Prayers and Blessings

Prayers and Blessings

The thought of terror striking anytime is ever-present in your mind when you are in Jakarta. But it is not too bad: It's a bit like going on a flight--the fear of the plane crashing is always in the back of your mind, but you learn to blot it out because the chances of it happening is extremely slim. You try to tell yourself that if it does happen, then it's fated--there's nothing you can do about it. You learn to live with it.

For Jakartans, there's no real choice. Life has to go on. Like those 9 victims in yesterday's bombing--it was just another morning; they went about their daily lives, doing their own thing; and suddenly Fate interrupted them rudely.

When you read such news, you can't help but think of your own mortality. You think of all the things that you've always wanted to do in your life and all the time that you have wasted. You think of the pain that families of the victims have to go through and you suddenly feel slightly ashamed of your own petty little complaints.

It always takes someone else's misfortune for us to start appreciating our own blessings. There are so many things that we take for granted--the gift of sight and freedom, the ability to read and to write. We often do not recognize the fact that many of the good things in life are free--we already possess them. Are we utilizing these gifts to the fullest?

To be able to work, to use our creativity and energy to make a difference, no matter how insignificant, is a privilege that we take for granted. Even the simple act of blogging--being able to write and share your thoughts with the entire world in an instant--is a great blessing.

Our prayers are with the bereaved families and the injured. May they find the strength to overcome this difficult period and regain their normal lives again--together with its many little blessings.