Precious Life

As many people know, yesterday, there was a big eartquake of 7.2 richter in Indonesia. I know the very minute it was over, from BL, my Indonesian friend. He wrote to me instantly. He said he was panicking and frighten because it shook so hard and many things came down. He said at that moment he thought of his family and dogs. BL, and his family have plans to visit me at Thailand soon. That's probably why he thought of me at the time. Anyhow, BL, his family, and his dogs are all fine.

I also wrote to my other Indonesian friends. They are all safe. I'm sorry to know that 46 Indonesian died. For such a strong earthquake, we must thank holy for a not more severe damage. Anyhow, I feel sorry and sad for all the lives lost.

BL, wrote to me today:

As if my life is not colorful enough, after earthquake yesterday, today, two hours ago, when I went to my office parking building, the securities stoped us. There was a strange package on the 8th floor of the parking building, possibly a bomb! Gosh!!!

It was a good thing that our securities worked fast and get away that package. I don't care what's actually inside that package - I just hurried home and feel like being reminded of how precious life is. Now I'm home, hugging and kissing my kids.

I read his email, and felt impressed. I would like to be with them, and hug them too, and tell them that I love them. Oh no, BL and family are coming to visit me, so I still have time. I'm just too emotional.

After I read BL's email, I thought of another one of my Thai friend. He lives on low income, but seems very happy. I asked him why he seems to happy with this way of life. He told me that when his life hit rock bottom, he used his last amount of money to go to India. He saw a lady on the street, cutting off her child's arm. He was shocked, and approached to ask her what happened. The Indian woman answered with dry voice and hopeless eyes, that she did that so that her child could beg on the streets for a living. This friend of mine was so shocked he dropped a piece of bread in his hand. Many street children gathered to pick up the bread.

He asked the guide to take him to a nearby bakery. He bought all the bread in the bakery, in total of about $100, and returned to give them away to those begging children, who were mostly crippled. Each child bowed to thank him. He asked himself how a human being could sacrifice all it's dignity in exchange for 25 cents worth of bread.

So he told himself how lucky he was to be complete with all ten toes, a family, and a job. He gets to choose which food is bad and good. He gets to possess many things other people don't. So he started thinking whether his life really was so horrible.

The feeling of "enough" is not about satisfying one desires, but realzing how much one has and be satisfied with that.

When the door of happiness closes down, another door would open up. Sometimes we spend our time looking at the closed door, not noticing the newly opened door. It's true that we sometimes don't realize what we have till it's gone.

To give all our love to someone, does not mean you will get love of equal proportion in return. Don't expect to love someone, and that someone to love you back. Be interested in the love you have given them, and how it grows in their hearts. But if it doesn't grow, then be satisfied with the love that grows in your heart.

Before my blog today will go any further, I would like to dedicate the above rose to all my friends who have a good life and a good heart. Enjoy the love that grows in your heart.