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Actually I have been thinking about this for quite sometimes about the other dimensions of pain and sadness. In the Quran it was said that we are not of the faithful until we are tested with difficulties; lack of food, wealth, perhaps people we love; you know, metaphor of things we like in life. There are times when difficulties appear to be unbearable, be it in chasing your dream, fulfilling your responsibility, or even to just walk in everyday’s life. You loose your world and you loose yourself. You don’t need to go anywhere to get lost when your mind in troubled state. …

Every problem is limitation, that’s what I think. And like every boundary, limitation give us certain border to not cross. Within certain area then we will put our strength and effort. Then, I recall another form: focus. With a good effort then, I think each problem can be seen as a way to get better focus. In Islamic term, we understand the word to straighten our will, or “niat” in the purest way for the highest purpose. Problem gives us way to rethink our purest reason in enjoying our life.

Another nice perspective I like to see is that every time we solve a problem, we see something we have not seen before. If we are careful enough, we can find one part of the problem (and solution) that interact with our very self. It is interesting to learn that we can really see different side of us, different tendencies. That is why problem can be a mean for separation among people. To be better or to be less-better is then the dividing question.

Just an intermezzo, there are many times in my troubled state when I could not really see which one is good and which one is better. I really need divine guide and reach from people close to me. Therefore, I really like the prayer stating our hope for guidance to see that the right thing is a right thing, the wrong thing is the wrong thing and the ability to differ them. In the same sense, I also like the wise sayings asking God to strengthen us in the striving for something our hands can change and to be able to let go things we cannot change and the wisdom to differ them.

Interesting still, I found that solving a problem is like peeling one layer of … durian (please forgive my terms). You are one step deeper in understanding certain phenomena. Or to be more exaggerating, life (oh, I remember onion now). But not that exaggerating I suppose, since I have seen people out from the storm become better, nicer to other, more empathetic and sensitive to people needs and hopes. They saw a better reason or point of view to cope with things.

But then, still I need more explanation on why should there is trouble in almost every step we do. It is important for me because to tell the truth, life is becoming more and more challenging and more roles are put on our shoulders. I need to be sure about my stance in this, also the principles to deal. Because you know, for me, it is so often that troubles, whatever ruining my brain, corroded my “remembrance” about Allah. It appears that avoiding responsibilities, thus friction, in life will get me closer to my very purpose but is that really the correct way? Then where will the responsibilities go? The answer maybe to other people shoulder and we don’t want that to happen, especially if they make our loved ones become so tired of life.

Why should it be there in the first place? Why in related to be more faithful and respective to the Owner of Life do I need trouble? It should lead us somewhere since nothing in this earth, including problem, is created for no purpose…

I tried and tried to combine those above observations. Thing are still confusing but perhaps I can tell my tentative conclusion.

Because troubles teach us life. And every human is meant to be alive. So there it is; to help us defining life for ourselves, and ourselves for ourselves. Thus dealing with them.

When I write this scratch, I really realize there are parts of me chilling when my brain simulating potential troubles lie ahead. But I want to understand life. Besides, there are so many uncertainties and uncalculated variables my simple machine cannot take into account… As the engineering goes on even with linear calculation, some interesting nonlinear experiences may lie ahead. So…, why don’t we just deal (wisely) with troubles?

I think I would take “the trouble”, the responsibility one by one to get closer to life. And sure I’ll welcome others’ company

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 6th, 2008 at 7:21 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.