Taize Rotterdam Day 3: It's Destiny

Thursday, 30 December 2010

On this third day, somehow i still can't believe that i made it to my very first European Meeting. A very complicated way to prepare my pilgrimage; start with saving money, a complicated visa application, then find the cheapest transportation. But anyway, i'm already here! So i have to seize the day!

This morning is like the other morning, start with morning prayer then a small discussion group. Today's discussion is about compassion and how we can care about each other, especially strangers. For me i just share about my experience doing social work for the homeless people in Glasgow. The interesting part is when everyone start to share what do they think and feel about this question. I have to say, this second day is easier to encourage them to share something. But this one girl when she starts to share, quite struck me because she's really honest about her feeling. I mean, this is the only the second time we have a sharing group and we still don't know each other so well but she seems to put a lot of trust for us so she can share such a deep feeling. It's so deep until she has to stop for every 4-5 words to hold her breath. We're just keep in silence to let her finish, and i was hoping that she can hold her tears.

When the discussion is getting more and more interesting, then i realize that this is the time when i should leave for my work. Oh how i feel bad and dissapointed at the moment! Because i just start to enjoy the discussion and i have to leave! But i don't want to miss the work as well because i like my work. So on the way to Ahoy, i was thinking to myself what should i do for tomorrow. I mean, one of the important thing about this meeting is the sharing group; how we share about something to another people that we've never met before. And i always like the sharing group in every Taize meeting because it always enrich me in a way. Then i think, about work, well in Glasgow i also do some practical work so it's not something new and rare for me. So maybe for tomorrow i'll just skip my work and stay in the sharing group until the end. Ok then, good point!

After took our earlier-lunch, we were going to our positions. Because yesterday i already hold the string, so today i'll try to become a "striker"; who direct the people to some empty space in the end of the line. Seems interesting and more energetic!

The first corner was easy, then we move forward a little bit. Later on i start to find the shape of how to direct people to some empty space for them to have a sit; greet with smile then direct them to some particular spot. So far i know, every work in Taize is important to smile at all time. Not a fake one, but an honest one :D

After we filled about 3 columns, then i feel bored about what i always said to greet and direct them so i think i have to find another sentences to make it more fun. Then improvisely, i acted as an usher in a five-star restaurant who greet the customer whom already book a VIP table in advance and lead them to their "table" by saying such things like, "Good morning sir! We're already expecting you! We already prepared a special place as you ordered before. Please follow me." I did this to some groups and especially those who came in a couple. Surprisingly, most of them "respond" my act and start to pretend that they're really in a five-star restaurant. Some of them even made an order, or ask to light the candles on their table. Then one of the team saw my act and joined me so our restaurant becomes more elite than before! Ahahaha it's so much fun!

Well of course i can't serve everyone who come because the later it gets, more and more people are coming. So i just serve some people or group in random. In the middle of this customers' invasion, i saw one familiar face belong to one tall guy. With a confidence, i call his name. Luckily he responded so i don't have to be embarrassed. Then i introduced myself in case he forgot who i am and we had a quick conversation.

After the hall is quite full, our coordinator called us to have a short break because we have to prepare our voice to have the repetitive-singing of our song. This time, i feel like we have to make some gesture to made us more visible and eye-catching while we sing our song. So i made this hand gesture to our left and right, and quickly the rest of the team use the gesture until we stopped our singing. Just like the other day, there's many people who stunned and start to take pictures or video of our "performance". Yeah at least we made their day! Good job, guys!

When the beautiful midday prayer ended, i teamed up with a Dutch friend whom i've met yesterday in the L'Arche' workshop to go to today's workshop. Just like the other day, there's a lot of interesting workshop that i want to attend. But later on i decided to come to this workshop; about the life of the sisters of Missionaries of Charity. Wow, i didn't expect before that they have community here in Netherlands. I'm always fond them a lot and that's why i gave some couple of days to volunteering in their community while i was staying in Manila. So to meet and listen their sharing about their life here in the Netherlands will be another experiences for me.

As always, on of the interesting part of going to a workshop is to get lost and find a way in a strange city. Luckily this time i'm with my new friend so i have someone to talk to. Apparently, it's not that difficult to find this parish which hosts the workshop because there's many people who going to the same direction. Surprisingly, there's a lot of people who interested in this workshop; i can see how all the benches inside the church are occupied. Later on, the sharing was divided into several groups so the sisters don't have to share in a large group. I'm glad that i decided to come on this workshop because on my group, the mother superior of the community in Rotterdam herself who share about her life in the community. Wow, what an honour!

The sharing and the workshop itself ends with an interesting Q&A session. When we walked out the church, some guy approached me and said

He: Excuse me, are you from Indonesia?
Me: (surprised, feels like i'm the only Asian here ;p) Uhm, yes.
He: Oh so i was right! Do you remember, we've met before.
Me: Hm?
He: Yes we've met before back in your country, in Indonesia.
Me: Really??
He: Yes, we've met in an Indonesian restaurant. Do you remember?
Me: ?????
He: Along with your friends, which is one of them is my friend whom will get married at that time.
Me: ..... OH!
He: Do you remember?
Me: OH! OH! She's INGE! Yes she's already married now!
He: Yes yes Inge!
Me: OH! OH! OH MY GOD! Now i remember! I REMEMBER YOU!
He: *smiled*
Me: OH! OH! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD!!! *jumping around* OH MY GOODNESS! YES! Even we seated in one table! Even you sat next to me!! OH MY GOD!! NOW I REMEMBER!!! WOW! WOOOOWHHH! How come did you ended up here? AH BECAUSE YOU'RE FROM THIS COUNTRY!!! NOW I REMEMBER! OH MY GOD!!! But i forgot your name, i'm Timo by the way...
He: Ah Timo, yes! I'm Michael! I'm so glad to see you here! 
Me: Me too! It was around one year ago isn't??
He: Yes it's true! It's amazing isn't?? I didn't expect to see you here and now. And also there's a lot of workshops today and thirty thousands young people, i choose this workshop and i met you! It's like destiny!

For me, it's really really surprising! Maybe i feel like the Polish on yesterday when i surprised her. It's really amazing how life works! I mean, our first meeting one year ago back in Indonesia is only a very short meeting, maybe less than an hour. But somehow he recognized me in a way, well maybe i'm the only Indonesian in that workshop or i don't know. But still, this accidental reunion is the most amazing experience i have during the meeting! Then we spent our journey back to Ahoy by memorize what happens about one year ago on our first meeting and catching up each other stories.

Apparently, my reunion of the day didn't stop there. When we were taking our supper, i see a group of young people in one spot which each of their faces is really familiar to me. Then i leave my meal, approached them, and made a silent-screaming complete with the gesture. Then they just turned crazy! Start to hug me really really tight until they lift me up since they taller than me. Yeaaaaaay!

After a very nice conversation with them, we finished our supper and headed to the prayer hall. Because this evening prayer will be the last in the meeting so i want to sit as close as possible to Br. Alois because i'm sure tonight he will announce where the next meeting will take place.

In the end of the prayer, as usual he gave the meditation about forgiveness which we will discuss about it on tomorrow's sharing group. Later on he announced where the next European Meeting will take place which is not so surprising anymore since many many people already know about it. Then as i didn't expected before, he also announced the next meeting in another continent that will be held on November 2012. Now this one is surprising because not so many people knew about this before.

After the prayer, i decided to meet another Indonesian friend whom i knew but never met before. It's quite interesting because our only contact before this meeting is only commenting our friend photo. Then i knew that he came for the meeting just a night before when our friend tweeted and mentioned our name. Then i met him. Not only him but also with my other old-friends!

Then i went to the pub with them and had a very nice conversation with one of my friend until late in the evening. What a nice and a different way to end my day!