The Dalang Took A Bow

Amiratih Larasati fell in love with wayang kulit (javanese shadow puppet) soon after seeing them at the first time when she was a little baby. My father collects shadow puppets in his home. He likes to show his collections to Amiratih. Ever since that moment, she's in love with wayang kulit. A love that is growing within her. Kresna, the reincarnation of lord Vishnu, is her number one favorite wayang. Gatotkaca, a Pandavan hero in the mahabharat epic, is her second. Kresna's character is the opposite from Amiratih’s. Kresna's calm behavior, soft-spoken but yet friendly voice and smiling face have somehow amazed Amiratih so much. She would talk to them just like she would to her fluffy dolls. In a way, wayang kulit has a special place in her heart. She also enjoys watching wayang orang (javanese opera) on television. She enjoys the javanese traditional music showed in the opera. She curiously asked me about what the story was all about; who the characters were; what the characters were doing; what they were talking about.

One night in her grandparent’s house, she asked us to turn off the lights but not the television. She took a plain wide wrapping paper, and she dragged two dining chairs in front of the television, she insisted us to help her put some tapes on each edge of the paper to the chairs, and then..Voila! Amazingly, she made a stage to perform a show of wayang kulit with the television light used as the back light. And as the puppeteer, she did her performance together with her wayang kulit as shadows, playing and dancing. At the end of the show, she thanks the wayang by shaking their hands. Especially for Kresna, a peaceful, quiet moment together with a nose to nose kiss, and holding hands. Finally, the dalang ( puppeteer ) took a bow, behind the paper, as a shadow. She did it beautifully as we all watched her shadow show with the puppets. I am so proud of her. All of her life, at her very young age, she has been showing me her strong character and identity as an individual that is different from me, different from her father, and from any other of her family members. although yes, she has pieces of each of us in her, like pieces of undone puzzle that she will finish one day, just like her other hobby, making puzzles. Or should i say a puzzle maniac.

by : Laksmira Ratna Bayuardi

29 December 2009

Amira , God & Ice Cream

Amira was two years old. One day she asked me, "Bu,where does God live..?" Her question startled me. I wasn’t sure if I could answer that God was everywhere; or God was inside you; or God was very close to you. Those answers were too abstract for her to understand. Though I could just said that, but Amira was the kind of girl who would keep chasing me with questions further until she found it satisfactory. I decided to answer her question simple. I said to her, "up there Amira," and we both looked at the sky as we were sitting at the terrace to enjoy beautiful sunny afternoon. Then she asked me again,"God lives in the clouds?" I said,"No, up beyond the clouds." She asked again, "In the sky..?" I said, "No sweetheart, beyond the sky.” She asked again,"God's home is in the star..? I want to know God's house. How does the house look like..?" I went speechless. I thought hard of the answers with my upside down mind at that time. I tried to look wise by smiling at her, laughed a little and touched her curious looking face. But then as if she understood that I ran out of answer she ended her questions and wisely said,"O well..that's OK ibu. I just wanna give Him ice cream when we meet.."

Ice cream....?? That's it...? Asking so many questions about where God lives just because she wanted to give Him Ice cream..? I thought to myself. But yes, that's just it. It is a very simple thought of a child to God. Simplicity and sincerely. God must love her so much. And other young children who with their simple, sincere and innocent thought of God trying to get to know Him personally. Making friend with Him. Sharing some joys and love with Him, and Ice cream. It is a lovely joyful treat for every child. Cold and sweet. Making them giggle when they eat it. And Amira just wants to share it with God.

I was ashamed of myself. I thought of other grown ups too. So many requests we have been asking to God. Our happiness might just comes from a tiny simple thing but yet so powerful. It makes us smile, laugh, happy, or even peacefully drawn in the serenity of nature and togetherness with people we love. Those things. When those are happening to us, do we remember to share them with God? Although we know very well that those feelings come from God and we thankful for that. but feeling of sharing them with God is a different thing. When we thankful for our family or friends who came and brought us some delicious treats that we like so much. We would like our family or friends who brought it to have some too. We share although we know that it came from them. Sharing our food,our wealth, our attention, our love; Sharing is what God taught us to do. Why not sharing back to God of what He had given us.. I always touched and thankful when i gave Amira something that she likes so much and then she shared it with me. And said thank you..Actually..she didn't have to say it..i knew..seeing her happy is more than just gladness for me. I thank her for her attention to share the thing she loves with me. And God must feel that way too..more or less..

It's another lesson from my child,this time's lesson is for me; giving more attention to God in our joyful times. Sharing our love and happiness not only to those who we think need them, but also to the One who loves us unconditionally too. My way would be..Repeating His name in my heart.

by : Laksmira Ratna Bayuardi

18 November 2009

Sunflower

Amira brought home some sunflower seeds in a can from National Geographic. I read the instruction carefully to her. Everyday she waters the seeds with love and her unique curiosity. She puts it outside the window so she can see it anytime. One of these days...she laughs so cheerfully knowing and seeing her seeds finally showing themselves as tiny green plants growing up right before her eyes while she is watering them. She is so happy. Her patience is paid off. Although she knows there are still more days and weeks to come for her to be able to see the sunflowers.

Patience.. something that is not easy for her to learn. Something that has always been a struggle for me to teach her. This is very natural lesson with a very humble reward from the earth. With a little help from some brilliant young minds, patience, life and the beauty within, she has learnt and decorated the walk of her learning experience.

What these new generations have done to the newer generations helps me understanding something; the unique pace of knowledge learning in human development.

What my little girl has learned yesterday, today and tomorrow might have a huge impact for others in the future. Understanding and facilitating her unique learning style and pace are as important as watering and giving some sunshine to the seeds or plants to make them grow strong and healthy. The question is - are we as parents ready to advocate our child in her unique way? Do you really believe the meaning of the words "every child is unique"? or is your heart saying that "every child should be the same" while what your lips say "every child is unique"? The words "the same" are obviously different with the words "equal right". Advocating our child means fighting for our child's right of equality. Helping him/her building his/her character and creating his/her own identity that are supposed to be different one another and in its own uniqueness. How many parents who are struggling very hard to make their child just like any other child so the parents won't be blame for having a unique special child. And the child won't get bully by other kids, or even teacher for being different. It's an interresting fact in a charming yet challenging life.

In the meantime,let the sunflowers grow,rise and face the sun.



by : Laksmira Ratna Bayuardi ( Kuma Laxmi )

9 november 2009