School Monsters

Monsters are everywhere. In the jungles, in the mountains, in the countries, in the cities...and even at the schools.

In the last six months, the students in this school have been talking about some monsters. They have been scared. They can't do anything when the monsters come. The monsters can do anything they want. Some of the students have even been so stressed for this horrible situation. 

The students had given up as they couldn't beat the monsters. They couldn't understand what the monsters wanted. Their marks drastically dropped. They couldn't change the monsters into kind and friendly creatures. They gave up. Eventually, they reported about the monsters to their parents...and then...the parents came to this school, seeing the principal and the homeroom teachers to report the fear that the monsters had caused. 

The 'principal' said, "A few years ago, those monsters came to this school. They applied to make a living here. Then we accepted some of them. We have trained them well. But the results are not exactly the same since they came from different habitats and backgrounds."

Then the 'principal' told he students, "You are lucky. You're in a good school now. At home, your parents spoil you. Every problem you face is solved by your parents. Now..here in this school...the monsters train you how to survive and be tough. The monsters have different characteristics. Some of them like to treat you as you wish...give you what you like. On the other side, you cannot drive other monsters as you want. They make you taste the difficulties in life. If you can't change the monsters, change yourself...change your manner...change your way of thinking about these monsters." 
The monsters won't kill you...and everything that makes you feel difficult but it doesn't kill you, it will make you stronger.

Culicidae

It was hot that night. It was dry. We had no rain for a few months. I was working on my laptop. I had some work to do and I needed to focus on my work. The weather was not friendly to me. I felt like diving into the swimming pool was a need instead of working on the laptop.

Hot weather that night annoyed me perfectly because it was supported by a troop of mosquitoes (Culicidae). I didn't know when they came and started to bite any parts of my body. I had to wave my hands and move my body to prevent them biting me. They were all female. You know, only female mosquitoes bite us as the female ones require meals of blood in order to develop and lay eggs. They attacked me brutally and I had to defend. I couldn't do my work quickly because of the disturbers.

After working uncomfortably for a few minutes, I slowly focused more and more on my work than on the disturbers. And finally, I could finish my work more quickly than I thought since I had decided not to care too much about the hot weather and mosquitoes.

In life, we often care too much about the distractors. We often blame anything that disturbs our work or goal. And we forget our goal. But being annoyed or not is our choice. So choose. Being annoyed...or focus on our goal.

A Simple Surprise

Exams always make the students tired. Tired of preparing. In the last grade of the school, my 9th grade students had some series of exhausting exams. And they did it well. After the exams, they had no more classroom activities. They would come to school only for having the graduation rehearsal and having some photo session for the year book. So when they did not have to go to school, they just stayed at home or spending their leisure time with their friends.

That day, some students went to school to do a special action for their teachers. They had planned, they prepared what they should  bring and do. They asked some friends to join. Some joined but some refused because they would go to the amusement park with their friends. Some refused because they had another activities with their family. Some refused because they were not interested and chose to stay at home.

These students came to school in the morning. They arrived at the time they usually arrived to school. They brought some washing equipment. Yes...they came to wash the cars and motorcycles of their teachers. The teachers and school staff were surprised and gave positive response. They let the students wash their cars and motorcycles. Getting good response, the students were happy...and they did their job cheerfully.

That day was a special day for the teachers and staff. They felt being loved and respected. They were thankful to have such students who cared about them. The students said to me,"There's no present we could give. Only this...just to express that we thank the teachers for teaching us."

Simple thing...and cheap...and not prestigious, when it is done with great love, can please others.
Instead of pleasing themselves, they have chosen the more difficult choice...to please others.
Thank you so much...we're proud of you....

Eat Less, Share More

The students in our school were so enthusiastic. They were celebrating The World Food Day. 

In our school, The World Food Day is celebrated to heighten public awareness of the problem of hunger in the world and strengthen the solidarity for the people who cannot have food as we have.

On that day, the students had a competition of arranging and decorating traditional food from Indonesia. Then they would have lunch together in their own class. Every class had to prepare a kind of traditional food to be eaten together. I walked around, from one class to another, and was glad to see the students preparing the food on the table. They had changed the studying tables into dining tables and they had arranged the food nicely. 

Five students of one class were doing the final preparation. They were arranging the Balinese food completed with certain ornaments about Bali. It was very nice. A few minutes later, they finished. Then, they invited their classmates to come into the classroom. No need to take a long time, they prayed together and started eating. Meanwhile, their homeroom teacher was outside the classroom, having a talk with another teacher. The students focused on their lunch and their togetherness. They didn't care about other people around them. After some time having a talk, the homeroom teacher went away, not coming into the classroom. 

On the way he was going, some students from another class offered him to have lunch with them.

Sometimes, some work and some fail. 

Some classes reached the goal, some classes failed. 

Some classes succeeded to strengthen the solidarity for people around them, while some classes failed.

Some classes remembered people around them when they had got food to eat, while some classes focus on the food for themselves.

For you who have succeeded, congratulations! Keep giving more, taking less. I'm proud of you.

A Little Gift

It was Sunday Evening. Kinar asked me to take her to the stationery.

In her ballet course, the teacher taught the students to give a present to their friends on their birthday. She taught them to give little attention, to care for others. She suggested the students to bring a little gift, less than IDR 25,000. That was the reason why Kinar wanted to go to stationery. She wanted to buy some gift for Tasya, her ballet-mate.

Kinar loves being given a present. She thinks that all people likes to have a present from friends or relatives. On Kinar's birthday, none of her ballet-mates gave her a present. Only the teacher gave it to her. The teacher had reminded her friends about her birthday, but no one remembered to bring any gift. That's why she really wanted to buy some gift for Tasya. She said,"I was sad when no one remembered my birthday. Tasya must be happy if I remembered her birthday and I give her a present."

Being disappointed is not a good feeling. But Kinar didn't want her friend to have the disappointing experience like how she had ever felt.

Let your disappointment remind you not to disappoint others.

Incident

Katrin is a generous woman. She likes giving and sharing what she has to others.

About two months ago, Katrin went to the market to buy some meat and vegetables. She went there by motorcycle. She brought a small purse with some money in it. After buying what she needed, she walked to a parking lot where she parked her motorcycle. She was anxious as she couldn't find any money left in her purse and pocket. She needed only IDR 2,000 to bring the motorcycle out of the parking lot, but she had no money at all. She didn't bring the motorcycle document, either. She went in to the market, wishing to meet someone she had known so that she could owe any money. But...no one could help her. 

Then Katrin went out of the parking lot without the motorcycle. She needed to take some IDR 2,000 at home and go back to the market to "free" the motorcycle. Incidentally, she met Engkong (sorry...I don't know his real name), a becak driver in the area. Engkong works as a becak driver - and a becak driver earns little money. It had been a long time for Engkong not to drive her going anywhere. Then...you can guess...she went home by Engkong's becak. On the way, Engkong told her that his life was getting worse since there had been many online-ojeks. You can also guess what happened next. Katrin paid the fare much more than it should be. She was a blessing for Engkong.

Today, Katrin didn't go to work. She was ill. In the evening, she went to the doctor, not far from her house. Entering the clinic, someone came to her. Engkong! Engkong was ill, too. Then, Engkong was called to go into the doctor's room. Going out for the room, the administration staff told him to pay IDR 150,000 for the treatment and medicine. And Katrin paid it.

I do believe...really believe that it's God's work.
God planned those incidents - losing the money and being ill. God had worked on Engkong's life through Katrin's incidents. God had made these so Katrin could meet Engkong and helped him. Katrin's incidents are blessings for someone else.

And I do believe...that tomorrow Katrin will get well, because she has accomplish the mission.

Be thankful since God loves you. As He has done to Engkong, He never lets you tumble.
And be thankful since God makes you a saviour - like Katrin - for others.


becak = tricycle rickshaw moved by man's power, not by engine
ojek = public transportation using motorcycle

Not Far

A few weeks ago we had a trip to the Island of Gods. It was a nice experience after more than 20 years not visiting the island. There are many new tourism objects that I haven't seen before. I felt like visiting a new paradise.

We went to the objects by bus as one is far from another. At night, we went around on foot.

One evening, Dian, my colleague ask me to go around with her. "How do we go there?" I asked. "On foot," she replied. "How far?" "Just near where we are now,"

Another evening, some colleagues and I planned to go to a beach. "How far?" I asked. Biso, one of us, answered,"Look! Only 300 metres"

Everyday on the bus, when I asked the tour guide, Mbok Dewi, about the distance of the next destination, she always said,"10 minutes from the first traffic light."
I tried to think...and found...that they had taught me about this: 
How far we go, just do it step by step. 'Near' by 'near', The first 300 metres...the second 300 metres...the third 300 metres.... Or the first traffic light...the second traffic light...the third one...and so forth until we reach the destination.
Thanks a lot for this simple lesson of life, my brother and sisters. Thanks for sharing a positive energy. :)

A Simple Good Morning

Not everyday, but I often take my children and their mom to school. Their mom works at their school. To save my time, I usually drop them off not in front of the school, but in front of the cluster. Then they walk. Everytime they walk past the security officers, my wife greets them - just a simple 'good morning'. They just nodded at first. Then, to reply my wife's greeting they smiled. After some greetings, they replied by nodding, smiling and saying good morning.

People learn from what they see, they hear and they feel.
When they can see, hear and feel that they are respected, they also learn how to show and give respect.
Let's DO it, not only tell it. Share your positive energy to others.

Park Here!

Today I went to the hospital where my sister-in-law has been lying for two days. I took her mom and sister there to visit her. But this is not about them. 

After my wife and my mother-in-law got off the car in front of the lobby, I drove it to the parking lot to find a space for Greeny - my car. It was the peak hour. I knew this very well as I often went there to visit some relatives or friends. Many people couldn't find a space to park their cars. Neither did I.

I drove around and finally I passed the lobby. I went on driving around to a different area of the parking lot, and I saw a car came out of a space. I drove faster to reach the space that had just been left. Unfortunately, a car from the opposite came faster to the space...smoothly. Ouch! I wanted to be angry but I tried to control myself. I thought that being angry couldn't help me find the space for my car. I sent a text to my wife, "Maybe I've got to wait in the running-around car as I can't park my car.... Please tell me when you have come out to the lobby." I was just waiting for my fortune.

Again...I passed the lobby.This was the third time I saw it. And I had to drive around again. I tried another area of the parking lot. Again! I passed the lobby for the fourth time!

After passing the lobby, not far from that place, right in front of my car, suddenly a car came out and left a space. And when I saw behind me, there was no car. Then I could freely park Greeny at that space, not far from the lobby, like a VIP!

God loves you. When He doesn't give you the thing that you think is good, believe Him that He will give you the better one. God is also there...in the parking lot with me... :)

Believe Him...and give your problem to Him to solve it His way!

When My Mom Said No

Years ago, when I had to study in a high school, I decided to enter a school in another town. I lived in a rent room. I had no means of transportation. Everywhere I go, I had to take a public transportation, or a friend of mine took me to the places.

Once, I needed to go to many places as I had a project. I needed a motorcycle. To ask my mom to buy a motorcycle was impossible since we did not have enough money to buy it. To borrow from my friends, they also needed it. 

My family - my mom and I - had a motorcycle. It was in my mom's house and my mom usually rode it to go to work. Because I really needed it, I went home and asked my mom, "Mom, I really need a motorcycle to finish my project on time. Will you use it much next week?" She surely answered, "No." "Will I make a trouble if I take the motorcycle?" And without any doubt she smiled and replied, "No." And then I used the motorcycle. While I was using the motorcycle, my mom went to work by bicycle. The place where she worked was not so far from our house, but it took three times longer to reach there by bike.

Today, after years, I realize that she did anything for me. When I needed the motorcycle, she would ride a bike and chose to give the motorcycle to me.

Have you ever thought...that when your mom has a little food and then you cry for it, she will give it to you...and she will eat nothing? Have you ever thought that when she has a little money and you need it...she will give it all to you? Have you ever thought that she thinks about you more than about herself?

Thank you, Mom! I love you!

A Plastic Bottle

In the last few days, my classes have discussed about 'go green'. It led me to think about the recycle process of plastic bottles. It has taught me a lesson.

It was the time for me to have lunch. And as usual, I brought my plastic bottle to the dining room. When I was walking to the dining room I saw some other used plastic bottles in the rubbish bins along the corridor. And I started to think if they were alive.

A girl was holding a bottle of drinking water. He said,"How proud I am! This girl needs me everywhere she goes. She can't live without me. I've made her alive." Then after using the bottle for some time and the bottle's condition became worse, the girl bought a new bottle and threw the old one into the rubbish bin. Then the old bottle said,"Ooohh...I'm just rubbish now. Can anybody help me out of this rubbish bin? It's too dirty here. Hey, you, rubbish! Get out of my life! How can I live in the place that smells so bad?" In the afternoon a man took the rubbish and moved it into the bigger rubbish box.

Then one day the truck came to take the rubbish from the big rubbish box to a big field full of rubbish. "Oh my God! What a place!" Then a machine took him and let him gather with other plastic bottles. And then the machine crushed them! "Lord, have mercy! I was too arrogant to be a bottle needed by the girl! Please let me out of this place!" But it was too late. "Now I'm broken into pieces. It's so painful!! All I can do is just hope and pray."

The next day the broken pieces were put into a machine. "Help! It's so hot here! I've got no shape now!" But after a while, a machine took him and made him a new plastic bottle. "Thank God...I've got my new life!" The new plastic bottle was very grateful and he swore he wouldn't be arrogant anymore.

Have you ever felt the same as this plastic bottle?

Have you ever experienced the process of recycle which is done by God?

Maybe I'm in the process now. Not being the old anymore...but not yet the new one....

NOT NOW

Every school has their own characteristics. So does the school where I work. We have some ideal characteristics that have to be achieved. Every teacher has to build the students' characteristics in activities inside or outside the classroom. The students are expected to have the spirit of Cc5 (Compassion - celebration - competence - conviction - creativity - community).

I try to build this spirit in my activities with my students. One of the activities is the students choir. Since 2003 we have done the service. And one special event for the choir members was the annual charity concert. My students always prepared the performance enthusiastically. During the preparation, they experienced many things and many kinds of emotions and learned how to manage them. The performance was not the only thing to achieve, because we had two things - concert and charity. We have held the charity concert for ten times. The spirit of Cc5 lives in this event - I think!

We are going to end this school year soon. We planned to end the school year with the 11th annual charity concert. Unfortunately, the principal said that the school would not hold the concert. There were some problems (or mistakes) of the previous concert. And the problems became the reason not to hold the concert. I thought that the problems could be solved easily to hold a better concert. But the school authority did not say so. We fought for the concert because we thought that we were still walking on the spirit of Cc5 track. But...we couldn't change the decision. There must be some 'political' reasons here.

As the charity concert cancelled, we were sad...shocked...disappointed....

But this is the fact...God's will. I asked Him. But I'm sure He says,"Not now. I'll give you better than what you have asked for."

Don't give up. Let's set the spirit of Cc5 on fire!

The Best You Can Give?

The last day of this week at school will be February 14^th. It’s Valentine’s Day! My students are looking forward to that day excitedly. As I had planned before, yesterday I gave my student a one-night writing assignment. I asked them to write something to someone who they love so much. They could write to their mom or dad, brother or sister, friend or best friend, boyfriend or girlfriend, teacher or someone else. I asked them to write to show their love. They would do it at home. They had to write on a piece of paper. They could type and print it, or if they wanted to be original, they could write using their own handwriting. I told them that everybody would get good score if they wrote with love.

This morning they had to submit the assignment. And it made me shocked! Most of them used their handwriting, but it wasn’t because they tried to be original. They didn’t make enough effort to finish the assignment. Some students did it in the classroom, and they did it without thinking deeply of the addressee – the one they love so much.

I asked my students, “What will you give to someone you love on Valentine’s Day?” Some of them were not confident to give an answer, but one of them answered, “Chocolate!”

Then I asked him, “How much will you spend for the chocolate?”

“I don’t know. It depends on the money that I have.”

“Well, now check the money that you have this week. So you can decide how much you will spend for it.”

“I’ll spend one hundred thousand rupiahs.”

“Is it the best you can give?”

“Yes, Sir.”

Then I said, “Imagine…if in the morning on Valentine’s Day you find this paper on your table. What do you feel?” I showed them a piece of test paper. “Do you feel that the sender really loves you? Is this the best that you can do for the one you love so much?” And then I showed them a piece of nice paper with some decoration on it. “How do you feel if you receive this? Are they different?”

When you want to show your love to someone, do and give your best, although it’s just a simple thing you can give.

Have a lovely Valentine’s Day!

Eyes, Lips and Nose

1. Hi, I'm eye. Am I beautiful? 

 
2. Hi! I'm lip. Can you see if I'm beautiful?
 

 
3. Hi, I'm sure you know me. Yes! I'm nose! Do you think I'm the most beautiful?

If I've got to answer those three questions, my answers are all 'No!'. I can't see the beauty of each of them. The eye is too dark and not shiny. The lips are too pale. The nose is too flat. When I see their physical appearances, they're not interesting. Yet, can you see the function of each of them? When they work, they will be meaningful. When they work together, they will form a harmony. When they are put on a face appropriately, they will show the beauty of the face - not the beauty of each of them.

God created them with their own function.

God put them on a face to show the beauty of the owner of the face.

God created us....

Have we played our own role? And have we avoided being selfish to show the beauty of our Owner?

THE

Today we had an English class. We discussed about preposition. My students understood the preposition we were talking about. Yet, as I frequently do, I talked about something else. Huahahaha...I didn't focus on the main topic....

We had these sentences, "He's at school." and "He's at the school." 

"She's at hospital." and "She's at the hospital."

"He's in jail." and 'He's in the jail."

The word 'the' hasn't got a significant meaning when it stands alone. But, we know, if the word is inserted into a phrase, the word can change the meaning of the phrase, and the meaning becomes absolutely different. I found that it is amazing!

The word is like us. We've got no meaning when we stand alone without anyone else. But when we play our own role in our community, we've got the meaning! We are there for others. So, be useful for others! Shine on the world around you! You're the meaningful 'THE'!