The Soulmate Must Meet

Episode 15 - Fire on a Candle

Masriyah's mother went into the class. All the santri were silent, they were indeed disinclined towards Masriyah's mother. He filled out motivation classes, each class in this boarding school had an additional lesson of motivation classes filled by Masriyah's own mother. Me, Khodijah and Aisyah had just taken this motivational class for the first time.

“Man never be a fire on a candle,” he said.

Everyone fell silent, watching Masriyah's mother who was also speechless, her eyes watching us, shady eyes. Her face was calm, and her every move was gentle, this woman who made me want to know everything. Very rarely, a woman can be a leader in a pesantren, not sometimes women are always not involved in the business of leading.

“What does that apply to women as well as Mothers?” ask Khodijah.

“Definitely, Khodijah. Because women are human.”

“Fire on candle? You understand?” whiskey Aisyah.

I shook my head. Of course every santri in this class also thinks the same, but Khodijah seems to already know the meaning of it.

“Someone knows the meaning?” ask Masriyah's mother.

We looked at each other, not understanding the direction of Masriyah's mother's conversation. Actually, he was motivating, or wanted to make the title of the poem.

“I don't think we're like a fire that burns a candle to the ground. It means not to be greedy,” said Maesaroh.

“It could also,” mother Masriyah smiled.

“Atau can mean humans do not like to oppress small people,” said Maslaha.

“It was also a good understanding.”

I just looked at the face of Masriyah's mother who was satisfied with the answers from the santri. But, I was waiting for the real answer, the answer from Masriyah's mother's thought. I want to know what's in his mind, I don't want to guess, I don't want to express an understanding that I mean myself, I'm still learning not to get stuck with my own mind.

“Anggun?” ask Masriyah's mother.

His voice surprised me.

“Iya, what's up Bu?” I asked back.

All eyes looked at me, including Masriyah's mother. What does he want from me?

“Do you have an answer?”

I just shook my head, it was this dead end of my brain to give an answer, I was still searching for myself after all the pain had come crashing down on my life. I was just born again, I don't understand anything.

“Others?”

“Easy spirit quenched,” Khodijah said.

“Tap.”

Everybody look at each other. While I was trying to parse the meaning, indeed the fire burning on the candle was very easy to extinguish, blown by the wind or when the candle was exhausted. And that fire can be likened to a burning spirit in man, if the spirit is only limited to the fire above the candle, it will be easily extinguished.

“As women, we are often stuck with disappointment and low self-esteem, feeling harassed. In fact, women are actually extraordinary creatures that were created to accompany men, giving spirit in life to men. Then, if women are easily discouraged, they can give birth to pessimistic boys,” explained Ms. Masriyah.

I'm stunned. Is that as great as a woman? In my experience, I see female characters, but not as smart as Masriyah's mother. I'm getting curious, is the experience of life ever slipping Masriyah in pain and loneliness? Women will be weak if they enter that world.

“God has created a million paths to happiness, if we are weak, then we will not be able to walk those streets.”

All quiet. I'm sure all the students in this class are hypnotized by the words of Ms. Masriyah, especially me. I was really amazed by Masriyah's way of thinking. Then, my consciousness began to grow, that nothing was impossible in this life. And that impossibility is one of the ways that can achieve what is desired.

Before, I had never known the city of Cirebon, did not know the boarding school of the Guava cottage, did not know the mother of Masriyah, Khodijah and Aisyah, did not know at all. However, teacher Umay gave way to me. This is the way of God, so that I can learn to master the circumstances that previously had made my heart fall.

“And the spirit that never goes out, embodied patience in us. Patience can swallow all the bitterness and pain although very painful, also drain the tears.”

Anyone who hears the sentence will surely realize his weakness in overcoming life problems. Yes, the weakness is impatience that always wants everything to be finished quickly, whereas, everything must have a process, not necessarily immediately succeed, not that easy.

If everything is easy, then there is no need for God to make heaven and hell, precisely it is created is the form that we as humans must have patience in living life, whatever the problem.

“Do you guys understand?”

For a moment everyone was silent.

“Then how to maintain that patience, Bu?” ask Khodijah.

“Enough by faith. If we are always honing our faith, submitting ourselves to God, then that patience will arise by itself, without having to ask. He will move all our senses. Allah is Most Powerful.”

“But, wouldn't it be natural if one wanted to easily achieve his dream?” ask Aisyah.

“Innatural, but is taking guava enough to look?”

“Mmm... Yes also..”.

“Fire on the candle can also be dangerous, if we do not take care of him, he can burn the house. Likewise with a spirit that is easily extinguished, he can lead us into a slump, and if we have entered into the abyss, then we will be difficult to climb it, he said, we will be stuck in a long time, or it can be forever.”

“Then, what should we be?” my many.

“Being yourself.”

What an amazing answer. Indeed, we should not have to aspire to be someone else, just be yourself, because from there we can know who we are, measure the strength that is in us, because we can know who we are, it can make us more meaningful in life. Masriyah's mother taught me a meaningful lesson today. I must really study in this boarding school. Jadda wa jadda man!