Walaupun demikian, pernikahan ini bukan yang paling mahal sih, beberapa waktu yang lalu pernikahan anaknya Aburizal Bakrie mencapai 100 miliar rupiah. Konon gaun pengantinnya saja 2,5 miliar. Mungkin angka ini terlalu dibesar-besarkan. Saya ingat cincin berlian yang dipake sampai diisi dengan darah segala. Tapi bisa gitu ya? Rasanya hati keluarga Bakrie udah terlanjur tuli sama teriakan korban lumpur Lapindo.

Tahun ini juga banyak teman-teman saya yang menikah. Lagi musim kali ya? Ada yang acaranya sederhana, ada juga yang mewah. Pertanyaan dari ini semua yang muncul, apa yang manusia cari dari pernikahan?

***

Minggu kemarin saya mengajar kelas sekolah Minggu, topiknya tentang Abraham mencarikan calon istri untuk Ishak. Abraham memandang pernikahan itu sangat penting, sampai-sampai dia mengirimkan anak buahnya untuk cariin jodoh dari tempat asalnya (500 mil jauhnya naek onta). Abraham ngga pengen Ishak menikah dengan orang Kanaan yang menyembah baal. Jadi pernikahan itu sangat penting, bukan hal yang bisa asal-asalan. Seberapa desparatenya seseorang cari jodoh, ingatlah cerita Abraham ini ya, jangan mencari jodoh asal-asalan. Dan yang wanita, tunggulah dicari, jangan malah sebaliknya

Biarin udah dapet jodoh yang sama-sama orang percaya, namanya masalah tetap ada. Di Alkitab ngga terlalu jelas apa penyebabnya, tapi ada masalah dalam pernikahan Ishak – Ribka. Kata komentator Alkitab, mereka mulai ada masalah karena sudah 20 menikah dan belum dikaruniai anak. Lalu mungkin masalah ini berkembang ke masalah komunikasi. Ishak orangnya pendiam, Ribka orangnya riang.

Jadi biarpun ketika Ribka mengandung anak kembar (Esau dan Yakub), sebenarnya Tuhan kan udah bilang sama dia di Kejadian 25:23 kalau anaknya itu kembar, salah satu akan jadi lebih kuat dari yang lain, dan anak yang tua akan menjadi hamba kepada anak yang muda. Tapi mengapa Ribka tidak menyampaikan hal ini ke Ishak? Kita bisa menebak, karena ada masalah antara Ishak – Ribka.

***

Blaise Pascal dulu pernah bilang, “Ada ruang kosong di hati setiap manusia yang tidak
dapat diisi oleh benda-benda ciptaan, namun hanya dapat diisi oleh Tuhan, Sang Pencipta, yang dikenal melalui Yesus”.

Manusia sering salah, mereka mengisi ruang ini dengan pernikahan dan ujungnya ruang kosong itu masih ada.

“My only other advice is to cherish every moment with those you love at every stage of your journey, as I have done this summer.”

“My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.”

People come and go, life may not go well sometimes, but I am really grateful for I am going through every bit and pieces of life with my LORD and loved ones. Ah…joy comes in the morning just as sure as the sun rises each and every day.

Ah, jauh dari hiruk pikuk dunia yang semakin self-centered ini, masih ada orang yang mau melayani dengan tulus.

Some nights it would be so forceful to wake up either of them, “Uh, papa ngorok ya”, or “Uh, mama ngorok ya tin” they said. Ah..these sounds indicate to me that my parents are still with me.

Some days, papa would not stop telling stories or expressing his opinions. The topics vary from politics, business, my childhood, etc. Ah..I know that when papa talks, it indicates he feels happy.

Some other mornings, before heading off to work/school, mama would squeeze (read: hug) me and tell “duh, sayangku” and I’ll tell her, “duh, mamaku”. Ah..she has been doing it since I was still in elementary school.

I don’t get the chance to see them everyday but I’ll definitely keep them close to my heart.

Fukushima daiichi plant NO.2 failed, pretty significant possibilities of radioactive leakage, some of tepco’s employees have been evacuated from the site. It seems that this one is more serious than the hydrogen explosion at plant 1 and 3. Let’s pray for our family and Friends in JAPAN. Also, does any one in tokyo have any feasible plan to prepare for the worst? Please share..

He sent a message to his brother two hours ago, he and his family are evacuating to the south:

“RI, please inform dad and mom that me and family are fine. Gue, AYUMI, Alex and Alicia ngungsi ke arah selatan(hamamatsu) mungkin gabung dgn ferdy hari ini”

Please take a moment and pray for people in Japan. It seems that things are getting tough there…

Hahaha, malemnya pacar saya kirimin link audio kotbah, tentang “The Secret of Your Spouse’s Success“ termasuk dibahas tentang “mendengar”. Isinya bagus banget , terutama untuk yang sudah menikah, atau yang rencananya mau nikah. Kudu dengerin.

Christian marriage is not about staying in love, but to keeping the covenant just as God has kept His covenant to us.

Sungguh…dia adalah seorang perempuan biasa yang punya Tuhan luar biasa.

Sumber: Portrait of a Biblical Woman (1 Petrus 3:1-6)

Alone at Your “Jordan” ( Kings 2:14 ). The Jordan River represents the type of separation where you have no fellowship with anyone else, and where no one else can take your responsibility from you. You now have to put to the test what you learned when you were with your “Elijah.” You have been to the Jordan over and over again with Elijah, but now you are facing it alone. There is no use in saying that you cannot go— the experience is here, and you must go. If you truly want to know whether or not God is the God your faith believes Him to be, then go through your “Jordan” alone.

Alone at Your “Jericho” ( 2 Kings 2:15 ). Jericho represents the place where you have seen your “Elijah” do great things. Yet when you come alone to your “Jericho,” you have a strong reluctance to take the initiative and trust in God, wanting, instead, for someone else to take it for you. But if you remain true to what you learned while with your “Elijah,” you will receive a sign, as Elisha did, that God is with you.

Alone at Your “Bethel” ( 2 Kings 2:23 ). At your “Bethel” you will find yourself at your wits’ end but at the beginning of God’s wisdom. When you come to your wits’ end and feel inclined to panic— don’t! Stand true to God and He will bring out His truth in a way that will make your life an expression of worship. Put into practice what you learned while with your “Elijah”— use his mantle and pray (see 2 Kings 2:13-14 ). Make a determination to trust in God, and do not even look for Elijah anymore.

Source: My Utmost For High Highest – August 11

***

This is not the first time I have to say “till we meet again” to my “Elijah”. But certainly, it’s never been easy. God, You are my God and I am thankful for all the people You bring into my life. Things I learn in the past one year:

• Don’t ever think to be a hero in serving God
• Honor our parents whatever the situation and condition was/is/is going to be.
• We just happen to be slaves who were allowed to enjoy the goodness of God.
• There is much we can do – especially for others less than we are and who need our help.
• Continue to serve others – and God will be responsible for all of our lives.

Dan papa langsung membalas dengan bahasa Inggris seadanya juga, “Yesterday night we song janji yg manis and mukjizat itu nyata after we read the bible. Thank u for happy fathers day”. Wah, bisa klop gini? Ternyata mereka uda nyanyi lagu itu kemarinnya. Padahal jarang-jarang nyanyi lagu itu =)

Janji yang manis: “Kau tak Kulupakan”,
tak terombang-ambing lagi jiwaku;
Walau lembah hidupku penuh awan,
nanti ‘kan cerahlah langit diatasku.

Refrein: “Kau tidak ‘kan Aku lupakan,
Aku memimpinmu, Aku membimbingmu;
Kau tidak ‘kan Aku lupakan,
Aku penolongmu, yakinlah teguh”.

Yakin ‘kan janji: “Kau tak Kulupakan”,
dengan sukacita aku jalan t’rus;
Dunia dan kawan tiada kuharapkan,
satu yang setia: Yesus, Penebus.

Dan bila pintu sorga dibukakan,
selesailah sudah susah dan lelah;
‘Kan kudengarlah suara mengatakan:
“Hamba yang setiawan, mari masuklah”.

Syair dan lagu: I Will Not Forget, Charles H. Gabriel (1856-1932),
terj. EL Pohan (1917-1993)