A Lifetime Journey

I started my life journey 35 years 47 days ago. As for today I have spent almost 45% of my life span on earth. It’s a pretty intimidating thought !

When I read business magazine, leadership articles, news on TV, I saw many successful business woman at much younger age from me. They already settle with their life, have great family and have already contributed to the society where they live. Whenever I read about them, watched their testimonies, there was a feeling of uneasiness. Here I am, living single, work in the job I do not enjoy to earn just barely enough to make ends meet every month, still not recognized by the society where I work or live. Did I waste my 45% of my life just to reach my stage now?

God has set specific course for every human He created. Some get their success early in their life, some finally get their breakthrough at their mid stage or even at the end of their age. There was Mark Zuckerberg who became millionaire through facebook at the age of 25, then Susan Boyle shocked the world during “Britain Got Its Talent Show” with her amazing voice at the age of 46, Colonel Sanders started his Kentucky Fried Chicken franchising at the age of 65. Mbah Surip (an eccentric Indonesian singer) just enjoyed his fame at the age of 52, then at the midst of his success (for around 3 months), he died of heart attack in 4 August 2009.

The challenges were different for those who started at different stages of their lives.
1) Early starter
· Has more time to develop their business and adapt to changes
· More learning opportunities to implement fresh ideas to build the company or their career
· Need stability and creativity to maintain their success amidst of tough competitions from new competitors who will keep coming

2) Mid starter
· Time is precious, so they have to calculate their actions more carefully
· Excellent job quality is a must to differentiate themselves with the current market players or younger competitors

3) Late starter
· Wiser in taking every actions
· New leaders mentoring is a top priority

Time is slipping away so fast. When we evaluate our life at the end of our day, one thing we should ask ..,” Have I taken every opportunity I come across today? “

The opportunity can come in many faces.

Say hi and smile to strangers we meet in lift
Call old friend that we haven’t contacted for 3 months
Offer help to strangers lost in their way
Contact old customers that have not ordered again for one year
Learn more knowledge in what we passion about

One opportunity taken can lead to wider door of opportunity open for us. We will never know which opportunity will get us the breakthrough we long for.

Sometimes it is hard to keep ourselves motivated when our hopes are deferred, especially when we face failure and what it seems as high wall in chasing our dreams. We are so fortunate that we have history in our side. The world has seen amazing man and woman that has made the world become better place simply because they do not give up… and this is a journey of life time.

Ø Nelson Mandela became President of South Africa at the age of 76 after became prisoner for more than 25 years
Ø Thomas Alva Edison invented light bulb after thousand of failed experiments.
Ø Abraham Lincoln finally became the president of United States after experiencing series of failure episodes in his life
Ø Joseph rose from prisoner to Pharaoh’s prime minister after spending 13 years as a slave and prisoners in Egypt, despite receiving his vision when he was just 17 years old
Ø David spent 13 years as runaway before crowned as the King of Israel
Ø As apostles for the gentiles, Paul faced so many oppositions, from the Romans empire, Jewish priests even his fellow workers, but he stayed faithful until the end and wrote 13 letters that became the foundation of Christianity.

God has so much more in our life, if only we do not give up on Him and in ourselves. We learn from our mistakes, failure, problems and challenges. Embrace them because they make us wiser and stronger each day. Seize for opportunity every time it comes and our breakthrough will come when we are ready. As long as we still live in this world, our journey is still not over and God still has something in store for us.

Whenever despair and boredom come accross my mind and my heart, I remind myself one thing, “This is a lifetime journey and my lifetime is not over yet.”

I'm Happy To Be Me

I’m happy to be me
God has thought deeply about me
Before He made me in my mother’s womb

I am created so unique
With all my strength and weakness
As well as my gifts and flaws

He has special task in this world
That specially designed for me
It fits perfectly with my being just me

I will run my own race
No matter what other people say
Absorbing encouragement and correction
Rejecting negativity and giving up


My Lord is my faithful companion till the end
He is my source of motivation
Comforting me when I was down
Strengthening me from the inside out

He is my only reason to keep running
When I am in Him and He’s in me there is no way I’m gonna fail
I accept myself the way He accepts me
And I’m happy to be me.


Jakarta, 23 Sept 2009

Suatu Hari Di Perkampungan Facebook

Sejak demam facebook mulai melanda sejak awal tahun lalu, rutinitasku mulai berubah. Hampir setiap hari cek facebook (FB) adalah suatu hal yang pasti aku lakukan. Dan tidak terasa FB juga mempengaruhi hidupku. Aku bisa berhubungan kembali dengan teman – teman masa SD, SMP dan SMA, kuliah dan kerja yang sudah aku anggap tidak bakalan ketemu lagi.

Reuni jadi kebiasaan baru sejak demam FB merebak. Uniknya, lewat reuni ala FB aku bisa kenalan lagi dengan teman – teman yang aku tidak kenal saat sekolah. Itulah dahsyatnya networking.

Di FB kita bisa menjumpai berbagai tipe orang. Ada teman-teman yang suka share apa yang sedang mereka rasakan, entah itu baik atau buruk. Ada luapan kegembiraan dan juga luapan kekesalan ! Ada yang menceritakan apa yang sedang mereka kerjakan sekarang. Ada pula yang suka memberi komentar, baik itu bercanda, ngejatuhin atau ngasih semangat.

FB jadi seperti suatu kampung yang ramai. Dengan melihat status teman – temanku, aku sedikit banyak bisa tahu apa yang sedang mereka alami sehari – hari, bagaimana reaksi mereka saat menghadapi masalah, apa yang sedang mereka alami. Lewat FB aku bisa tahu nama perusahaan baru tempat temanku pindah kerja, tanpa dia cerita, gara – gara dia rajin update statusnya di FB. Meskipun temanku tidak memberitahukan kemana dia mau berlibur, akhirnya aku bisa tahu kemana ia berlibur, lewat komentar temannya yang lain di FB. Jadi, apakah itu sesuatu yang baik atau tidak baik, tergantung bagaimana kita menggunakan informasi tersebut.

Bagiku sendiri, FB sangat membantuku untuk belajar memberikan dorongan semangat, simpati, doa, dan turut bergembira untuk hal – hal yang dialami orang – orang yang aku perhatikan. Dari FB aku tahu bahwa ayah sahabatku waktu kuliah di Surabaya (sekarang aku tinggal di Jakarta) meninggal mendadak karena serangan jantung. Dari FB aku tahu, anak temanku yang tinggal di kota lain sedang sakit yang belum ketahuan apa penyebabnya, dan masih banyak lagi kejadian yang lain.

Beberapa bulan yang lalu, aku post status di FB saat laptopku crash dan semua datanya hilang. Dan tidak disangka banyak teman-teman yang begitu perhatian dengan memberi saran, komentar, dan penghiburan di statusku. Wow..selain terkejut aku juga cukup senang. Ternyata ada yang perhatiin aku juga ya..:). Saat ulang tahun juga adalah saat yang mengharukan, aku membaca setiap ucapan selamat ulang tahun yang dipost di wall ku. Sesederhana apapun, itu adalah bukti bahwa aku punya orang – orang yang memperhatikanku. Dan aku mengucap syukur atas semua bentuk perhatian dan kasih yang diberikan padaku.

Jadi kalau saat ini kita sudah tergabung di kampung FB, ini adalah saat yang tepat bagi kita untuk memperhatikan teman – teman sekampung kita. Lebih mudah untuk mengupdate status kita dengan problem, hal – hal negatif, keluhan, sarkasme. Akan tetapi hidup kita sudah penuh dengan hal – hal negatif baik dari diri kita sendiri, orang – orang di sekeliling kita bahkan masyarakat dimana kita hidup.

Satu kutipan dari film “Departed” yang kutonton dua hari yang lalu, “ Aku bukanlah produk dari lingkunganku, tapi lingkunganku adalah produk dari diriku.” Jadi kalau kita bisa mengubah suasana hati seseorang yang sedang bete dengan kata – kata yang membangun, bukankah kita sedang mengubah lingkungan kampung Facebook kita?

Amsal 16:24 Perkataan yang menyenangkan adalah seperti sarang madu, manis bagi hati dan obat bagi tulang-tulang.

Allah selalu melihat yang baik dalam diri kita, walaupun kita sendiri tidak melihatnya.

Allah menyebut Gideon sebagai pahlawan, saat ia melihat dirinya sendiri sebagai pecundang.
Yesus menyebut Petrus sebagai batu karang, saat ia melihat dirinya sendiri sebagai orang plin – plan.
Allah menyebut Abraham sebagai bapa orang beriman, saat ia mulai meragukan janji Bapa

Kalau Allah mengucapkan iman yang sedemikian besar terhadap diri kita, sudah saatnya kita juga punya iman untuk mengucapkan perkataan yang membangun, janji Tuhan kepada teman – teman kita, dimulai dari satu hal yang sederhana...menulis komentar yang membangun, memberi perhatian, berdoa, memberi saran dan bantuan bagi orang – orang yang Tuhan sudah taruh di perkampungan FB kita.

Saat kita menabur, kita pasti akan menuai. Akan ada orang – orang yang Tuhan gerakkan untuk menguatkan kita saat kita lemah, apabila kita setia menabur perkataan firman Tuhan kepada orang – orang yang sedang membutuhkan. Selamat menjadikan hari yang luar biasa di kampung Facebook kita masing – masing!

Leading Your Heart

Two weeks ago I saw a movie – FireProof , at home with my friend. It was a touching movie about a husband’s struggle and journey to save his marriage. There were many lessons I could take from the movie, but there was one sentence that kept resounding in my ears...”Don’t follow your heart, it may deceive you ...lead your heart”.


Since I was fascinated with this sentence, I put it on my facebook status. Immediately there were two comments from my friends. One friend said it was easier to follow our heart. Another friend said if I did not follow my heart, will I be happy?


Normally a decision is made based on mind calculation and / or instinct. The person who said this sentence, advised the main character who was about to make critical decision about his marriage not to follow his heart. All the facts, current circumstances, feeling, all lead to one logical decision..which is to divorce her. In short, the husband, played by Kirk Cameron decided to lead his heart and to follow “LOVE DARE” journal sent by his father. The 40-day journal taught him to do one kind action for his wive every day.


The days went by and there were no promising response. The wife just completely ignored all kindness, suprises and favor that her husband hadmade. He almost gave up until he realised that he had done just the same things as his wife did to him. He did it to his saviour, Jesus.


The breakthrough came after day 43. The husband had made a very generous sacrifice 14 days earlier. He used the money he had been saving in his 7-years marriage for his dream boat ,to pay for wheelchair and better treatment facilities for his father in law who was paralysed. And, after day 43, finally the wife found out who the secret giver was. She was just completely blown away at the change she saw in her husband. How he humbled himself to apologise for all his mistakes, how he nursed her when she was ill, and finally how he sacrificed his dream for her father. And at the end the couple renewed thir wedding vow based on eternal commitment in God.


Should there be one lesson we can learn from this movie is about leading our heart. Jesus is never tired of reaching out His arms to His sons and daughters. Even when we just ignored His presence in our daily life, He has already given the best sacrifice to us, His own life. His heart is always for us, no matter how often we say bad things to Him, complain all the time or even doubt His mighty power. Whenever we return to Him, He has already prepared His blessings and restoration in store for us.


There is no path leading to true happines instead of Jesus. Whatever we have gone through, how awful it may look around us, be brave enough to lead our heart back to Jesus...He is the ultimate way.