As Sung by Cat Stevens

lyrics by Eleanor Farjeon

Morning has broken, like the first morning

Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird

Praise for the singing, praise for the morning

Praise for the springing fresh from the word

Sweet the rain’s new fall, sunlit from heaven

Like the first dewfall, on the first grass

Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden

Sprung in completeness where his feet pass

Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning

Born of the one light, Eden saw play

Praise with elation, praise every morning

God’s recreation of the new day

When I sing these lyrics I express my gratitude that GOD’s LOVE has created us and all in the universe.

In Memoriam

Arie Rudolf Cornelis Smit (A.R.C. Smit)

Today May the 13^th of the year 2009, Papa should be celebrating his 85^th earthly birthday would he be still with us, his loving wife and children. Exactly 20 years ago GOD Almighty decided to call him HOME in the Great Beyond. Most of his children except one, Bram, now reside far away from where he laid in his final resting place. One of our brothers, Frank, has joined him only recently. May both Papa and Frank enjoy each other’s company in the Heaven GOD provides for good people. They were GOOD and they will always be GOOD in my heart and mind.

In lieu of visiting him in Depok, West Java, I am writing this tribute to the Man I will always have a debt of gratitude. The first thing that came to my mind is his disciplinarian attitude. And GOD knows as a naughty boy I did need such a father. He was hard on me particularly and taught me to always fight for whatever I consider is my right. Be a Man, he said several times to me. He made me a person with outer strength as my mother made me a person with inner strength. Proud as he was, Papa never showed the tenderness of his heart openly to me but when I lost my first son, he cried in the solitary confines of his office, witnessed by only a few loyal employees. Hard on the outside, tender on the inside. In a way, I mirror him in this aspect.

He was a very tolerant person and respected people of all faiths. His concern for the unfortunate is something he bequeathed to me. His hard work to uplift the welfare of his family bore fruit until he became a philanthropist himself. He was a friend to everybody, an enemy to no one. He was a man with so much love for his fellowmen although what was seen was a hard and tough exterior. He was also an artist. I remembered him working in his studio, if it can be called that, designing and cutting up some plywood that he donated to the Santa Maria Catholic Church in Blok S, Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta, where we were staying then.

He was also into sports. I learned to play soccer and badminton from him. At one time, The Indonesian Community Soccer Team in the Philippines had 6 Smit players. Papa, Bram, Frank, Hans Peter, Eduard and myself. How proud I was. Indeed, Papa instilled pride in all of his boys. For being a Smit and for being an Indonesian. His love for the country where he was born taught me that nationalism – internationalism – humanity is an undivided package. But first love your country. Such was he that were I to be given the chance to be born again I would choose the sama Papa (Oom Arie to others) and the same Mama (Tante Fiete to others).

I love you Papa. Mama, Bram, Marietta, Hans Peter, Eduard love you too. Prepare a place for us your family so that we can all be in bliss with our CREATOR.

Miracles I guess
Still happen now and then
Step into my heart
Leave your cares behind
Welcome to my world
Built with you in mind
Knock and the door will open
Seek and you will find
Ask and you’ll be given
The key to this world of mine
I’ll be waiting here

With my arms unfurled
Waiting just for you
Welcome to my world

Knock and the door will open
Seek and you will find
Ask and you’ll be given
The key to this world of mine

I’ll be waiting here
With my arms unfurled
Waiting just for you

Welcome to my world
Waiting just for you
Welcome to my world

The above song was made popular by the late Jim Reeves. And also sang byy Elvis Presley. The lyrics touch the heart deeply and has uplifted me in times of emotional lows. Although the lyrics may refer literally to the love for a particular sweetheart, they can also be interpreted to mean GOD’s love for the human race. HE is inviting us to come to HIM and leave our worly cares. But then why do humans not understand this fundamental principle of life? That there is a GOD that is the source and end of all things? That without HIM we will always have problems without a way out and an eternal solution?

Positive and negative emotions are part of the human condition, an inseparable part of humanity. But humans are always trapped in a negative cesspool, cause of all diseases.

We can be overcome by negative emotions for many reasons. Negative emotions are viruses that attack the heart. Many experienced what I call AIDS of the heart. With similar effects as the physical AIDS. Among them are :

1. Anger

2. Envy

3. Enmity

3. Jealousy

4. Fear

4. Pride

5. Sadness

6. Resentment

7. Hatred

8. Worry

9. Shame

10. Doubt

There are a variety of negative emotional triggers. Negative emotions appear because of the differences in human perception. Something that is considered bad for someone can be perceived as good or so-so by others. For example, the perception or you could say the luckily philosophy of the Javanese. If a Javanese experienced something bad, their fellow Javanese would look at it from an optimistic point of view. For example, a friend has an accident and his left leg has to be amputated. Their reaction would be : Luckily not both his legs. Or, if somebody gets fired by the boss who is considered cruel. The reaction would be : Luckily he is not working with that dreadful man anymore.

Conclusion : Man himself/herself causes the emergence of negative emotions. Man himself/herself creates negative emotions from inside himself/herself. The cause is not external but internal. Emotion, bad or good, is the consequence of an attitude formed by education within a particular culture. The proof is that not every person perceives a particular happening the same way.

What kind of condition or situation may trigger the emergence of negative emotions? Among them are :

1. Ill treatment from those we have treated well;

2. The break-up of a love relationship by a lover;

3. The death of those close to you like father/mother, husband/wife, child, relative;

4. Being passed for promotion but somebody we consider not worth promoting getting the promotion;

5. Failure in business causing the company to suffer big loss;

6. Divorce, whatever the reason;

7. Laid off from work;

8. Being slandered

9. Not getting the inheritance while others receive it;

10. A promise not kept;

11. and many more situations that can be construed in such a way causing bad emotions to emerge.

If AIDS (Virus HIV) attacks the immune system of the body and consequently the body can not defend itself against even a small virus or bactery, then this kind of AIDS attacks the immune system of the spirit, of the soul. If AIDS kills the body slowly, then this AIDS kills the spirit and soul slowly too, making the victim a friend and partner of the devil, of evil.

The slow psychological and spiritual death of a person is taking the form of the stress a person experiences. The continuous pressure that applies will damage not only the psyche of the person but also his physical body causing irreparable damage to vital organs such as the heart, lungs, liver, kidney, etc.

THEORITICALLY THERE IS ONLY ONE PRESCRITION THAT CAN MAKE HUMAN LIFE CALM, TRANQUIL, PEACEFUL, AND HAPPY. IT IS LOVE.

Love Warrior will suggest ways, not theories, which we humans can develop into skills, so that we can learn to live on this earth in a more positive way. Love Warrior will invite readers to love oneself, to love others, to love the environment, to love the whole universe, hopefully making each one of us have a happy life.

All my love to you all.

She was born on the 27^th of January 1924 and will be entering her 85^th year in the service of GOD, her family and mankind in general. Officially she is Sophia Jeanette van Sprew Smit. Some people close to her call her endearingly with the name Fiete, some call her tante (aunt) Fiete, some others call her grandma. But 5 boys and 1 girl who owed her their lives on this earth simply call her MOM. I am one of those privileged few to call her MOM. Allow me to share with you readers snippets of what I remember from my childhood and adult experiences.

I am the first born, and being the first among many, I was a spoiled brat. I was not a good kid and many a times have made her cry. I remember one such incident. When I was still living with my parents in Manila, Philippines, as a teenager I ran away from home. She reprimanded me for not taking care of my younger brothers. It was the night the Smit brothers went to the Rizal Sports Arena to watch the Indonesian badminton heroes playing exhibition games. On the way home, being not so little boys anymore my brothers decided to go home in the company of their friends. Thus, I went home with my friend taking another route. MOM was so worried when she saw me back home with my friend but not with my ‘little’ brothers. So she scolded me being selfish and not caring for my brothers. A natural caring for her sons. Nonetheless, I was so devastated and planned the whole night to disappear in the morning. And true enough MOM and Dad woke up to find me no longer around. I went to my adopted “Filipino family” and decided to never go home again. Apparently MOM went around my things and saw an address book. She intuitively guessed at what address I must have been. I was told that MOM cried the whole day missing me. The night of the day I disappeared from home my Filipino “parents” told me (I was in the bedroom) that MOM was outside and asked me to go home. I was adamant and refused to see her much less to go home. It took quite a while for my adopted parents to convince me that there wouldn’t be any repercussions if I go home. I knew deep in my heart that I have hurt her a lot. That I was impulsive. By the way, I am still impulsive. What can I say – that is the way I am. To make the story short, I went home. Somehow MOM persuaded Dad not to punish me because Dad was really a disciplinarian and did not tolerate such behavior from his sons.

There are many pillars in my life’s history that have shaped me the way I am now. Another of those that I will never forget happened not too long ago. I was remarried and had my first baby boy. We were oceans apart. I was in Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, Indonesia and she was in the Philippines. I had not been in contact with MOM for many years. It was my fear that if I had contacted MOM and she found out that I have switched to another faith that she would be shocked and that knowledge would gave her a heart attack. I told my story to a journalist friend and he said that a mother is still a mother even if she is of another faith. That our religion taught us to love and respect our mothers 3 times above our fathers. I then decided to make the move. I contacted my youngest brother Eduard, who was in the States, by email and enquired on how I should proceed. He told me that MOM would not be angry if she found out about my new faith. So I asked him to give MOM my address and cell phone number. I was still hesitant to contact MOM directly.

The year was 2002. While sitting on the terrace of a hotel restaurant chatting with one of my department heads (I was General Manager of that hotel) I got the surprise of my life. My cell phone rang and MOM was at the other end. MOM asked me how I was and how were my brothers in Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital. The conversation was pleasant and to tell you frankly I was glad to hear MOM’s voice. I did miss her and still does. Nothing was mentioned about my new faith. So I made up my mind to tell her through email. Taking the long route I relayed my letter through Eduard. The response I got was through a handwritten mail. MOM believes that handwritten mail is more personal than emails. I was not prepared for its content, though. This is what MOM wrote.

“I have not been a good mother to you. You are my firstborn and I only have your happiness in mind. If you are happy in your new faith then I will be happy” That was a lightning bolt at daylight. It brought me down. I cried so profusely in my office and longed for her arms around me consoling me as she had always done when I was emotionally down. I inherited the toughness and disciplinarian attitude of Daddy when I manage but deep inside I am very vulnerable. A cry baby, you may say. I wrote her back unable to stem my tears. I asked her forgiveness. I needed spiritual cleansing and GOD has sent me the tool to do just that through MOM. Since that time I am always grateful that I have such a LOVING MOM. She has been such an influence in my life that I won’t trade for anything. She inspired me to become The Love Warrior that I am now.

Mom, this is only a small part of so many heart-shaking experiences that I have undergone while still living with you. There aren’t many words that can express how deeply I am beholden to you. You have given birth to me and 58 years after, I am because you are, my MOM. It is no coincidence that you are today 85, the reverse of my 58. “Happy Birthday” seems to be so insignificant after everything you have done for me. But I do pray that GOD Almighty, The All Loving and All Merciful, grant you health, physical-emotional-spiritual, so that more people will be the recipients of your loving kindness. You have raised me well MOM and many more can receive from you as I have. I love you MOM and Many More Happy Birthdays to come.

Your always loving and grateful son,

Rolf

Today on the order of the CREATOR my younger brother FRANK ended his 55 years on earth to begin a journey that is a lot lot more pleasant, beautiful and full of love with similar souls partaking of the glorious nectar of love that only THE ALMIGHTY can provide. Although my heart is covered with the clouds of grief and my eyes pouring out endless tears I envy him because he has completed a very important phase in his life. I still have to take tests and pass them before the MASTER tells me that I graduate the School of life. I know deep in the recesses of my heart that he has graduated and is now taking his place among the graduates.

I only remember FRANK as the one who provided me a place to sleep (even if it is only the floors of his office) during the darkest hours of my life. I remember him as the guy who gave me Rp. 5000,- every time I asked him to fill my stomach aching for food. When all my academic titles, knowledge, charms failed to lift me up from disasters I myself created, GOD sees fit to send my dearest brother to my rescue not only in terms of physical needs but more so he showed me his love by his very kind actions. He could not see a member of the family in trouble and was always ready to help even when he himself is suffering. Frank will always be part of my life, my heart, my soul because he showed first and foremost LOVE for his older brother.

SELAMAT JALAN FRANK, Go with my love and the love of your mother, sister and brothers and nieces and nephews. You will now accompany Papa in bliss. Prepare a place for us, for me, cause sooner or later we will join you. May GOD THE ALL MERCIFUL accept you in the bosom of HIS LOVE.

AND LIFE GOES ON …

(an excerpt from a letter)

by Eduard Smit

Once upon a time, there was a young man, named Eduard Smit, an individual bubbling over with the usual effervescence and vitality of youth. An introvert by nature, Eduard really never cared much for socializing that most youth of his age were into with so much fervor. No time for girls and love. But he did have one love: football.

In sixth grade, he gathered up courage to try out for the team. Years went by, and it was during those years that he learned a most important lesson. He learned to lose – gracefully. And a vital part of his character began to grow: determination. Eduard was determined to make himself the best football player his school ever had, and to help bring his team to the top.

The last months of high school were nothing less than hectic for this young man of seventeen. Aside from playing for two soccer teams, he was a member of the track team plus taking care of his studies.

Then on that fateful day of February 9, 1980 Eduard found himself busy trying to stay alive …

I will never forget those five months I spent at the Chinese General Hospital. It was there that I died – at least something in me ceased to exist. But something else, something more wonderful, was born. That Saturday morning in February was the most important day in my life because it marked a point where one life was taken over by another; rebirth of some sort. And talk about birth pangs!

The old Eduard was a non-stop motion machine. He had strength, endurance, and skill. What else could a football player ask for! Football was his life and everything revolved around that sport. He had everything planned. Life was going to be pleasant for him – but the real Eduard Smit, the real me was not pleased.

Upon reflection, I can say that it was not life, it was an existence. It was a selfish existence. I was going to live for myself. But all of a sudden, I was thrust into a detour and in the process, lost all my physical abilities. I couldn’t even breathe for myself. At one time, I was on the threshold of death, and as if in a dream, I remarked, “So this is what death is like.” But that dream heralded the birth of the real Eduard Smit. Do you ever wonder why you are in this world in the first place? I don’t wonder now as I did before … I know now that nobody is really himself until the awareness of God is present in his life.

What’s so special about the disabled? For one thing, they are fighting a battle greater than any battle two nations of able-bodied soldiers can muster. It’s a battle where reward is a victory, where nothing is lost and everything gained. A battle against themselves. Their conquering of their disability is a victory of the soul, and the peace and satisfaction that comes with it is undying, eternal.Try as hard as you can, do everything possible, but don’t complain – and do the best you can with what you have.

My 19^th birthday is fast approaching and I am expecting more birthdays in my wheelchair or braces or crutches. Life goes on, and I am going to do my best to help others as I would help myself.I do not envy the able-bodied; that is their life. As for me, I belong to a very special class of people. This is my life and I’m proud to be living it my way.

Eduard is my youngest brother in a family of six kids. He is now 46 years old and living in the United States of America with his beloved wife Daphne. When they decided to get married at the Union Church of Manila, Philippines, I was given a rare glimpse into what is the real meaning of LOVE. I was present at the wedding, as the eldest, representing our dearest father who has joined the Almighty. While accompanying Daphne to the hall where the reception was held I said : “Thank you Daphne for loving my brother.” As if knowing what was unsaid she snapped at me and said : “Don’t you ever think for a second that I marry Eduard because I pity him. I marry him because I love him, because he is a living and loving personality full of life and humor. I marry him because of what he is and not because of his handicap.” I was stunned and tears welled up in my eyes, just as they do now when writing this. I realized then that this is TRUE LOVE. I envy Daphne’s strength of character and pray that I will be able to go through life with such strength in the face of adversities. I saw with my own eyes the heroic struggle Eduard went through fighting for life when not only his physical abilities disappeared but also compounded by the failure of, among others, his internal organs such as his lungs. Confined to bed for a year in the emergency room Eduard FOUGHT and WON.

I am so blessed that GOD has given me 5 brothers and a sister who have shown and are still showing so much love, courage and determination. They are able to overcome all the pain and suffering in their lives telling us in their own unique ways that we humans are not just physical material but are basically spirits that can do anything to rise above the trials and tribulations of this world. My sister Marietta is fighting her Lupus but the love of her mother and brothers combined with the love that her dearest husband Roland Sager and her two boys have kept her from being despondent and have succeeded in life (will tell you about her in another write-up).

All our love and strength comes from our dearest dearest mother (she will be 85 on the 27^th of January) and our beloved departed father. GOD, the Source of All Love, has shown fit to give us loving parents that we will never change for any other. Thank you Mama. Thank You Papa. I love you both so much. Love you Eduard. Love you Daphne. Love you Bram. Love you Frankie. Love you Marietta. Love you Hans. My Love to all members of the extended Smit family wherever you are. I am proud to have you all as part of my life.

Infatuation is marked by a feeling of insecurity. You are excited and eager, but genuinely unhappy. There are nagging doubts, unanswered questions, little bits and pieces about your beloved that you would just as soon not examine too closely. They might spoil the dream.

Love is quiet understanding and the mature acceptance of imperfection. It is real. It gives stength and grows beyond you to bolster your beloved. You are warmed by his presence, even when he is away. Miles do not separate you. You want him nearer. But near or far, you know he is yours and you can wait. Infatuation says, ” we must get married right way. I can’t risk loosing him.” Love says, ” Be patient. Don’t panic. He is yours. Plan your future with confidence.”

Infatuation has an element of sexual excitement. If you are honest, you will admit it is difficult to be in one another’s company unless you are sure it will end in intimacy. Love is the maturation of friendship. You must be friends before you can be lovers.

Infatuation lacks confidence. When he’s away, you wonder if he’s cheating. Sometimes you even check.

Love means trust. You can calm, secure and unthreatened. He feels that trust, and it makes him even more trustworthy.

Infatuation might lead you to do things you’ll regret later, but love never will.

Love is an upper. It makes you look up. It makes you think up. It makes you a better person than you were before.

by Ney ( Olla) Agustin

In our daily life we can divide love into several categories. We can differentiate the love we have for our parents, our bothers and sister, our best friends, our lover and off course our love to the Creator. When a man and a woman make up their minds to go through this life together, we know that they are in love. When a brother brings home a sweet doll for his younger sister, we call that love and even when a mother is getting angry at her child, she does it because she loves him. Love is one of the mysteries in our life. In love we not only find passion, truth and belief, but hate and hurt as well.

Although love is indescribable it is something that we can touch with our feeling and our hearts. Sometimes we say that we love someone but actually what we feel is only admiration, and we just cannot differ love from admiration. It is said that when we feel we want to get close to someone all the time and we are willing to do everything for that person without expecting anything in return, we love that person. However…. I personally believe that love is more than that. Even if the above definition is close enough to the love we have for our lover, it is greater than any or its definition in this world.

Ney (Olla) Agustin

THEN said Almitra, Speak to us of Love. And he raised his head and looked upon the people, and there fell a stillness upon them. And with a great voice he said:

When love beckons to you, follow him, Though his ways are hard and steep.

And when his wings enfold you yield to him, Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.

And when he speaks to you believe in him, Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden.

FOR even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you.

Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.

Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun, So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.

LIKE sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself. He threshes you to make you naked. He sifts you to free you from your husks. He grinds you to whiteness. He kneads you until you are pliant; And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God’s sacred feast.

ALL these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life’s heart.

BUT if in your fear you would seek only love’s peace and love’s pleasure, Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love’s threshing-floor, Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.

LOVE gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.

Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;

For love is sufficient unto love.

WHEN you love you should not say, “God is in my heart,” but rather, “I am in the heart of God.”

And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.

LOVE has no other desire but to fulfill itself.

But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:

To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.

To know the pain of too much tenderness.

To be wounded by your own understanding of love; And to bleed willingly and joyfully.

To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;

To rest at the noon hour and meditate love’s ecstasy;

To return home at eventide with gratitude;

And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.