Some of you, who were lucky enough, have heard this story first-hand from me, as we chatted over YM/MSN. But there are still many who haven't heard this story yet. So I decided to write this, once again, for all to read it.

It all happened on Sunday...

Chapter I : The Lord of the Rings
Me, Mee-a and June went together to watch The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. It was a good and funny afternoon, just imagine, the three of us went in to the studio, and then I realized that we haven't bought drinks. So I went out to buy some drink and went back in. Then June realized that we didn't have food for the 3.5 hours movie, so there we went out again, this time to buy some food and snacks, then we came back in. For the first part of the movie, we basically were just munching the food and snacks. But when the story came into the interesting part, the part with the wars, the deaths, and the drama, we were attached to our seats and we put down our snacks. And then during the latter part of the movie, me and Mee-a were just crying hard. Maybe we cried about four or five times during the movie, I don't know. Some parts of it were just very touchy. The part where Frodo lost his belief on Sam and told him to go away, the part where Sam came back to save Frodo from Shelob, Theoden's death, Faramir's battle, Aragorn's Crowning Ceremony, Departure from the Grey Havens, etc.

There was some good moral story in the movie, especially about friendship and loyalty. Frodo and Sam. I think the one who has the most part in destroying the One Ring was Sam. Samwise Gamgee, a plain gardener of the Baggins' house. But without him, Frodo would have failed. Without him, Sauron would have been victorious and the One Ring would fall to his hands. The friendship between Sam and Frodo reminded Mee-a about the relationship between God and His children. Even though God loves us so much and always thinks for the best of us (on Sam's part, all he wanted was to help Frodo in his mission, remember when back then on the Fellowship of the Ring, Frodo wanted to go alone with a boat to Mordor from Amon Hen, when Sam noticed and ran to Frodo's boat? He was prepared to give his life for Frodo, he just walked, and walked to the boat, and when he literally walked to the depth of the sea and was about to drown, Frodo lifted him to the boat), sometimes we are so stubborn. We act like Frodo, we don't believe that God wants the best for us, we tell Him to go away and leave us alone. We want to go with people that we think are good, without ever realizing that God is far better.

But when we surrender it all to God, like Sam, He shows His eternal lovingkindess and loyalty for us. Even in times when we don't believe Him fully, He still gives the best for us. See, Frodo didn't trust Sam fully. On the Orodruin (Mount Doom), it would be better if Frodo just hand over the ring to Sam and let him cast it to the fire. But Sam knew, that Frodo won't let him take the ring. So instead of taking the ring, he lifted and carried Frodo with the ring to the peak of Mount Doom. Sometimes we are reluctant to give Him full access to all parts of our lives, but He's still waiting there. When you reach up your hands for Him, He will take your hand and lift you up. As He have said, "I will never leave you, nor forsake you". If a Sam can be that loyal, surely God can be more than that.

Chapter II : The LORD of the Universe
So it happened, that after watching the movie, we were hungry, so we went to Cafesera for something to eat. We had a discussion. First, June asked some love problems, then, as Mee and I have different answers to the problem, we end up arguing in a hot debate. The debate spreaded to the classic problem of "why can't I hear God's voice?", "why can't I feel His presence", etc. Even on the road, the hot debate still continued. But finally, as June seemed to have something she wanted to talk about, Mee told me to shut up for a minute and let her speak.

June asked Mee why can't she feel God? She felt like God is not there, not seeing, not listening, and not doing anything. She's not asking much, not for tongues, or hearing God's voice audibly. She just wanted a sign that will let her know that He is there and He is alive. Mee was just giving some advices for a minute, when (according to Mee), God asked her, "I am their Father, and I want to talk with them so much. But right now, they cannot hear Me. So, will you today be an ear for them so that they can listen?". Then Mee answered, "Yes, Father" (at this time, before I knew what God asked her, I was puzzled, why did she suddenly say that?). And Father told June...

"I know how you feel, June. In times when you are alone, I see you. When you are hurt, My heart aches. When you were sitting alone in a corner, crying (note: at this time, Mee saw a vision of June crying in a corner of a room), I saw you and I heard your cry. When you think this world doesn't need you anymore, I still love you as my child. Cast away all your past, all your burdens, all your aches of heart, and look for Me. Even if it was only for you, even if it was only you in this world, I would still have come to this world, and died on the cross for you..."

Mee cried...

June cried...

I cried...

Mee then moved from the front seat to the middle seat and hugged June so tight. June hugged her back as if she would never let Mee go. I thought June must have never felt the love of a real brother or sister, she told Mee that no one have ever hugged her for years (maybe that's why she wanted a brother and a sister so bad, and she wanted me and Mee as her brother and sister). They both cried so hard, while I kept silent because I had to focus on the road, despite my tears running down from my eyes. Then they started to pray together, still holding on to each other. And they kept crying, until we arrived on Mee's home. June didn't want to let go, but Mee told her that she have to go to the church and join the choir practice. So June let Mee go, and I drove her to the church. Along the way, we were both silent, we can't find any word to speak but be thankful to God. And all that we could do was sing silently. It was a day of great works and miracle of the Father, and the wonders we still feel until today.

As I went home, I contemplated about how great and wonderful God is. All that June asked was a simple sign. But God gave her more than what she asked, that day. He gave a sign, yes, He has shown June that He is alive and He heard her cries. But even more than that, He showed her His love. From His words, from His sacrifice on the cross (that latter part about "if it was only for you, I would still have come and died on the cross" made the three of us cry), and more importantly, from the love that is shown by Mee as a sister. The hug that night meant much more than a million words. Now she will know that there is love for her. She is no longer alone, and she will never be. She will have the love of Mee-a as a sister, me as a brother, and more importantly, God as a Father.




••• Tuesday, January 27, 2004 •••