Applying Sincerity, Patience & Kindness

"When it is dark enough, you can see the stars"

Once, I took KTMB commuter back from KL to Sg Buloh, hoping I could catch the last bus back home, but it was 11.45 pm by the time I arrived at Sg Buloh and deep down I know I had to trouble my parents to fetch me from the station. It would take close to 30 minutes for my parents to arrive considering I just woke them up from sleep. So, as clock struck 12.00, I was the only passenger waiting. Wasn't I scared? I guess I prayed hard enough in the commuter that night, wishing for things to be easier for me and if I had to wake my parents up, I hope I won't have to listen to their 'lecture' all the way back (:D even at this age, I'm still their little girl) because I was attending a good event, where I finally met my long, lost friend of 18 years). As I looked around the station, I saw one Indonesian security guard walking towards me. I smiled and nodded my head to acknowledge his presence. He moved 10 feet away from me and asked if I was waiting for someone. I sensed that he was very careful not to scare me and I wasn't because he seemed to be a kind man. As I sat on the bench waiting, I made several turns towards him, as if looking for my guardian angel. That night he was my angel and as I saw my parents' car approaching, I bowed to him and thanked him. He's a total stranger to me but I was deeply touched by his sincerity in doing his job, his patience and kindness looking out for me. Before I went to sleep that night, I prayed for his well being and I thank God for him. How I wish we all would exercise our sincerity in every thing we do and extend our patience and kindness to all God's creations. If we all could see a mother in every woman, a father and a brother in every man, a daughter and a son in every child, I am sure we would not live in fear, depending on others to protect our sanity and sanctity as we will all care for each other.

But do we practice sincerity, patience and kindness only on personal front? I believe, no matter how technical and factual, we deal and depend on people to get things done. As much as we want to exercise our power and position to protect our interest, we should be sincere in discharging our responsibilities, patient enough to listen and understand what others have to say and kind enough to do the extra miles in getting the job done.

Still, in most occasions, most people would only apply those three traits with those with our vested interests while some lamented why they continue to be treated badly by others? Eckhart Tolle, in his book, "Power of Now" explains why we normally attract the same experience we have having inside our mind and our heart. with people we met. It is natural that we would make someone angry when we ourselves are angry because our subconscious mind could detect each other's emotion and start expressing it. So, for us to expect others to treat us in a way we desire, we first have to instill that particular emotion before it would be translated into our desirable action in us and others. Thus, it is not shocking to see why, after 53 years of gaining Independence, some of us continue to identify each other as enemies and even if we have achieved the desired equality, this disparaging problem would persist for the next 53 years unless we take firm steps towards equitability.

Today, PKR, one of the parties under Pakatan Rakyat, has started its direct election process - the first in our political party history. Reading various comments from many quarters who have expressed their intention to run for party's position, I cannot help but feeling a little sad because they are some who continue to feel insecured (and they would only feel good when getting a top post). Insecurity and doubt are men's best enemies as they would wreck one's conscience. Instead of insecured leaders, we need people's representatives who are sincere to work for the party and are brave enough to do things right, instead of doing what is considered norm in UMNO and its affiliated parties.

God knows best and if loss is destined, no matter how hard we tried, I hope we would remain resilient and productive to the party. This stark possibility reminds me of one poignant scene in "Ayat-Ayat Cinta", which I hope would comfort those who didn't make the cut.

After receiving his expulsion letter from Al-Azhar University, Fahri sobbed violently, unable to accept the fact because he had dedicated his life to study at this prominent university and now, he is being imprisoned after Noura accused him of raping her.

His cellmate laughs at him for he said that Fahri is too proud and thinks he is too good, having houlier-than-thou attitude that Fahri couldn’t see that God is actually conversing with him during this difficult time, teaching him about sincerity and patience.

His cellmate later relates a prayer of Nabi Yusuf, who was imprisoned after the beautiful Zulaikha, the wife of Egyptian aristocrat, accused him of trying to rape her.

“He said:"O my Lord! Prison is more to my liking than that to which they invite me. Unless You turn away their plot from me, I will feel inclined towards them and be one (of those who commit sin and deserve blame or those who do deeds) of the ignorants. So his Lord answered his invocation and turned away from him their plot. Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower. Then it appeared to them, after they had seen the proofs (of his innocence) to imprison him for a time" (Yusof, Verses 33 – 35)

There are times when we would be tested, to a point we would question God but all is not lost for God knows what is best for us and He would only make us endure such experience because He knows we can handle it. I believe things will materialise when we are sincere, patient and kind enough.