It was never random.
I knocked the door. Knock, knock, then silently I came to the room. There she was, a middle age woman, with short hair. She smiled patiently and she asked me to sit down. Then I sat, nervously.
It was my interview day.
I didn't know what to expect, then she took the papers - my essay, form, and all the papers which contained everything she needed to know about me. She spoke in Bahasa, even though you can tell she's not Indonesian,
"Tell me, how's your journey until now you're here?"
Journey. Ah, that word.
At first, my words stumbled as I tried to speak. I took the deep breath, I remember I couldn't stop talking 'til the next 20 minutes, trying my best to sum up my life in one simple story.
"It started with a dream", I said. Though I don't remember it vividly and year after year, the memories started to blur. I think I was four or five when I actually had that dream, when I was dreaming that I woke up in my mommy's house when she was a child, and when I walked out the door, I saw a huge grass field and I saw Someone came to me, a man. I don't remember if it was a voice or if it was just a realization that, .... that Man...... is, A Savior. That was my first encounter to ever know I needed a Savior. My mom was surprised because as long she could remember, she never taught me about it.
When I was five, my big sister joined an event called Youthcamp, I never knew until one day I found the book about the event, basically just the information, the rundown, the daily devotion, and all. It didn't interest me enough unless except a simple comic (though now I forget the story anyway) - but all I concerned about was ...... I knew that how my campus life would be like one day.
I was eight when I simply decided which university and which major I would love to attend. Such a huge decision for a kid. I didn't even have strong excuses back then, maybe I just followed some older people's opinions. I don't remember. Maybe I chose graphic design as simple as I didn't want to be an artist. Maybe I chose UPH simply because my sister attended there.
And of course, as life happened and people did grow up. Slowly I was no longer the church-girl. I was being a hypocrite. I learned the curse words. I left the sunday school when I was ten and joined the adult sunday service. I refused to join the youth ministry, simply because I thought it was so exclusive. And as people change, I've learned that dreams do change, sometimes. I remember when I refused when mom asked me to study abroad. But few years after that, when I had a heartbreak, I remember that study overseas was the only I have ever wanted. Even though I didn't have strong enough reasons. I was so stubborn about that goal. I attended so many education expos (the reason why I still have so many emails from agencies now. Meh) and I had my little research. Mum even tried to open a new bank account for her and Mama to save the money for me to study abroad.
But.
God.
Has.
Another.
Plan.
From a funny coincidence I got the application form to UPH. One simple thing led to another, from Mum took me and all the conversations I had with my sister, then to the night I found out I got the scholarship. Stubborn me, I tried to apply to another uni, and I got accepted there. I was happy at first. I thought I could use UPH as back-up plan as I planned to try the scholarship for another uni in different countries. But somehow, I've never managed to do it. And mum told me to accept UPH instead and she said that even if I had the scholarship to study abroad, my parents couldn't afford the living cost. I.... was... so .... disappointed. And mad. I spent my holiday after the national exam feeling so redundant and I constantly put the blame to myself for not being brave enough to try the scholarship or even be determined enough.
I felt that emptiness for months until brand new start seemed so good to me. I needed a new page, for whatever's sake! I tried to be excited enough with all the changes that happened to my life, with the new house, new room, new environment, new school, new friends and all. "Hey, maybe this is the time when my life will truly begin!". I planned to decorate my room, to paint my new room and buy all the cute stuffs for my room. I planned to be Somebody, maybe it's time to do all those Y.O.L.O things I've always wanted to do.
But it was on Friday, one day before the closing ceremony of the festival, when I heard about Students Fellowship. It was when a video was being played, a vintage theme video, and then a random verse came out : "You did not choose me, but I chose you".
Ouch.
Ouch, ouch. Ouch. I gasped. My mind went back and forth to my holiday how I felt redundant, empty, regret after my decision to choose UPH. "God, is that You speaking? Is it true that You already chose me? Is it true that it was never a coincidence for me to be here?". That day, I went to the booth (to be honest my mentor didn't allow me to go far from him but I sneaked out for a little while) and I registered myself for the youthcamp. The same event my sister attended 13 years before me. That, same, event.
It's funny to ever look back and see how God works in your life. I remember that 1,5 months later until I came to the registration booth again to check my name (and funny to see my name now on the registration book now). I don't understand why I still attended it anyway even when I almost didn't know anyone. I didn't even have a room-mate (and now they're close friends of mine). It's funny to think how I tried to run away from God because I didn't want my life to be 'that' holy and the very next year I'm the head. It's funny how last year, my head didn't even allow to be youthcamp committee, and now here I am, becoming the steering committee. Funny enough?
I didn't remember how my interview ended. But I never ever forget that one question. To ever look back and realize that it was never random. It was never random when I found the event book fifteen years ago. It was never random to plan and now here I am, with the same major (that currently I am struggling with) and with the same university I chose when I was eight. It was never random that Ethan was born and I couldn't study overseas. It was never random to even had a heartbreak and tried to go my own way to realize that God has better plan than I could ever have imagined of. It was never random when my mentor said that I could never run from God's calling. It was never random when my senior made joke how I would 'carry the cross' at this campus. It was never random how God put people in my life, and all the experiences that I went through to make me the person who I am today.
I know that some people didn't expect me to be a leader. I'm pretty sure if they could recommend anyone I don't think my name would pop up into their heads. Because I know myself enough to know how selfish, careless, and unqualified I really am. I always ran from God, being Jonah when it came to His calling but I've made a commitment post-youthcamp last year to never run. I always gave up yet I've made a promise to my kids that I will never give up on them. I know how I don't deserve this. And even if I was being arrogant enough, I never thought that I could actually be trusted with this position. Letting God to shape me has been a life-changing experience. These past few months I've gone further than I could ever think of. I've stumbled. I've failed and I've failed big time and I've let down those people around me. I've made wrong decisions. Sometimes I even sacrifice those around me even though I know it's completely wrong. I've learned even though sometimes the learning process is quite painful. I know it's not because God intended it to be that way..... but He has been faithful, despite how unfaithful I could be. Yes, I'm not proud of this, but I've messed up quite a lot.
But...... to ever get down on my knees and pray. To be trusted to lead His people. To actually get the privilege to serve Him, even when I know I don't deserve this. To raise my hand without caring how the world sees me and praise Him anyway no matter how I feel. To hold the vision and even share the vision. To have a family and a home to go back to ........... To actually experience something called campus ministry like this.......
I am grateful.
If I ever look back and remember all those times I felt my life was useless, I've learned that God actually has a purpose in my life. If I ever look back and remember how many times I ever felt like I didn't have friends, now everytime I laugh out loud I'm grateful that I have a family. If I ever read again my blog post and journal about how indecisive I was to pick the university, now it all makes sense.
And that's something to hold on to. To know that God's in charge. No matter how I feel. No matter how I try to run. It's not that easy, actually. Sometimes it's hard to see from where I'm standing. Sometimes it's really hard that I can't do anything but cry. Sometimes I even wonder why I did this and why did I even bother from the very start. Sometimes I even wonder if anything I do will actually give impact. Well, I can laugh now to see why I was so worried and that's something to remember now if I can't figure out something. To understand that this whole journey is never actually about me, and never because of me, is something to remember when I start to do anything by my own strength. To remember that it takes a long process to grow whenever I start to get frustrated if I don't see any results. To realize that how small I put God in my boxes and how big He really is, how sometimes I just think something only for one year my period, when God is a God of eternal and He has better things that last a lifetime. To ever look back and realize what God has done....... Not me, but Him.
Now... for you, for whoever who's reading this, do you ever believe that God has a plan for you? That it was never random for you to ever read this. Do you realize that it's all by His grace?
I challenge you to look back and realize.....
..... it was never random :)
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