When Life Doesn't Go Your Way

How many times in our life that we have our own plans, wishes, dreams, or scripts that didn't go as we hope it would be?

Katrina Zeno has given me more than inspiration, but also encouragement, that God creates us for a purpose. We are created for a greater glory and that we are chosen, blessed, broken, and given.

Chosen
We are chosen among the people, because we are the beloved children of God.

Blessed
We belong to a loving God who will never leave us alone.

Broken
Through our brokenness, it tells something unique about us. Our brokenness "is an opportunity to purify and deepen the blessing that rests upon us" (Fr. Nouwen). It allows God's light to shine through us. Through divine mercy, God transform our brokenness into blessedness.

Given
Our brokenness is what allows us to be given in a particular way,to fulfill the unique mission that God has for our lives.

What really struck me is, we need to have a heart of hope and a heart of patience.

Hope means that we believe that God is working all the time, even when we can't see it. A heart of hope is a heart that presses into God and stays connected instead of drawing away.

"People who wait have received a promise that allows them to wait. They have received something that is at work in them, like a seed that has started to grow."
-Fr. Nouwen

When we live in patience and hope, letting go of control, then our waiting can be open to all possibilities.

Therefore dear brothers and sisters in Christ, have a hopeful heart & be blessed! :)

Love,

Norwegian Wood

This book is highly recommended to all of you who are book lovers, especially if you like to read love stories. Haruki Murakami is an amazing writer, he's able to make me imagine every scene and situation in the book as if it's real.

The story took place in Japan, 1960s. It's about teenagers - Toru, Naoko, Midori, Kizuki, Nagasawa, and Hatsumi - who have to struggle with their family issues, relationship issues, and studies through their teenage lives.

It gave you pretty much a good idea of what's happening in Tokyo, Japan during 1960s. About college life, the studies and parties. Although my university life was different from the main role, Toru, but I could imagine what he had gone through.

Funny and weird people, those whom you could relate to, those who you don't understand their way of thinking, and those who you think always in their own world detached from reality. Being teenager is hard. I always think that teenagers are in the middle, neither here nor there.

When I read the book, I guess it never occurred to me that death of a loved one could affect someone tremendously. Well, I never had a close friend or relatives who attempted suicide, thankfully. But I could understand how life at times makes you feel that you just want to end it at one point.

I love the way Haruki Murakami describes people, their appearances and personalities; and also places. It was vivid, as if it's real.


I can't wait to watch the movie
Ps: The movie was good! But if you don't read the book, you may not fully understand the movie.

*Picture is borrowed from here.

Fully Human Fully Alive

This book is written to make us understand better about the world, about our vision, about "insight", perception, misconception, and awareness.

What is reality?
"Two men looked out from prison bars.
One saw mud, one saw stars."

Five essential steps into the fullness of life:
1) to accept oneself - be gentle with yourself (Desiderata)
2) to be oneself - we are free to have and to report our emotions, ideas, and preferences
3) to forget oneself in loving - genuine caring and concern for others

"There is no learning to live without learning to love"

4) to believe - to discover meaning in our lives
5) to belong - a sense of community, to be "for" one another.

Normal Day, let me be aware of the treasure you are.
Let me learn from you, savor you, bless you,
before you depart.
(Mary Jean Irion)

This book explains to me the characters of people
who are fully alive
who are receptive to changes
and always say "YES" to life and love.

Emotions are always the result of a given perception and interpretation.
There should be quiet times in every life for such reflection, reevaluation, and reinterpretation.

All of us have to find some purpose or mission in life which will confer upon us a sense of personal distinction and worth. We need to believe that our lives will make a different for someone or for something.

God says: I will be with you to
illuminate your darkness,
strengthen your weakness,
fill your emptiness,
heal your brokenness,
cure your sickness,
straighten what may be bent in you,
revive whatever good things may have died in you.

Remember that you are a pilgrim.
Your destiny is eternal life.

Thanks be to God :)
Be blessed!

Mary of Nazareth

Buku "Mary of Nazareth" karangan Marek Halter ini menceritakan tentang Mary, jauh sebelum ia menerima kabar gembira dari malaikat Gabriel. Cerita dimulai sejak 6 tahun sebelum Masehi, ketika Mary masih tinggal bersama kedua orang tuanya.

"Layaknya sebuah kisah yang mengubah nasib dunia, buku ini mengandung kemegahan sejarah yang ditulis dengan intensitas mengagumkan sampai masuk ke dalam alam pikiran karakter-karakternya. Sebuah epik yang tak boleh dilewatkan."
(Andrea Hirata, Penulis Tetralogi Laskar Pelangi)

Mary di buku ini digambarkan sebagai sosok yang keras kepala, pejuang keadilan, pemberani, dan lembut hati.
Sosok yang berbeda dengan bayanganku selama ini.

Seperti yang dikatakan Andrea Hirata, buku ini ditulis dengan intensitas mengagumkan. Aku sungguh terbawa oleh situasi dan emosi karakter-karakter yang ada di dalamnya.

Menyenangkan tentunya untuk membaca dan menambah wawasan mengenai tokoh penting dalam hidup Yesus tetapi tidak banyak cerita yang bisa kita dapatkan dari Kitab Suci.

Namun, buku ini diakhiri oleh sebuah surat yang dibaca dan diterjemahkan oleh Marek Halter.

Surat itu ditulis oleh Mary, yang mencurahkan pikiran dan perasaannya ketika Yesus disalib.
Dalam surat itu, dikatakan bahwa Yesus tidak wafat di salib, tetapi tidur.

Sebuah pernyataan yang membuatku bertanya-tanya akan kebenarannya.

Aku percaya akan apa yang dituliskan oleh Kitab Suci bahwa Yesus wafat di kayu salib dan bangkit kembali 3 hari kemudian.

Bila buku Marek halter ini adalah kisah fiksi, aku harap ia sebaiknya menuliskan demikian, daripada menciptakan sebuah pertanyaan yang dapat mempengaruhi iman seseorang.

Sep 05, 2010 - review by Wellington:

Making a departure from my non-fiction reading, I picked up a historical novel about the most famous mother of all time.

The story starts out with Miriam and her family struggling to survive the yoke of the tyrannical Roman rule under King Herod. By a freak accident, Miriam's father is set to be crucified. The precocious Miriam boldly sets out to rescue him with the help of a dangerous friend, Barrabas.

It's a crisp book that doesn't weight the soul down with diatribes of heavy handed preaching. OK, there are a couple of them but most of the story focused on Miriam and how she became the Virgin Mary.

At the end, the author tacked on the Gospel of Mary which will never find its way to the Bible that you know because according to her, Jesus faked his death like Juliet. You would think that one of the two people who first found Jesus alive might be the authority on the matter.

Now, the book probably took a lot of liberties to tell the story. But who is to say history has not taken their own liberties?

*Gambar dipinjam dari sini.

Called and Chosen

"There is only one vocation, it's vocation to Love."
(Father Anthony Kenny Tan)

For many are called but few are chosen.
(Matthew 22:14)
This book reveals 17 vocation stories of our beloved Priests.
My friend passed me this book 2 years ago, which at that time, I did not have time to read it.

"The priestly vocation is a gift from God."
(Pope John Paul II)

After reading their stories... I am able to understand more about vocation.
Each of the priest is special, and they were called in special way, because God knows them best.

There is also ups and downs, struggles, failures and even decision to leave the priesthood in the early stage. But as they grow in faith and faith is what keeps them going... they are still here, as priests, to serve the people.

The Calling.

You may wonder, "How does it feel to be called?"
"How do you know you are called?"

Well, I'd like to suggest you to go and see a priest, or religious Sister (if you are a woman) to seek for Spiritual Guidance if you are discerning about these questions because it's not easy to be convinced that you are called.

Most of the time, one who is called would felt something and felt the need to share the strange (yet peaceful) feeling with someone who one thinks might understood and able to give some guidance. Therefore, seek help from a religious Sister or Brother or Priest might be helpful since they have been through it before.

I like the sharing from Father Joachim Chang,

"Marriage is also a vocation, but how many of us would spend eight days in the retreat centre to discern and ensure that we are called to be married and ensure the person we are planning to marry is the right one?
But when it comes to the priesthood, we must make 10 retreats, check with everyone and must make sure we do not make a mistake. There is a double standard here."

"Even if God were calling a person to the priesthood and if that person decided to get married instead, God would still bless his marriage. However, he may not be as happy as he would have been if he had accepted the calling to become a priest."

May God bless our Priests, religious Brothers and Sisters :)

*Picture is borrowed from here
You can also visit Serra Club's website here.

My Stupid Boss

This book is hilarious!
Semakin dibaca, semakin terkenang sama boss pertama dulu yang tingkahnya juga ajaib amit-amit, yang pelitnya seujung langit, yang kalo ngasih kerjaan ga mikir dulu bisa dikerjakan apa enggak sama pegawainya.
loh, kok jadi curhat?

Buku ini sangat menghibur. Apalagi peribahasanya yang sangat cocok:

Bersakit-sakit di gue,
Bersenang-senang di elo!

Anyway, buku pertamanya laris manis, jadi aku belum baca. Tapi udah beli buku 2-4, hahaha....
Yah, lumayan, cerita yang cukup menghibur di saat-saat seperti ini :)

Will I recommend this book?
Definitely YES! :) :)
Ps:
Penulis punya blog, silakan kunjungi di sini.

5 Languages of Appreciation at Work

Do you know about 5 Love Languages?
Well, this book is actually talking about our love language, in workplace setting.

There are basically 5 languages of appreciation: 1) Quality Time; 2) Words of Affirmation; 3) Act of Service; 4) Tangible Gifts; and 5) Physical Touch.

In a workplace setting, Quality Time means that the person likes to have a sharing session. People who spend their time just to listen to him/her.

While Words of Affirmation means that the person wants to be appreciated in words. People who spend time to talk to him/her, to give the feedback and compliment.

Act of Service means that the person wants other to help him/her do the job.

Tangible gifts means the person like to get an award, a little appreciation gift, such as coupon, ticket, etc.

Last but not least, physical touch could mean a little high five, pats on the back, firm shake hand....

The author gave such a good example about this language of appreciation:

If you are thirsty, and someone offers you a place to sit, it's nice and thoughtful, but it doesn't satisfy your needs.

The research shows most of the people resign from their job because they do not feel appreciated.

Care to find what's yours? :)

For those who wants to find out more, please visit the website here :)

Chicken Soup for the Soul (True Love)

I have just finished reading this book.
After many years did not read Chicken Soup, I am thankful that I bought this book :)

Just like the cover describes, it is all about love stories :)

Have you ever find a True Love before?

If you read this book, you will surely want to find one :)
They have many many inspiring stories about how the couples met one another, stayed during the hardship of their relationship, funny things that they did, and how they survived when one of the spouse passed away....

Love is not about finding a perfect person,
but to see the imperfect person perfectly :)
-Sam Keen
This book has opened my eyes about finding a true love,
not to give up on love (which I currently do),
and to have faith in God.
For whatever He does is for my best :)

I guess when you fall in love with someone,
you'll know it :)

The Holy Longing

A book for those who are struggling spiritually

Description

Ronald Rolheiser makes sense of what is frequently a misunderstood word: spirituality.

In posing the question "What is spirituality?" Father Rolheiser gets quickly to the heart of common difficulties with spirituality and shows through compelling anecdotes and personal example how to channel that restlessness, that deep desire, into a healthy spirituality.

Rolheiser explains the nonnegotiables - the importance of community worship, the imperatives surrounding social action, the centrality of the Incarnation, the sustenance of spiritual life - and how spirituality necessarily impacts every aspect of human experience.

At the core of this deeply readable, deeply revealing book is an explanation of God and the Church in a world that more often than not doubts the credibility of both.

Spirituality is about what we do with our spirits, our souls.
We all have a spirituality, whether we want one or not, whether we are religious or not.
-Ronald Rolheiser

I am currently reading this book.
Spirituality is quite a deep topic.
Reading this book in fact, needs extra concentration to digest and to understand of its content fully.

So please be patient with me, hahaha....
But so far, I like what I read, as it is full of knowledge and enrich me spiritually :)

He wrote this book on 1st June, 1998.

JomBlo

Teman, udah pernah nonton film ini? :)
Buat yang belom, coba deh nonton. Lucu abissss :)

Film ini sudah lumayan lama.
Novelnya terbit tahun 2003, filmnya ditayangkan di bioskop tahun 2006.

Vanni punya novel dan filmnya. Novelnya udah Vanni baca sampe puluhan kali, sampe hapal bagian-bagian tertentu, hahaha....

Sengaja beli DVD-nya saking sukanya sama nih film.

Waktu baca novelnya, Vanni ga bisa ngebayangin karakter-karakter itu manusianya seperti apa. Pas nonton filmnya... oke deh :) jadi bisa memberi muka pada karakter-karakter fiksi tersebut. Hahaha...

walau Bimo ga sejelek yang dibayangin dan juga ga nyangka Olip bakal cuakep banget. Hahahaha....

Aku tiba-tiba inget lagi lagu ini karena lagu-lagu band Seurieus yang jadi soundtrack-nya.

Ingin kembali
Seperti dulu
Di kala aku
Masih sendiri
-Seurieus

Thanks to Aditya Mulya :)

Ps: I Love You

Buku ini sudah lama terbitnya, sejak tahun 2004.
Aku membeli dan membaca buku ini karena aku tertarik dari sinopsisnya.

"What if the person that you love so much suddenly passed on?"
"How do you cope with your spouse's death?"

Itu adalah pertanyaan-pertanyaan yang bermunculan dalam benakku.
Sedih rasanya membayangkan orang yang kita sayangi, belahan jiwa, kekasih hati pergi meninggalkan kita dan meninggalkan dunia ini.

Buku ini menceritakan kisah cinta pasangan Gary & Holy, yang telah menikah selama 9 tahun lamanya.
Ketika Gary harus pergi meninggalkan dunia, Holy merasa hidupnya hancur berantakan.

Gary tahu bahwa Holy tidak dapat menjalani hidupnya sendirian, maka ia meninggalkan surat-surat untuk Holy.
Surat-surat untuk setiap bulan selama setahun lamanya.
Hingga tiba saatnya bagi Holy untuk menjalani hidupnya tanpa Gary.

Aku menangis waktu membaca buku ini.
Ketika filmnya ditayangkan, aku nonton sendirian di bioskop.
Alur cerita filmnya agak berbeda dengan bukunya, tetapi tetap berakhir dengan baik.

It's a very touching and sweet love story.