi-willful forgetting. He kept all the questions alive at the back of his mind, ready to be retrieved when a relevant bit of data presented itself.
How Nietzsche Seeing Grit
"With everything perfect, Nietzsche wrote, "we do not ask how it came to be." Instead, "we rejoice in the present fact as though it came out of the ground by magic."
"No one can see in the work of the artist how it has become," Nietzsche said.
... "Our vanity, our self-love, promotes the cult of the genius," Nietzsche said.
"For if we think of genius as something magical, we are not obliged to compare ourselves and find ourselves lacking... To call someone 'divine' means: 'here there is no need to compete.'" ... Great things are accomplished by those "people whose thinking is active in one direction, who employ everything as material, who always zealously observe their own inner life and that of others, who perceive everywhere models and incentives, who never tire of combining together the means available to them.
And what about talent?
Nietzsche implored us to consider exemplars to be, above all else, craftsmen:
"Do not talk about giftedness, inborn talents! One can name great men of all kinds who were very little gifted. They acquired greatness, became 'geniuses' (as we put it)... They all possessed that seriousness of the efficient workman which first learns to construct the parts properly before it ventures to fashion a great whole; they allowed themselves time for it, because they took more pleasure in making the little, secondary things well than in the effect of a dazzling whole."
Talent is how quickly your skills improve when you invest effort. Achievement is what happens when you take your acquired skills and use them. Of course, your opportunities-for example, having a great coach or teacher-matter tremendously, too, and maybe more than anything about the individual. .. It doesn't address these outside forces, nor because it include luck. It's about the psychology of achievement, but because psychology isn't all that matters, it's incomplete.
... What this theory says is that when you consider individuals in identical circumstances, what each achieves depends on just two things, talent and effort. Talent-how fast we improve in skill-absolutely matters. But effort factors into the calculation twice, not once. Effort build skill. At the very same time, effort makes skill productive.
How Will Smith Seeing Grit
"The separation of talent and skill," Will Smith points out, "is one of the greatest misunderstood concepts for people who are trying to excel, who have dreams, who want to do things. Talent you have naturally. Skill is only developed by hours and hours and hours of beating on your craft."
Skill is not the same thing as achievement, either. Without effort, your talent is nothing more than your unmet potential. Without effort, your skill is nothing more than what you could have done but didn't. With effort, talent becomes skill, and, at the very same time, effort makes skill productive.
"Not necessarily. But skipping around from one kind of pursuit to another-from one skill set to an entirely different one-that's not what gritty people do."
"But what if I move around a lot and, while I'm doing that, I'm working incredibly hard?"
"Grit isn't just working incredibly hard. That's only part of it."
Pause.
"Why?"
"Well, for one thing, there are no shortcuts to excellence. Developing real expertise, figuring out really hard problems, it all takes time-longer than most people imagine. And then, you know, you've got to apply those skills and produce goods or services that are valuable to people. Rome wasn't built in a day."
He was listening, so I continued.
"And here's the really important thing. Grit is about working on something you care about so much that you're willing to stay loyal to it."
"It's doing what you love. I get that."
"Right, it's doing what you love, but not just falling in love-staying in love."
By his second year at Oxford, he figured out that journalism was even better fit: "Once I learned more about being journalist and how that could get me back to Africa, and how that actually would be fun, and I could write more creatively than I first imagined journalism was, then I was like, 'Screw it, this is what I'm going to do.' I set out a very deliberate path that was possible, because the journalism industry was very hierarchical, and it was clear how to get from A to B to C to D, et cetera.
Step A was writing for Oxford's student newspaper, Cherwell. Step B was a summer internship at a small paper in Wisconsin. Step C was the St. Petersburg Times in Florida on the Metro beat. Step D was the Los Angeles Times. Step E was the New York Times as a national correspondent in Atlanta. Step F was being sent overseas to cover war stories, and in 2006-just over a decade since he'd set himself the goal-he finally reached step G: becoming the New York Times' East Africa bureau chief.
... What Jeff's journey suggests instead is passion as a compass-that thing that takes you some time to build, tinker with, and finally get right, and that then guides you on your long and winding road to where, ultimately, you want to be.
Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll puts it this way: "Do you have a life philosophy?"
For some of us, the question makes no sense. We might say: Well, I have a lot of things I'm pursuing. A lot of goals. A lot of projects. Which do you mean?
But others have no problem answering with conviction: This is what I want.
Everything becomes a bit clearer when you understand the level of the goal Pete is asking about. He's not asking about what you want to get done today, specifically, or even this year. He's asking what you're trying to get out of life. In grit terms, he's asking about your passion.
Pete's philosophy is : Do things better than they have ever been done before.
... grit grows as we figure out our life philosophy, learn to dust ourselves off after rejection and disappointment, and learn to tell the difference between low-level goals that should be abandoned quickly and higher-level goals that demand more tenacity. The maturation story is that we develop the capacity for long-term passion and perseverance as we get older.
...
Grit is about holding the same top-level goal for a very long time.
Most of use become more conscientious, confident, caring, and calm with life experience. A lot of that change happens between the ages of twenty and forty, but, in fact, there is no epoch in the human life span where personality stops evolving. Collectively, these data demonstrate what personality psychologist now call "the maturity principle."
Likewise, in her interviews with "mega successful" people, journalist Hester Lacey has noticed that all of them demonstrate a striking desire to excel beyond their already remarkable level of expertise. An actor might say, 'I may never play a role perfectly, but I want to do it as well as I possibly can. And in very role, I want to bring something new. I want to develop.' A writer might say, 'I want every book I write be better than the last.'
"It is a persistent desire to do better," Hester explained. "It's the opposite of being complacent. But it's a positive state of mind not a negative one. It's not looking backward with dissatisfaction. It's looking forward and wanting to grow."
...
This is not to say that all grit paragons are saints, but rather that most gritty people see their ultimate aim's as deeply connected to the word beyond themselves.
My claim here is that, for most people, purpose is a tremendously powerful source of motivation. There may be exceptions, but the rarity of these exceptions proves the rule.
In other words, a genuinely positive, altruistic purpose is not an absolute requirement of grit. And I have to admit that, yes, it's possible to be a gritty villain.
But, on the whole, I take the survey data I've gathered, and what paragons of grit tell me in person, at face value. So, while interest is crucial to sustaining passion over the long-term, so, too, is the desire to connect with and help others.
My guess is that, if you take a moment to reflect on the times in your life when you've really been at your best-when you've risen to the challenges before you, finding strength to do what might have seemed impossible-you'll realize that the goals you achieved were connected in some way, shape, or form to the benefit of other people.
In sum, there may be gritty villains in the world, but my research suggests there are many more gritty heroes.
Fortunate indeed are those who have a top-level goal so consequential to the world that it imbues everything they do, no matter how small or tedious, with significance. Consider the parable of the bricklayers:
There bricklayers are asked: "What are you doing?"
The first says, "I am laying bricks."
The second says, "I am building a church."
The third says, "I am building the house of God."
The first bricklayer has a job. The second has a career. The third has a calling.
Many of us would like to belike the third bricklayer, but instead identify with the first or second.
... workers identify themselves as having:
a job ("I view my jib as just as a necessity of life, much like breathing or sleeping"),
a career ("I view my job primarily as a stepping-stone to other jobs", or
a calling (My work is one of the most important things in my life").
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Those fortunate people who do see their work as a calling-as opposed to a job or a career-reliably say "my work makes the world a better place." And it's these people who seem most satisfied with their jobs and their lives overall. In one study, adults who felt their works was a calling missed at least a third fewer days of work than those with a job or a career.
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Amy's conclusion is that it's not that some kinds of occupations are necessarily jobs and others are careers and still others are callings. Instead, what matters is whether the person doing the work believes that laying down the next brick is just something that has to be done, or instead something that will lead to further personal success, or, finally, work that connects the individual to something far greater than the self.
I agree. How you see your work is more important than your job title.
And this means that you can go from job to career to calling-all without changing your occupation.
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"A calling is not some fully formed thing that you find," she tells advice seekers." It's much more dynamic. Whatever you do-whether you're a janitor or the CEO-you can continually look at what you do and ask how it connects to other people, how it connects to the bigger picture, how it can be an expression of your deepest values."
"In other words, a bricklayer who one day says, "I am laying bricks," might at some point become the bricklayer who recognises, "I am building the house of God."
David Yeager recommends reflecting on how the work you're already doing can make a positive contribution to society.
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Amy Wrzesniewski recommends thinking about how, in small but meaningful ways, you can change your current work to enhance its connection to your core values.
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"There have been so many times in my career when I wanted to pack it in, when I wanted to give up and do something easier," Rhonda told me. "But there was always someone who, in one way or another told me to keep going. I think everyone needs somebody like that. Don't you?"
It's indeed remarkable how many paragons of grit have told me with pride and awe, that their parents are their most admired and influential role models. And it's just as telling that so many paragons have, in one way or another, developed very similar interests to those of their parents. Clearly, these exemplars of grit grew up not just imitating their parents but also emulating them.
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If you want to bring forth grit in your child, first ask how much passion and perseverance you have for your own life goals. Then ask yourself, how likely it is that your approach to parenting encourages your child to emulate you. If the answer to the first question is "a great deal," and your answer to the second is "very likely," you are already parenting for grit.
Ron Ferguson is a Harvard economist who has collected more data comparing effective and ineffective teachers than anyone I know. In one recent study, Ron partnered with the Gates Foundation to study students and teachers in 1,892 different classrooms. He found that teachers who are demanding-whose students say of the, "My teacher accepts nothing less than our best effort," and "Students in this class behave the way my teacher wants them to"-produce measurable year-to-year gains in the academic skills of their students. Teachers who are supportive and respectful-whose students say, "My teacher seems to know if something is bothering me," and "My teacher wants us to share our thoughts"-enhance students' happiness, voluntary effort in class, and college aspirations.
In deciding between an immediately lucrative career and graduate school, Cody did some hard thinking about how he'd gotten to where he was. Next fall, he'll begin a PhD program in computer science at Stanford. Here's the first sentence from his application essay, "My mission is to utilise my passion for computer science and machine learning to benefit society at large, while serving as an example of success that will shape the future of our society."
So Cody Coleman did not have a psychologically wise mother, father, or grandparent. I wish he had. What he did have was a brother who said the right thing at the right time, an extraordinarily wise and wonderful high school math teacher, and an ecosystem of other teachers, mentors, and fellow students who collectively showed him what's possible and helped him to get there.
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A local radio station recently interviewed Cody. Toward the end of the conversation, Cody was asked what he had to say to listeners struggling to overcome similar life circumstances. "Stay positive," Cody said, "Go past those negative beliefs in what's possible and impossible and just give it a try."
Cody had these final words: "You don't need to be a parent to make a difference in someone's life. If you just care about them and get to know what's going on, you can make an impact. Try to understand what's going on in their life and help them through that. That's something I experienced firsthand. It made the difference.
"My sense, from being in admissions for over forty years, "Bill concluded, "is that most people are born with tremendous potential. The real question is whether they're encouraged to employ their good old-fashioned hard work and their grit, if you will, to its maximum. In the end, those are the people who seem to be the most successful.
Geoff sat forward and put his hands together like he was about to pray. "I'll tell you straight. I'm a father of four. I've watched many many kids who were not my own grow up. I may not have the random assignment, double-blind studies to prove it, but I can tell you what poor kids need. They need all the things you and I give to our own children. What poor kids need is a lot. But you can sum it up by saying that what they need is a decent childhood."
About a year later, Geoff gave a TED talk, and I was luck enough to be in the audience. Much of what Harlem Children's Zone did, Canada explained, was based on rock-solid scientific evidence-preschool education, for instance, and summer enrichment activities. But, there is one thing his program provided without sufficient scientific evidence to justify the expense : extracurricular activities.
"You know why?" he asked. "Because I actually like kids."
The audience laughed, and he said it again: "I actually like kids."
For many of us, the companies we work for are an important cultural force in our lives. For instance, growing up, my dad liked to refer to himself as a DuPonter. All the pencils in our house were company issued, embossed with phrase like Safety First, and my dad would light up every time a DuPont commercial came on television, sometimes even chiming in with the voice over. "Better things for better living." I think my dad only met the CEO of DuPont a handful of times, but he'd tell stories of his good judgement the way you might speak of a family war hero.
How do you know you're part of a culture that, in a very real sense, has become part of you? When you adopt a culture, you make a categorical allegiance to that in-group. You're not "sort of" a Seahawk or "sort of" a West Pointer. You either are or you aren't. You're in the group, or out of it. You can use a noun, not just just an adjective or a verb, to describe your commitment. So much depends, as it turns out, on which in-group you commit to.
The bottom line on culture and grit is: If you want to be grittier, find a gritty culture and join it. If you're a leader, and you want the people in your organisation to be grittier, create a gritty culture.
Okay, If you visited my page lately, you will realise that I rarely write something in this blog. My last post was on November, and because it was really matter. I attended a very meaningful workshop from the school. We had a very inspiring person came as our resource speaker, and you the ones who knew me very well; I would not sit and be quiet seeing a terrific person like that in front of me!
I RARELY meeting a resource speaker in person once he/she completed the speech. It because I RARELY feel if the materials given is that special or essential. However, this person is different! I was in Papua for 5 years, and had worked in this school for 2 years, I NEVER meet anyone who has that same spirit just like our resource speaker has. I do not talk about spirit in ghostly matter. This is the genuine spirit, a person who works with passion, really does what he/she say, who is brave answering challenge, and ready to take a risk. Not everyone really do what they said, not everyone willing to take a risk to put themselves to cover up their subordinates. But this resource speaker is d-i-f-f-e-r-e-n-t.
Therefore, I met her in person and asked her opinion about what I did in my library session and really motivated to ask her to have a visit to our library. However, she was very busy to taking care all the requests and failed to come visiting our library. I was disappointed. For people who know me, I am a very expressive person, and everything in my mind and my heart would be reflected on my face. Our resource speaker really understood my inquiry was real, and I really meant it.
I was doing this whole thing without knowing that she would be our 2nd rank highest boss in our school year, hahahaha!
Being Her Fans
Since beginning I am her big fans, and really excited to have her returned to our school. Again, this excitement can't be hidden on my face hahaha. When we had the employees' first met up in the school hall, she nodded and recalled my name in front of other employees, as a sign that she knew me. I thought I left a positive image on her mind.
Then, whenever I meet her, I am not like other employees who are afraid even just to say hi to her. Since beginning I am super duper friendly! I am her biggest fans here, remember? I even can share lunch together with her, having chit chat, and laughing loudly in front of her. I thought a lot of employees were surprised to see how relaxed I was in one of our lunch time. Because what I remember about her is, I am truly her fans, and I am really HAPPY having her here! Hahahaha.. I think highly of her as my boss but I am her biggest fans. Can you imagine, let's say, you are an Economic major graduate and you have Ibu Sri Mulyani as your boss. It feels amazing right?
You know for certain people, you may only rarely meet them, once or twice in a life time, and my new boss is just like that. I am confident to say this because I have spent my life time (30 years old) and RARELY meeting people that really affect me this much. She is different!
My coolest boss then lend me her book, and she said, sometimes we would be inspired to be a leader when we meet someone who inspired us! Just like how she described when she met her former school principal. Definitely, I would finish reading the book she lend me in this Independence Day's holiday! And the book is the picture whom I share with you in this post, Lean In : Women, Work, and the Will to Lead written by Sheryl Sandberg.
I hope to meeting my boss again, she could be my mentor and can guide me where and how I explore more of my talents and interests.
These are several things to be noted before you submitting yourself as part of the educator, everywhere you are :
Befriends with the research
Drew your individual belief & philosophy, is it befitted with the school system where you work
Put on an agreement about our 'image of the child' between the educator
Promote your-based-on-positive-local-culture (Indonesia) as part of the agreement
Image of the Child
We see a child is unique each, an explorer, imaginative, competent, has a voice to be respected and to have choices.
These are based on judgment: loveable, cute, innocent, and has no judgment for others.
Note :
Everyone deserves to have feelings and emotions. But remember to express yourself in an appropriate manner.
Time is the biggest challenge, time is luxury
Children need to be respected
Challenging children's thinking and have them build their opinion
If they could not do it, you better use "yet"
Bring the opportunity to let the children explore their interests
Culture Challenge: Parents intervention, the well being surrounded environment, afraid to make mistakes, gender role
Culture to Promote: Cooperation, Caring, Kindness.
You Can't Build a Strong House without a Strong Foundation
If you would love to have strong and smart children to conquer the world, you, yourself got to be be filled with knowledge and wisdom. How many parents are not ready to see their children develop differently compare to 'other children' outside there?
That's what happened with my parents. They invested everything in me and my siblings but they are not ready to see that I grow up to be different. I would not obey my parents just because they are my parents. They have to convince me and give me strong reasons to influence me to do something.
When they said, "No," and I was not satisfied with the reason, I kept it in my mind when I was a kid. My curiosity could not be answered by, "No, because I said so."
I filled up this gap by reading books and have magnificent conversations with people I meet in books or in person. You could not build a strong generation except you build your foundation first.
