Lie back, daughter, let your head
be tipped back in the cup of my hand.
Gently, and I will hold you.
Spread your arms wide, lie out on the stream
and look high at the gulls.
A dead-man’s float is face down.
You will dive
and swim soon enough where this tidewater
ebbs to the sea. Daughter, believe
me, when you tire on the long thrash
to your island, lie up, and survive.
As you float now, where I held you
and let go, remember when fear
cramps your heart what I told you:
Lie gently and wide to the light-year
stars, lie back, and the sea will hold you.
(First Lesson, Phillip Booth)
Dear JC,
As a man who is well-acquainted with sea
I learn many things from a deep, vast ocean..
It’s like life in analogy..
Tide, storm, sunshine…
Sorrows, joys, and even humors…
Every single thing has its own wisdom inside…
Now I’m writing to You…
telling how You create me as a strong sailor through rough wind and abating storm..
Ha…ha…ha…
Ooops, I’m sorry JC, I was laughing, but I was not laughing at You.
It’s just…uhm… sometimes I think You’ve got good sense of humor.
Even in bad circumstances experienced by Your sons.
Like what I have experienced so far.
JC, I know You have a good ability in putting lessons about life in any kinds of situation.
Laughs and tears are provided to enrich human’s life perspectives.
All are means of showing Your caress….
Now, I’m facing hardship in life, but thanks JC I still can laugh because….
I know You always be with me…
Never let me alone in any circumstances….
I remember…six years ago I was through a circumstance by which I changed my point of view.
Since then I know the One to whom I trust and ask for strength whenever I’m weak.
You share Your optimism to see problems as challenges in life.
“So, with You I can do a lot of things.” (Phil 4:13)
Dear JC,
Let me trace back to what happened to my family several years ago.
It was about how my family got the emotional bound between the members.
It was my older brother’s girlfriend You used to show that…
love between family members is precious thing in life…
My brother loved her with all his heart, even he helped her financial problem by giving her money to pay her college–fee and also gave her family capital to set their shop..
But what had she done to him?
She loved another man when my brother was on duty on the ship.
How could she do that, JC?
It was a long relationship to throw away…
But he always trusts in You and believes that everything will be ok if he leaves everything on Your hands….
Dear JC,
A couple of years later, it happened also to me…
I broke my 10–years relationship with a girl I loved..
However, I consider it as something worth learning.
It really means a thing for me..
Love, laughs, tears, caress….are things which do not deserve to be thrown away..
Ha..ha..ha..anytime I remember that I question myself…
……why should I cry out loud……
……why should I loose weight……
……why should I loose my appetite……
Dear JC,
I learn from those bad circumstances that
Since then each member of my family tries to reach each other's hands
to strengthen those who are weak….
You make my family is closer to each other…
Pray together in Your Almighty name…
Share laughs and tears…
Although distance does us apart…
I still remember what is said by my mother:
If there were a writer whose will to write our stories, there would have been a good family drama to watch on TV!
Now on, from what we experienced in the past, we can help others whose the same problems..
Thanks JC for the opportunity to learn the cruel side of life so that we can offer hands to help others…
Dear JC,
Now, I come across with another bad circumstance…
On July 17th I should have been on the ship doing my job…
seeing Europe and Latin America as I always dream about…
But suddenly………………………………………………………………………………
My name disappeared from the list of crews who will join the sail.
Emails have been sent to the Headquarter, but I’ve got no certain answer for it.
Shocked….confused……but I wonder why I just laugh at it.
Though I realize that I’ve been five months on vacation
and slowly I’m broke for there’s no job to do!
I messaged my cell leader, my best friends, and also my prayer troops,
telling them what happens to me…
And I’ve got the same reply:
..maybe this is the time God lets you find your soul mate before sailing……
Ha…ha…ha…this is what I love about You JC…
Behind all sorrows, there must be something given as reward.
You never let us down….
“There which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all of God has prepared for those who love Him.”
be tipped back in the cup of my hand.
Gently, and I will hold you.
Spread your arms wide, lie out on the stream
and look high at the gulls.
A dead-man’s float is face down.
You will dive
and swim soon enough where this tidewater
ebbs to the sea. Daughter, believe
me, when you tire on the long thrash
to your island, lie up, and survive.
As you float now, where I held you
and let go, remember when fear
cramps your heart what I told you:
Lie gently and wide to the light-year
stars, lie back, and the sea will hold you.
(First Lesson, Phillip Booth)
Dear JC,
As a man who is well-acquainted with sea
I learn many things from a deep, vast ocean..
It’s like life in analogy..
Tide, storm, sunshine…
Sorrows, joys, and even humors…
Every single thing has its own wisdom inside…
Now I’m writing to You…
telling how You create me as a strong sailor through rough wind and abating storm..
Ha…ha…ha…
Ooops, I’m sorry JC, I was laughing, but I was not laughing at You.
It’s just…uhm… sometimes I think You’ve got good sense of humor.
Even in bad circumstances experienced by Your sons.
Like what I have experienced so far.
JC, I know You have a good ability in putting lessons about life in any kinds of situation.
Laughs and tears are provided to enrich human’s life perspectives.
All are means of showing Your caress….
Now, I’m facing hardship in life, but thanks JC I still can laugh because….
I know You always be with me…
Never let me alone in any circumstances….
I remember…six years ago I was through a circumstance by which I changed my point of view.
Since then I know the One to whom I trust and ask for strength whenever I’m weak.
You share Your optimism to see problems as challenges in life.
“So, with You I can do a lot of things.” (Phil 4:13)
Dear JC,
Let me trace back to what happened to my family several years ago.
It was about how my family got the emotional bound between the members.
It was my older brother’s girlfriend You used to show that…
love between family members is precious thing in life…
My brother loved her with all his heart, even he helped her financial problem by giving her money to pay her college–fee and also gave her family capital to set their shop..
But what had she done to him?
She loved another man when my brother was on duty on the ship.
How could she do that, JC?
It was a long relationship to throw away…
But he always trusts in You and believes that everything will be ok if he leaves everything on Your hands….
Dear JC,
A couple of years later, it happened also to me…
I broke my 10–years relationship with a girl I loved..
However, I consider it as something worth learning.
It really means a thing for me..
Love, laughs, tears, caress….are things which do not deserve to be thrown away..
Ha..ha..ha..anytime I remember that I question myself…
……why should I cry out loud……
……why should I loose weight……
……why should I loose my appetite……
Dear JC,
I learn from those bad circumstances that
Since then each member of my family tries to reach each other's hands
to strengthen those who are weak….
You make my family is closer to each other…
Pray together in Your Almighty name…
Share laughs and tears…
Although distance does us apart…
I still remember what is said by my mother:
If there were a writer whose will to write our stories, there would have been a good family drama to watch on TV!
Now on, from what we experienced in the past, we can help others whose the same problems..
Thanks JC for the opportunity to learn the cruel side of life so that we can offer hands to help others…
Dear JC,
Now, I come across with another bad circumstance…
On July 17th I should have been on the ship doing my job…
seeing Europe and Latin America as I always dream about…
But suddenly………………………………………………………………………………
My name disappeared from the list of crews who will join the sail.
Emails have been sent to the Headquarter, but I’ve got no certain answer for it.
Shocked….confused……but I wonder why I just laugh at it.
Though I realize that I’ve been five months on vacation
and slowly I’m broke for there’s no job to do!
I messaged my cell leader, my best friends, and also my prayer troops,
telling them what happens to me…
And I’ve got the same reply:
..maybe this is the time God lets you find your soul mate before sailing……
Ha…ha…ha…this is what I love about You JC…
Behind all sorrows, there must be something given as reward.
You never let us down….
“There which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all of God has prepared for those who love Him.”
(1 Corinthians 2:9)
Dear JC,
I remember when I let my beloved one go a few years ago…
You show me this precious Scripture:
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by Him; for those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives.” (Hebrew 12:5-6)
Is this what You want me to learn, again?
You disciple me, You make me a man, a grown-up man..
Not a spoiled boy who always gets what he wants and cries if he doesn’t get what he wants…
Is this the way You get me into my manhood?
Although the bad circumstances sometimes made me cry, made me loose my mind but….
As long as I’m with You, I will be strong…
Let them challenge me!
I’m not afraid anymore because I know You always be at my side…
Dear JC,
Teach me how to cope hardships in life…
Mould me to the shape that You want me to be…
Give me strength….
Give me Your eternal Light….
Hold me tight…
Let this humble man face his life challenges…
Conquer life by the power from You, Lord…
not from my own might I can bear the burdens…
Let Your wills done!
From the deepest love to You, my JC
stefanusfajar
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Dear JC,
I remember when I let my beloved one go a few years ago…
You show me this precious Scripture:
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by Him; for those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives.” (Hebrew 12:5-6)
Is this what You want me to learn, again?
You disciple me, You make me a man, a grown-up man..
Not a spoiled boy who always gets what he wants and cries if he doesn’t get what he wants…
Is this the way You get me into my manhood?
Although the bad circumstances sometimes made me cry, made me loose my mind but….
As long as I’m with You, I will be strong…
Let them challenge me!
I’m not afraid anymore because I know You always be at my side…
Dear JC,
Teach me how to cope hardships in life…
Mould me to the shape that You want me to be…
Give me strength….
Give me Your eternal Light….
Hold me tight…
Let this humble man face his life challenges…
Conquer life by the power from You, Lord…
not from my own might I can bear the burdens…
Let Your wills done!
From the deepest love to You, my JC
stefanusfajar
