Karma Yoga - Seva

This Karma Yoga (Seva) I conducted was from the assignment of the Yoga Energetics Teacher Training (YETT) I attended in 2012. 

These are some of my personal experiences in 2012 of both learning to teach Yoga to the public and sharing love and kindness by providing free Yoga classes and Craniosacral therapy as soon as I graduated from my YETT.

Yoga For Scoliosis Patients

A man came to me and asked around about yoga for scoliosis. It was for her daughter who has Scoliosis in her back. After I explained to him about my yoga and my price, he said that he could not afford it. So I decided to donate my yoga service to this little girl.

She comes to my place twice a week to practice yoga in the garage and between the cars. It is not a perfect place, but it is all the space I have so far. Around 90 minutes of free yoga practice each time she comes. It is not fancy yoga like the ones in the yoga studio, but it is nice and fun.

She is a very critical person who likes to browse for any yoga poses and consult with me. Sometimes I can sense that she wants to do fancy yoga poses, but I slowly teach her also about patience. So many times I tell her that some of the fancy poses she wants to try can endanger her scoliosis. Gladly she listens to me.

I ask her to keep coming to the doctor, so I know the progress of her scoliosis. The latest one I get is that her scoliosis is slowly decreasing. It is considered good as she does not do anything but yoga.

I am just happy to facilitate the cuteness in her back. Hopefully, she stays in the practice and scoliosis will go away soon. And I thank the doctor who suggested she practice yoga to cure her Scoliosis.

Craniosacral Therapy For Senior

One day, I met an old woman while waiting for a taxi. After a long conversation and after she knew what I do for life, she told me that she had several pains and sicknesses, especially in her knees and hips. When I offered my service for yoga practice or Craniosacral therapy, she refused as she knew she could not afford it. So I told her that I would give it for free. She was surprised and delighted.

Then she invited me to come to her house.

That day, I found out that her house was behind the train station and she opens a small store in front of her house. Something that opened my eyes to why this 70-year-old lady could not afford the fee of my service.

So, this was her first experience with Craniosacral Therapy. During the therapy, I found a blockage in her left middle back. When I touched her heart, she felt pain in her right shoulder. When I put the Crystal Stone pendulum above her body, the movement of the pendulum kept changing directions.

After the session was over, I discussed what I saw with her.

She said that when I found the blockage at her left middle back, it that maybe because her left ribs were broken when her husband fell on the top of her body. When she felt pain in her right shoulder, she confessed that she had lifted heavy pieces of stuff, including lifting her husband each time he falls. And when we discussed the pendulum that kept changing its movements, I asked her how she felt and she said that she was a bit unstable physically and emotionally to deal with her husband who was hit by a stroke several years ago.

I ended the session by asking her kindly not to be too stressed about everything, including about her husband if she wants to really cure the sickness she has.

A few days after the first Craniosacral Therapy, I visited her again to say hello. She told me that her pains were gone and asked my help to conduct the therapy again if I was free. This time, she said that she would pay a little money to appreciate my work. And I said no. I told her that I took my service to her as my service to the community. And I was just happy that I could facilitate her body to heal itself.

At the second session, her body was getting much better, even though I still felt the blockage on her middle back. As I stimulated her middle back with a little bit of massage, I could feel that it started to move. When I checked her body with my Crystal Stone Pendulum, I could find that the energy of her body was so much better as all of her chakras move around the pendulum. I could feel the energy that pulls the pendulum. So strong! Happy to know that her body responded to my hands and that she was getting better.

After the session was over, she cooked for me and we had lunch together. I was so glad that she was so happy to receive the treatment and that we became good friends.

General Yoga Event For Donation

One day, my friend arranged a donation event and asked me if I could also donate some money too. And I told her if I made a yoga session for donation, maybe we both could collect more money. So she agreed to do the yoga event for donation.

The yoga event was held at her home. Around 25 people came from the church, our friend's circles, and the nearby neighborhood. The place was not that large, but everyone said it was fine, as they just wanted to do yoga for fun. Before I started the event, I told them that all the money they paid would be gone to the local Orphanage.

At the yoga event, I gave them very gentle yoga movements as I knew there were a lot of beginners in the room. Started with sitting poses, a few standing poses, and more stretching poses and relaxation.

At the end of the yoga event, I gave some people, maybe around 5 people, a bit of Craniosacral work. I only picked some who really needed it, like the elderly people, and those who were sick and injured.

At the very end of the yoga event, I provided my time for yoga discussion with the participants. They were curious about yoga and diet. So then I shared some of my knowledge about yoga, diet, and detox with them.

We collected good money from the event, and my friends donated the money and the other donations from the other activities at the event to the local Orphanage.

Namaste! 

Book Review: Hatha Yoga Pradipika and Light on Yoga

This is my book review on Hatha Yoga Pradipika by Swami Satchinanda and Light on Yoga by B. K. S. Iyengar. 

This article I wrote was from the assignment of the Yoga Energetics Teacher Training I attended in 2012.

This is only my personal review about the two Yoga philosophy books. Please open your mind too when you read my mind. Namaste.

My Review on Hatha Yoga Pradipika: 

This is a very original yoga book and a wonderful classical book to describe what Yoga is all about. I learn a lot about the secret of Yoga from this book and that Yoga is about Pranayama (breathing) too, not just about Asana (postures).

From Hatha Yoga Pradipika, I can learn something about philosophy and spiritualism. The book has enriched my soul. How to see Yoga not just as Asana, but also as a way of life, a way of how we see the life itself and how we see the world. I also learn about the tools to face the world from a different side.

The book sounds very old school and traditional. Honestly, it is hard to apply some things in the book in our nowadays daily life. The book is full with old values that might not be applicable and practical in modern life, but I can learn a lot about the value of yoga in the past when the book is created and the pureness I can teach in the Yoga class.

It seems that the book is so “high above the world” that I might not have the ability to explain it to my students and the people around me. It explains so many things that can not be seen by the eyes of the men in this world. But hey, it is a challenge for me to introduce it to my circle, so they know that the world is not just about things we can see.

The book is a very straight forward, pragmatic approach to yoga. This book rules the way that Yoga things used to be done. Some of the things in the book are almost beyond reality, but I can learn about how to purify and prepare for my path of yoga.

The book is a good choice for me as I am interested in knowing more about Hatha Yoga. I am so introduced to things that develop Hatha Yoga and how to practice it in my spiritualism life.

Each time I read this book, there's always a different meaning in some sections in the book. And it is good to know that I have been practicing Yoga for some times and I have that Yoga in my blood as the book has multiple meanings that can only be understood after practicing such a good Yoga practice.

My Review on Light on Yoga: 

This is the Yoga book I like. The bible of Yoga! I use it as inspirations for my daily yoga practice for myself and yoga teaching at my yoga class. This is a good book to accompany me as my other teacher, other doctor and other advisor. It really completes me as a Yoga practicioner and Yoga teacher.

Great and fascinating introduction to Yoga, detail description of Yoga philosophy, great pictures of Yoga poses, nice sequences for specific intentions, precautions, contradictons, helpful hints and therapeutics effects. And BKS Iyengar's advice and explanation complete everything. What a nice package!

From the book, I understand that Yoga is more than flexibility and strength. Yoga is all about the way of life. There's a connnection between Yoga, spiritualism, life and the Universe.

From the book, I can learn that yoga is applicable for anyone and any ages at any levels. Every pose has a different meaning, and every pose has its own benefit.

The questions: How can a book that is as old as me explain more about life in the present moment? While I grow up day by day, the book is very wise and mature enough to be used as a life compass for a life time. While I move myself forward, I can always go back to the book at any time from the first page to the last one or the reverse. Amazing!

Iyengar style is detailed and tough. I personally do not like it that much, but the techniques are usefull for me when I teach my Yoga class. It helps me to detail the poses so my students understand what muscle to stretch. Going details means concentration that leads to mindfullness, and that mindfullness means that I am back to my meditation.

For me, using this book as the guidance at class means that I will teach a deep poses of Yoga.

Conclusion:

After reading Hatha Yoga Pradipika, reading Light on Yoga is like going deeper and longer into Yoga life.

I like Light on Yoga better than Hatha Yoga Pradipika. The books are almost the same, especially when talking about the basic principles of Yoga. But the things on Light on Yoga is more applicable in our day to day real life than Hatha Yoga Pradipika.

Hatha Yoga Pradipika talk about the basic things on Yoga, the philosophy and the thoughts of the writer about Yoga itself.

Light on Yoga talks more in detail about Yoga. Not just the philosophy, it also talks about yoga practice, key postures, breathing exercises, detail course for beginner to intermediate level and the yoga terms. All in one book!

I guess the book can complete each others. Use Hatha Yoga Pradipika as the introduction to Yoga through its deep explanation about Philosophy of Yoga and use Light on Yoga as the detail description on Yoga, especially what we can do with Yoga in our daily life.

And this is the reason why many Yoga schools use Light on Yoga as their main book, because every single details in the books can be very usefull for both teachers and students of yoga practice, even to those who are not yogi and yogini.

Namaste! 

When I Find God In Catholic

St. Theresia Church, Jakarta, Indonesia

This story is about my personal experience and spiritual journey in my life. Please read my story with open eyes and open heart. Thank you very much.

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One day in March 2013, just some moments before teaching yoga at a yoga studio, I feel the emptiness in my heart and soul so deeply. My heart is hungrily looking for something. I do not even know what that something is. At that time, I try to fill my soul with a prayer that I know from my previous religion, but I still feel the emptiness. Suddenly it crosses my mind that I need to pray Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be to the Father. I learn these prayers when I attend the Catholic school. It is amazing that after I finish praying with these three prayers, my heart and soul feel so comfortable and happy. I do not feel inner emptiness in my soul anymore. The prayers satisfy my soul and they make me feel calm and peaceful.

From this experience, I desire to go to church myself and try to join the Mass there. But this plan should be postpone because I have to go to Bali to become a volunteer at the Bali Spirit Festival event at the end of the month. On mid-April, I begin to go to the Mass at a church. It turns out that the church becomes the place where I find great peace. Even the journeys to the church are filled with miracles and goodness.

Kristus Raja Church, Jakarta, Indonesia

Each time I go to the church, everything feels smooth, even at the odd hours where all the transportations are almost occupied during the office hours or at the times when the weather is not friendly. There are times when the rain pours so badly that caused the traffic jam everywhere and the difficulty to find the transportation. But as soon as I pray those three prayers that I mention at the beginning of this story, the rain gradually stops, the road becomes clear and I get a taxi to go! Yeay! For me, this is a miracle of God. He really wants to show me His miracle. This is not just a coincidence as I believe that there is no coincidence in the dictionary of God.

Just before the Mass at the church begins, we will hear the sound of a small bell in the church that indicates the Mass is about to begin. The sound of the church bells is so soft. We can only hear the sound in and around the church for the distance that is not too far away. From here, I can feel that the gentle call to worship is the symbol that the God in the Catholic religion is so soft in calling out His people.

St. Theresia Church, Jakarta, Indonesia

When I sit inside the church and join the Mass, I am so familiar with the languages used in the worship. Sometimes, I attend the Mass in Indonesian language. At other times, I attend the Mass in English language. There is one Mass that I attend that is presented in Javanese language. Oh yes, I am so familiar with these three languages, so that when I say the prayers, the prayers penetrate my soul and I can easily understand and digest them in my heart. The prayers in the Mass are so simple, short and fun, because the priests and the people also sing some of the prayers. All of the prayers and songs by the priests and the people, and all the words of God shared by the priests are about love, kindness, forgiveness and grace from the God. Sometimes, the priests also share stories about the church's opinion about topics and issues that are popular in the society, but the discussion is through love and kindness approach. There is even one priest who always asks the people to hold our hearts before hearing the words of God and he is going to pray that we open our hearts to receive the words of God. Usually, hearing the words of God from this priest will make my eyes shed tears because of the way he touches our hearts. The worships in the church make my heart become more peaceful and happy.

In the Mass, the men and women are placed and sit together side by side. As a woman, I can worship God at anytime that I want, even when I have a menstruation. The God in the Catholic religion is so kind to us to accept all His people together and side by side without having to be separated, and in any state of health and condition of the body.

The way to dress up for the Mass is not too difficult and does not require many terms and conditions. By simply wearing decent clothes, then we can join the Mass comfortably. Because it only takes an open heart to attend the Mass at the church. As a woman, I do not need to wear special costumes in the church and outside the church as a form of obedience to the Catholic religion. For me, it feels that the Catholic religion is simple and not that difficult. The Catholic religion also teaches that the faith grows from an open and sincere heart, not by wearing a particular costume.

St. Theresia Church, Jakarta, Indonesia

After the Mass is finished, I still continue to receive the goodness of God in the church environment.
The priests will usually be standing outside or behind the church after the Mass to meet and greet his people one by one, both men and women, and giving thanks to them. For me, shaking hands with the priests is a blessing itself. If the handshake is a sign of peace, then shaking hands with the priests is the sign of peace and blessing from God that are given through the hands of the priests. They feel so warm in my heart. May God always bless my beloved priests!

There is a time when I met a woman from the Philippines who share the only praying sheet she has to me after the Mass is finished. When I try to refuse it because I feel a bit uncomfortable receiving the prayer sheet that might still be needed by her, she advices me not to worry because she would always get another prayer sheet from the church. It is indeed a genuine kindness to share! The prayet sheet contains a prayer to the Chaplet to Divine Mercy in English taken from St. Maria Faustina's diary, which becomes my Chrismation or Confirmation name later on.

Inside and outside the church, we could find many prayer sheets in every corner in the church, either in the form of books, leaflets, brochures and copies. Usually, the people themselves who put these prayer papers as the sign of gratitude that their prayers are answered by God.

Walking to the Altar to start the Baptism Ceremony at St. Theresia Church, Jakarta

Inside myself, I find the healing after I frequently join the Mass in the church and pray based on the teachings of the Catholic religion. There are a lot of emotional pains inside my body and there is something stuck in my body. In the past, these two things would not want to heal and disappear from my body. After I frequently go to the church and pray based on the teachings of the Catholic religion, the emotional wounds heals slowly and something on my body slowly disappears. Now my life becomes lighter and happier, and I feel more peaceful. I believe that God wants to heal me in His very special way.

From the activities in the church, I also learn about the beauty of sharing. The more often we share, the more often we get good return, perhaps even better, which in the end we have to share it again. An amazing cycle! In the church, we are trained to give alms by dropping money into the boxes, and to be active in a variety of other activities outside of the Mass. These things leave deep impressions in my mind, so now I'm happy to share anything with others.

The Baptism Ceremony at St. Theresia Church, Jakarta, Indonesia

Finally, I decided to join the Catechumenate process for adults (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults), which is the learning process for baptismal candidates (Catechumens). Together with the other catechumens, we learn that the Catholic religion is the happy news for those who seek it, and that God is the love and compassion that lives in our hearts and soul. I end up taking my own conclusion that we need to find our own God, and that religion should be studied by those who would want to hold them.

And guess what? I get one more miracle from God at my Catechumenate process, that the local priest changes the date of my baptism process from the schedule on March 2014 to early December 2013! A great special miracle for me! God bless my beloved priest! From this miracle, I really feel that the love of God is incredible. He does not let me wait for too long in front of His front yard to really get into His house. Even in my imagination, God does not just open the door of His house wide open, but He also takes my hands and pulls them so that I can immediately go into His house and hug Him tightly.

My longing for God has found its destination when I walk into His path called the Catholic religion. Yes, I find Him in this way! I do not only find God, but God himself comes to me and meets me in a special way through all the blessings, peace, goodness, healing and miracles that He shows and gives me. I believe that He saves me from the wrong path of way and life.

My current God is so nice and kind! I love Him so much. Thank you, my God, my source of compassion.

The Baptism Ceremony at St. Theresia Church, Jakarta, Indonesia

So, at the beginning, my name was Astrid Amalia. Now, my name becomes Theresia Maria Faustina Astrid Amalia. Theresia is my Baptismal name I take from St. Therese of the Child Jesus, the Little Flower and Small Road which is also the Protector of the Mission and the Doctor of the Church. Maria Faustina is my Chrismation or Confirmation name I take from St. Maria Faustina who wrote a diary about the Divine Mercy. Dear my Saints, please protect me!

My happy face after receiving Baptism Sacrament and Chrismation Sacrament

After I officially have the Catholic religion in my soul, I really feel that the blessing of God is magnificent. As a human being, I may rely with my own power. But when I combine my own power with the prayers to God directly or through Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, Joseph, the Holy Spirit, the Angels and the Saints, then the result will be much better and more powerful that I need to share them with others. Once again, this is a wonderful cycle that God shows me.

With my Mom and my friend after the Baptism Ceremony at St. Theresia Church

On my spiritual way to find my current God, from all the supports that come from my friends and a small part of my family who really understand me, I also have to experience something else that comes from other people around me. There are small stones and holes on my way to find my current God.

One of the closest relatives of the family who knows that I start to go to the church says that if I convert my religion to the Catholic, then I will add the sin to my parents and send them to hell. My answer is simple, that if one should be sent to hell, that person would be me, because the decision to convert comes from myself. My parents will surely go to heaven for giving the perfect basic religious education which is more than enough. The religious education at home is about the religion I had before and the religious education at school is about the Catholic religion. And I think it is more than enough!

After I am baptized, one of my friends said that there are flaws in the Catholic religion, and that I am just a beginner in this Catholic religion that I do not have the right to response to the increasing attacks from other religions to the Catholic. Deep down in my heart, I pray that may the flaws in my Catholic religion make its people to be more humble and low profile in executing their love to our own God. And I pray that may I always be the beginner in my Catholic religion forever, so that I can keep learning about the beauty to love God and other living beings in a way that is taught by the Catholic religion. Amen!

With Father Hani Rudi Hartoko after the Baptism Ceremony at St. Theresia Church

My spiritual journey has not finished yet. I believe that there will be other spiritual journeys in my life given by my current beloved God, and it will be more interesting and valuable. I am thankful that my current God is willing to provide His valuable time to knock my heart and call me in His special way through the Catholic religion in my heart now. In the end, He now lives inside me, in my mind, my heart and my soul. May God and His blessings are always placed within me forever.

With my beloved friends after the Baptism Ceremony at St. Theresia Church

Once again, my current God is very nice and kind. I love Him. Thank you, my great and good God!

Dei Gratia. By the grace of God! May I and all living beings in the universe are always blessed by the glory, the majesty and the good heart of my God now and forever. Amen.

Ketika Aku Menemukan Tuhan Di Jalan Katolik

Gereja Santa Theresia, Jakarta

Cerita ini adalah pengalaman pribadi dan perjalanan spiritual dan rohani penting didalam hidupku. Aku harap cerita ini dibaca dengan mata dan hati yang terbuka. Terima kasih banyak.

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Pada suatu hari di bulan Maret 2013, pada saat sebelum mengajar yoga di sebuah studio yoga, aku merasakan kekosongan jiwa yang begitu mendalam. Hati ini rasanya bergejolak terus mencari sesuatu yang tidak aku ketahui bentuknya. Pada waktu itu, aku mencoba menenangkan jiwa dengan doa yang pada waktu itu aku ucapkan sehari-hari dari agamaku yang dulu, namun tetap saja jiwa ini terasa hampa. Tiba-tiba terlintas dalam pikiranku untuk mengucapkan doa Bapa Kami, Salam Maria dan Kemuliaan di dalam hati. Doa-doa ini kupelajari pada saat aku bersekolah di sekolah Katolik. Ajaibnya, setelah selesai mengucapkan tiga doa tersebut, hati dan jiwa ini terasa nyaman, bahagia dan penuh. Tak ada lagi kekosongan batin yang meresahkan jiwa. Sepertinya ada sesuatu yang memenuhi jiwa ini yang membuat aku merasa tenang dan damai.

Dari kejadian ini, timbul keinginan dari diriku sendiri untuk pergi ke gereja dan mencoba beribadah di sana. Rencana ini harus kutunda karena pada akhir bulannya, aku harus ke Bali untuk menjadi sukarelawati di acara Bali Spirit Festival. Memasuki pertengahan bulan April, aku pun mulai pergi beribadah di gereja, tempat dimana aku menemukan kedamaian yang luar biasa. Bahkan perjalanan menuju ke gereja pun terasa penuh keajaiban dan kebaikan.

Gereja Kristus Raja, Jakarta

Pada saat mau berangkat ke gereja, semuanya terasa lancar, bahkan pada jam-jam mustahil dimana semua kendaraan keluar pada saat jam pulang kantor atau pada saat ketika cuaca tidak memungkinkan. Ada saat-saat dimana ada hujan datang, ada kemacetan di jalan raya, dan ada kesulitan mencari transportasi. Namun dengan selalu mengucapkan tiga doa yang kusebutkan diawal cerita ini, hujan berangsur-angsur berhenti, jalanan terasa lancar dan transportasi selalu ada di depan mata. Buatku, ini adalah keajaiban yang hendak ditunjukkan Tuhan padaku dan bukan kebetulan semata. Aku percaya bahwa tidak ada kata kebetulan didalam kamusnya Tuhan.

Pada saat memasuki lingkungan gereja, pada saat misa akan dimulai, akan terdengar bunyi lonceng kecil di gereja yang menandakan bahwa misa akan segera dimulai. Bunyi lonceng gereja ini begitu lembut dan pelan, dan hanya terdengar di dalam lingkungan gereja dan untuk jarak yang tidak terlalu jauh. Dari sini saja, aku sudah bisa merasakan bahwa panggilan untuk beribadah yang lembut ini bisa jadi merupakan simbol bahwa Tuhan di agama Katolik ini begitu lembutnya memanggil para umat-Nya.

Gereja Santa Theresia, Jakarta

Pada saat duduk di dalam gereja dan mengikuti ibadahnya, aku begitu mengenal bahasa yang dipakai didalam ibadahnya. Kadang-kadang, aku mengikuti misa dalam bahasa Indonesia. Kadang-kadang juga, aku mengikui misa dalam bahasa Inggris. Aku begitu mengenal dua bahasa ini, sehingga ketika doa diucapkan, doa tersebut begitu merasuk ke jiwaku dan dapat kumengerti dan kucerna dengan mudah. Doa-doa di misa ini begitu sederhana, pendek dan menyenangkan, karena para pastor dan para umatnya juga menyanyikan sebagian dari doa yang diucapkan. Semua doa yag diucapkan dan dinyanyikan oleh para pastor dan para umat dan semua firman yang dibagikan oleh para pastor berisi tentang cinta kasih, kebaikan, pengampunan dan keagungan Tuhan. Kadang-kadang, para pastor juga berbagi cerita tentang sikap gereja mengenai topik-topik dan permasalahan yang sedang populer di masyarakat, namun pembahasannya melalui pendekatan cinta kasih dan kebaikan. Bahkan ada salah satu pastor yang selalu meminta para umatnya untuk memegang hati kami sendiri sebelum mendengarkan firman Tuhan yang akan ia bagi dan berdoa agar hati kami dapat terbuka untuk menerima firman dari Tuhan. Biasanya, mendengar firman Tuhan dari pastor yang satu ini akan membuat mataku menitikkan air mata karena sangat terharu dengan caranya menyentuh hati para umat. Sungguh semua ibadah yang ada di gereja ini membuat hatiku menjadi lebih damai dan bahagia.

Di dalam ibadahnya, laki-laki dan perempuan diletakkan sejajar dan dapat duduk bersama saling berdampingan. Aku pun sebagai perempuan dapat beribadah kapan saja aku mau, bahkan ketika aku mendapatkan halangan yang datang sebulan sekali itu. Tuhan di agama Katolik ini memang begitu baik hati sekali mau menerima semua umat-Nya bersama dan berdampingan tanpa harus dipisah, dan dalam keadaan dan kondisi tubuh dan kesehatan apa pun.

Berpakaian dalam ibadah agama Katolik ini pun tidak terlalu sulit dan tidak banyak persyaratan. Cukup mengenakan pakaian yang sopan dan pantas, maka kami dapat mengikuti ibadah dengan nyaman. Ini semua memang karena hanya hati yang terbuka yang dibutuhkan ketika mengikuti ibadah di gereja. Aku pun sebagai perempuan tidak perlu mengenakan kostum khusus di dalam gereja maupun di luar gereja sebagai bentuk ketaatanku pada agama Katolik ini. Buatku, terasa sekali bahwa agama Katolik ini sederhana dan tidak sulit. Agama Katolik ini pun mengajarkan bahwa keimanan tumbuh dari hati yang terbuka dan tulus, bukan dengan mengenakan kostum tertentu.

Gereja Santa Theresia, Jakarta

Setelah selesai misa, aku pun masih terus menerima kebaikan Tuhan di dalam lingkungan gereja ini.

Para pastor biasanya akan berada dibelakang gereja setelah selesai misa untuk beramah tamah dan menyalami para umatnya satu per satu, baik laki-laki dan perempuan, dan memberikan berkat kepada umatnya bila diperlukan. Buatku, bersalaman dengan para pastor ini adalah suatu berkat tersendiri. Bila bersalaman adalah tanda dari sebuah perdamaian, maka bersalaman dengan pastor adalah berkat perdamaian dari Tuhan sendiri yang diberikan melalui perantaraan para pastor ini. Terasa sejuk sekali di hati ini. Semoga Tuhan selalu memberkati para pastorku tercinta!

Pada suatu waktu, aku bertemu dengan seorang wanita dari Filipina yang membagikan satu-satunya kertas doanya kepadaku setelah misa selesai. Waktu aku menolak karena merasa tidak enak menerima kertas doa tersebut yang mungkin saja masih diperlukan oleh sang ibu tersebut, dia menyarankan aku untuk tidak perlu kuatir karena dia akan selalu mendapatkan kertas doa yang lain dari gereja. Sungguh suatu kebaikan untuk berbagi yang tulus! Kertas doa yang diberikan ibu tersebut berisi doa Koronka kepada Kerahiman Ilahi dalam bahasa Inggris yang diambil dari buku harian Santa Maria Faustina, yang akhirnya nanti menjadi nama Krismaku.

Di dalam dan di luar gereja pun kami bisa menemukan kertas doa yang tersebar di segala sudut di lingkungan gereja, baik dalam bentuk buku, selebaran, brosur dan foto kopian. Biasanya, para umat sendiri yang meletakkan kertas-kertas doa ini sebagai tanda rasa bersyukur bahwa doa-doa mereka dikabulkan oleh Tuhan.

Menuju Altar untuk memulai Proses Pembaptisan di Gereja Santa Theresia

Di dalam diriku sendiri, aku menemukan kesembuhan setelah sering mengikuti ibadah misa di gereja dan berdoa dengan cara yang sesuai dengan ajaran agama Katolik ini. Ada banyak luka batin yang berada di dalam tubuhku dan ada sesuatu yang menempel di dalam tubuhku. Dulu, dua hal yang mengganggu ini tidak mau sembuh dan hilang dari tubuhku. Setelah sering ke gereja dan berdoa dengan cara yang sesuai dengan ajaran agama Katolik, luka batin itu pelan-pelan sembuh dan sesuatu yang menempel di tubuhku pun pelan-pelan lepas dan menghilang. Kini hidupku menjadi terasa lebih ringan dan bahagia, dan aku pun merasa lebih tentram dan damai. Aku percaya bahwa Tuhan memang mau menyembuhkan aku dengan cara-Nya yang sangat istimewa ini.

Dari kegiatan di gereja, aku juga belajar tentang indahnya berbagi. Semakin sering kami berbagi, maka kami pun akan mendapatkan balasan yang setimpal, bahkan mungkin lebih baik dan meluap, yang pada akhirnya kami harus bagikan kembali. Sebuah siklus yang mengagumkan! Di gereja, kami dilatih untuk berbagi mulai dari beramal dengan memasukkan uang ke kotak kolekte, kotak pemeliharaan gereja, kotak kebersihan, dan aktif dalam berbagai kegiatan lain diluar misa. Hal-hal ini begitu membekas di pikiranku, sehingga sekarang aku senang sekali berbagi apa pun kepada orang lain.

Proses Pembaptisan di Gereja Santa Theresia, Jakarta

Akhirnya, aku memutuskan untuk menjalani proses Katekumenat, yaitu pembelajaran bagi para calon baptis (Katekumen). Bersama dengan para katekumen yang lain, kami belajar bahwa agama Katolik adalah warta gembira bagi yang mencarinya dan bahwa Tuhan itu adalah cinta kasih yang hidup di hati dan perbuatan kami. Aku sendiri pun akhirnya mengambil kesimpulan sendiri bahwa Tuhan itu harus dicari oleh penganutnya sendiri dan agama harus dipelajari oleh orang yang mau menganutnya. Pada saat menjalani proses Katekumenat ini, aku mendapatkan sekali lagi keajaiban dari Tuhan, yaitu proses pembaptisanku dipercepat menjadi awal bulan Desember 2013 dari jadwal yang seharusnya, yaitu Maret 2014. Suatu keajaiban yang luar biasa istimewa bagiku! Dari kejadian ini, aku benar-benar merasakan cinta kasih Tuhan yang luar biasa. Dia tidak mau membiarkan aku terlalu lama menunggu di depan halaman rumah-Nya untuk betul-betul masuk ke rumah-Nya. Bahkan didalam bayanganku, Tuhan tidak saja membuka pintu rumah-Nya lebar-lebar, namun Dia juga memegang tanganku dan menariknya agar aku dapat segera masuk ke dalam rumah-Nya dan memeluk-Nya dengan erat.

Kerinduanku terhadap Tuhan benar-benar terjawab ketika aku masuk ke jalan-Nya yang bernama agama Katolik ini dan menemukan-Nya di jalan ini. Tidak hanya menemukan Tuhan, namun Tuhan pun datang sendiri kepadaku dan menemui aku secara istimewa melalui segala berkat, kemudahan, kebaikan, kesembuhan dan keajaiban yang Dia tunjukkan dan berikan kepadaku. Aku percaya bahwa Dia telah menyelamatkan aku dari jalan yang kurang tepat bagi diriku.

Tuhanku yang sekarang ini begitu baik. Aku mencintai-Nya. Terima kasih, Tuhanku yang baik.

Proses Pembaptisan di Gereja Santa Theresia, Jakarta

Jadi, dulu namaku adalah Astrid Amalia. Sekarang, namaku adalah Theresia Maria Faustina Astrid Amalia. Theresia adalah nama baptisku yang kuambil dari Santa Theresia Kanak-kanak Yesus, si Bunga Kecil dan Jalan Kecil yang juga merupakan Pelindung Misi dan Doktor Gereja. Maria Faustina adalah nama Krismaku yang kuambil dari Santa Maria Faustina yang menulis buku harian tentang Kerahiman Ilahi.

Wajah bahagiaku setelah menerima Sakramen Baptis dan Sakramen Krisma 

Setelah benar-benar memeluk agama Katolik secara resmi, aku benar-benar merasakan berkat Tuhan yang luar biasa indahnya. Aku sebagai manusia biasa boleh saja berusaha sekuat tenaga dengan kekuatanku sendiri, namun bila ditambah dengan doa langsung kepada Tuhan atau pun melalui perantaraan Yesus Kristus, Bunda Maria, Yosef, para Roh Kudus, para Malaikat dan para Santo dan Santa, maka hasilnya akan jauh lebih baik dan lebih dahsyat yang membuat aku kebanjiran berkat yang pada akhirnya harus dibagi kepada sesama. Sekali lagi, ini adalah sebuah siklus yang mengagumkan yang Tuhan tunjukkan padaku.

Bersama Mama dan Rekanku setelah Proses Pembaptisan di Gereja Santa Theresia

Selama menjalani proses spiritual dan rohani ini, diluar dari semua dukungan yang datang dari para sahabat-sahabatku dan sebagian kecil dari keluargaku yang mengerti aku, aku pun sempat mengalami perjalanan yang berliku yang datang dari luar diriku. Tentunya tidak ada jalan yang selalu mulus.  

Pada saat mengetahui bahwa aku sudah sering beribadah ke gereja, salah satu kerabat terdekat dari keluargaku mengatakan bahwa bila aku pindah agama, maka aku akan menambah dosa orang tuaku dan mengirimkan mereka ke neraka. Jawabanku saat itu adalah bahwa bila ada yang harus terkirim ke neraka, orang tersebut adalah aku, karena keputusan untuk pindah agama itu datang dari diriku sendiri. Orang tuaku malah akan masuk surga karena telah memberikan dasar pendidikan beragama yang lebih dari cukup, yaitu pendidikan agama yang dulu aku anut di rumah dan pendidikan agama Katolik di sekolah.

Setelah dibaptis, salah satu temanku mengatakan bahwa agama Katolik itu banyak kekurangannya, dan dia juga mengatakan sebuah kata yang menyiratkan bahwa aku adalah penganut agama Katolik kemarin sore sehingga tidak pantas berkomentar untuk menanggapi semakin tingginya serangan dari agama lain terhadap agama Katolik. Di dalam hati, aku hanya berucap bahwa biarlah agama Katolikku ini penuh dengan kekurangan sehingga kami umat-Nya semakin rendah hati dalam menjalankan ibadah kami, dan biarlah aku dicap sebagai penganut agama Katolik kemarin sore selamanya sehingga aku dapat terus belajar tentang indahnya mencintai Tuhanku dan sesama makhluk hidup lainnya dengan cara yang diajarkan oleh agama Katolik.

Bersama Romo Hani Rudi Hartoko setelah Proses Pembaptisan di Gereja Santa Theresia

Perjalanan spiritual dan rohaniku belum selesai. Aku percaya bahwa masih akan ada perjalanan spiritual dan rohani lain yang diberikan Tuhan yang tentunya akan tetap menarik dan berharga. Aku berterima kasih sekali bahwa Tuhanku yang sekarang ini mau menyediakan waktu-Nya yang berharga untuk mengetuk hatiku dan memanggilku dengan cara-Nya yang istimewa sekali melalui agama Katolik yang aku anut sekarang, dan pada akhirnya Dia pun tinggal di dalam diriku. Semoga Tuhan dan berkat-Nya ini selalu menetap didalam diriku selamanya.

Bersama para sahabat setelah Proses Pembaptisan di Gereja Santa Theresia

Sekali lagi, Tuhanku yang sekarang ini begitu baik. Aku mencintai-Nya. Terima kasih, Tuhanku yang baik.

Dei Gratia. Berkah Dalem. Semoga aku dan semua makhluk hidup di alam semesta ini selalu diberkati oleh kemuliaan dan keagungan Tuhanku yang baik hati sekarang dan selama-lamanya. Amin.