Like Water that Flows Constantly: Kepekaan Marissa Haque Ibuku Kala Membuat Tulisan

Reflections on the meaning of life: My Mother Marissa Haque

(Amidst the flood that hits Indonesia)

Bintaro, Jakarta, February 21, 2004

Water is the source of life. It is very flexible and can easily adapt itself to anything. If its course is blocked by a rock, then it will choose another one and continues flowing down towards its destination.

Water also behaves modesty, because it always flows to a lower place.If the temperature rises, it evaporates, goes up to the sky and afterwards comes down again on the earth.

Water cleans everything; it floods the rice fields in the dry season; it cleans dust and makes the soil fertile. According to a story, when the rain falls, thousands of angels come down with it. But if the rains come down in torrents and continuously, like what is happening in the last few days in Indonesia, then there might be something wrong in the relations between men and water.

Water will become men’s friend if we treat it in s friendly way, but if we don’t do it, it will destroy us.In life, water is an indicator of the quality of men in the eyes of God the Almighty.