A Life’s Note: Paid Even

by Bayu Adi Persada

Several weeks ago, I experienced things I couldn’t expect to happen in the first place. I just felt blessed that God always sees me wherever I am. By experiencing these, my faith has been thickened about seeding good deeds.

All started when I decided to take an exit from the highway to reach the nearest mosque. I heard adzan on the radio and I thought with this horrible traffic I was going through, there was no way I could be home in time before Isya. Instead of choosing jama’ takhir which is totally acceptable noting the distance between my home and office is more than 40 km, I opted to pray on time.

After finishing my Magrib pray, I left the hall immediately. I hoped the traffic had been tamed. I was putting my shoes on when suddenly a man grumbled on me. I didn’t know who he was. He just kept talking about the incident he was in. He got my attention when I heard, “Someone pick-pocketed me in Kopaja. He took my wallet.”

I didnt know where that conversation might lead. I offered him my condolence instead. “I feel you, Sir.”

I stood up and started walking to the parking lot. When I was about to start my car, he came to me and said, “I dont have any money to go home.” He actually didn’t ask for help earlier. Maybe he was shy or I wasn’t that sensitive.

“Take this, Sir,” I gave him ten thousands check.

“Thank you very much. This is embarassing for me really.”

“It’s okay. Be careful, Sir,” I ended our talking.

In the car, I then realized the money I gave that man was the only money I would use to pay for highway ticket. Not the only money actually, I found two thousands below the pile of parking tickets. Nonetheless, two thousands wouldn’t be enough.

I started to consider looking for ATM. It meant more time to reach home.

I lookep up my wallet to seek slip money among pile of paper, bill, and card. I only found bills and bills. How come I had collected so much bill anyway, I wondered.

Not long, something relieving happened. Below a skilted paper, i found five thousands check. Man, I was saved.

I could pay the highway ticket and was safely home. I hoped that poor man was too.

—

On another evening, a friend drove me to the last bus stop. It’s the last stop for every bus before taking the highway. I was waiting patiently in a stall nearby when adzan Magrib was reverberated from surrounding mosques. Initially, I wanted to take the first bus coming to pick passengers in. After waiting several more minutes, I decided to fulfill my worship needs.

The nearest musholla, according to the woman who owns the stall, is located behind hers. I had to walk down through the tiny path. There, I found two men who were taking wudu’. It’s just a very small musholla but still proper for us to do shalah comfortably.

During my pray – I know it’s not a good example, mind me – I realized I didn’t have any money for the bus ticket. The last five thousands check I prepared for it was used to buy some silly bottled tea. It dragged me to the situation where I only had two options. First, take an ojek to go to the nearest ATM or asked some random kind man to lend you money. Well then, lend is not the fit word I must say. How about, “feel pity enough to give you coins”?

I chose the second option.

I made my prayers concise enough just to make sure I had time to ask for help from a man whom I’d prayed with. When he was tying up his shoes, I gathered my whole courage to ask him. When it’s all gathered, I took his attention.

“Sir, do you know the nearest ATM around here?” I started with some hinky pinky.

“I dont know,” he replied briefly. He seemed uncomfortable with the conversation.

“Actually Sir, I want to go home by taking a bus. Then I realize I have no money in my pocket. May I borrow some money from you?” I forced myself to talk to him again that way before he walked out from this awkward moment. I’d never been so sure to ask help from that man.

Surprisingly without questions asked, he gave me ten thousands check.

“Oh thank you so much. Would you give your account number so I can pay you back?” I asked politely.

“No, just use that please.”

I was stupefied.

“Thank you again.”

He then left.

—

Those are two different stories I was in. I believe somehow somewhere, we might have experienced similar happening.

Good deeds will go to heaven. If God doesn’t pay us back when we’re still alive, He saves them to make sure we get something in return. Keep in mind, God is the best life architect. He sees everything we do, listens everything we think and tell, rewards every good deeds we’ve done and makes sure we pay for the bad ones.

Have a rewarding life. Seed more good deeds.
Don’t worry, we’ll be paid even.

Yours,
Bayu