FLOWER OF LIFE

Every time I see her, she reminds me of a Celebrity, Paris Hilton.

Actually, I'm not her fan and I rarely follow the news. I looked at her just like looking at a Luxurious crystal chandelier. Until one day I learned of her date of birth under the auspices of the star Aquarius, the water bearer, the humanitarian of the zodiac, suddenly my vision changed. I'm not surprised to find out later that she has been involved in lots of charity work and supported a long list of various foundations. Now I am seeing her is like seeing a beautiful rose. As simple as that my perception changed.

Back to my friend, her name is Jessica,

Her clear skin and light movements made her look pleasing to the eye. Her face looks elegant, yet easy to smile when greeted, her thick black hair is always tied up at the back of her head showing her long neck, there are never any accessories attached to her body, her overall appearance is ordinary but in her simplicity, she even seems glamorous. I don't know what this guy's secret is. What makes this person so attractive?

Ah, maybe because every time she comes back home from the event, she is always picked up by the personal driver in her luxury car. She is the daughter of a rich man. Her parents have many franchise restaurants in Malls spread across several branches in big cities throughout Indonesia.

She recently graduated from college in Melbourne and returned to Indonesia to help her parents manage their Company.

As the daughter of a rich man, of course, her lifestyle is a high class who likes to have fun and party. She is capable and deserves it. Until one day, in the Leadership Program, in which we participated, God brought us together in a small group. A small group of 5 people.

What goes around comes around

There was homework where we were asked to make a personal collage. A kind of dreaming board. Photographs from magazines that depict dreams, visions, and missions in life are cut out and then pasted on a large piece of cardboard. You could say it is a sum up of our soul's desires.

On the appointed day we were free to choose a place where we would tell what was in the roll of paper. The five of us sat relaxed in the basement food court of a mall.

While waiting for the food to come, one by one we shared the pictures in it. I remember what I pasted, there are pictures of flying birds, pictures of planes, globes, beautiful cars, beautiful houses, harmonious families...

Until her turn. Slowly she unrolled the cardboard, so wide that it almost covered part of the dining table in front of us.

I was amazed to see the pictures that were plastered in front of me.

Gloomy pictures, slums, disadvantaged people, school buildings, children's playgrounds... were spread out in front of our table.

Nothing in my mind had the slightest thought of it, her drawings were 180% diverted with everything I had in mind. I listened to her voice faintly that she wanted to make free schools for underprivileged children... create educational events for disadvantaged children... in remote villages, in poor areas...

I took a deep breath...

Misjudged

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At the end of the program, we made a social service project in the fishermen's village of Priok area, North Jakarta. We raised funds according to our expertise, the proceeds of which we poured into the event, established Posyandu*), renovated schools, held free medical treatment, and created a cheap market bazaar from the clothes we collected.

The event was lively because it involved the entire population, especially mothers who live in the area. There were so many people but she kept on shadowing my eyes, I saw her movements were so agile in her work. Taking off her shoes, she doesn't feel disgusted when she jumps into a dirty, muddy place and immediately blends in with the natives. Her clear white skin looked so contrasting with the conditions around her.

She always gets my attention. Every time I see her my heart feels good.

In my eyes, she is the Flower of life.

Oh ya, once more, her name is JESSICA.

That's her real name :)

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*) Posyandu is a place for health care carried out from, by, and for the community under the guidance of the relevant officers. (Ministry of Health RI)