WORDS OF LIFE

This photo was taken when I returned home from Singaraja, North Bali, went down the hillside road above the lake Buyan toward Pancasari. My heart was intrigued by a monkey who swiftly climbed up to the top of Joger unique sign. I did not know what he was "thinking" when he was looking at the sign that warned people not to throw away garbage carelessly.

Again, I learnt something from this monkey. It seemed that it was not quite powerful enough for the humans reminding people to protect the environment by not throwing garbage into the wrong place. We needed animals’ intervence. It seemed that the monkey was more concerned with this prohibition sign.

"IF YOU ARE NOT UNRESPECTED PEOPLE, DO NOT THROW AWAY YOUR RUBBISH UNEXPECTEDLY !"

The text above inspired me to dig up the deeper meaning. I was startled. I found there were many things in our daily life could be more “smelly” and more “dangerous” than just garbage. They could be our words.

Some accidents were just caused by the wrong words that people said. Cursing and swearing might cause heartbreaking, anger and hopeless. So that, we should not speak carelessly and speak rubbish.

I could not believe the incident that happened several years ago. Nyoman, the young friend from Legian, suddenly came to me around 8 pm and asking for help.

I was taken to a pharmacy. When we arrived there, a mother and her daughter, the owner of the pharmacy, suddenly pointed at Nyoman and spoke out some bad words. Even accused Nyoman trying to be a hero. Then some impolite words directed to me.

"Why do you come here again ?" Cried out the mother.

I prayed in heart to ask God for wisdom to face the mother and her daughter's anger. I began my explanation after successfully interrupted. I said that I was Nyoman’s spiritual mentor. However, I have not finished yet with what I said, the mother, too, who claimed that she was a senior lecturer at one top faculty of famous university, blamed Nyoman as students who did not know her indeed.

"Look at them ! Those he wanted to protect ! They had been wrong ! "

I turned my head and found a young father sat down quietly on a bench, beside his wife holding her four- year-old daughter, who had fallen asleep. Nyoman has told me that the child had dropped a piece of metal apart from the broken scale when she was trying to step on. Pharmacy owner's daughter became angry and told her mother.

The father who knew his daughter was wrong, tried to apologize and wanted to replace the loss. He suggested that the scale should be sticked with a note mentioning it was broken. This made the mother so angry and assumed that he had insulted her dignity as a famous person. She asked for ID card and held it and she wanted to call the police. The incident occurred at 6 pm. So, for about two hours they were still there without being able to do anything. Apologies were not accepted.

I encouraged myself to represent them to apologize again. First, represented Nyoman who has been considered to be a hero for liberating the family. Secondly, for young families, who might have looked down the dignity of the pharmacy owners.

God helped. The owner did not stop grumbling when she handed back the ID card with harsh words. After receiving back the ID card, the family apologized again and then turned immediately leaving the pharmacy. The father thanked us with a painful tone. Then, we soon left the pharmacy, too.

Finally, I learnt that words of my mouth should be controlled wisely.

Ephesians 4:29 :
“ Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you.”