Our Steps in God's Providence

Ilustration for Leni Marlina's Poem "Our Steps in God's Providence". Pic. Source: Starcom Indonesia's Painting Collection No.33 by AI

Our Steps in God's Providence

A Poem by Leni Marlina

In the hush of dawn's embrace, we invoke Your name, our God,
Like dew gently kissing leaves, soft yet unwavering,
Fate arrives unannounced,
At times a tempest of fury, splitting the heavens,
At times a whisper, like the breeze stirring hearts,
Never summoned, yet ever present.

We once stood at the precipice of wrath,
Clutching destiny, as if we could bend its will,
Yet, is not anger but dust suspended in the ether?
Transient, it dissipates, borne away by night's sigh,
Much like fleeting shadows of memories, dim and distant.

Then patience graced us, akin to rain in parched seasons,
Its bitterness caressing our lips, yet soothing the soul,
We discerned that within the bitter lies a deeper essence,
Like honey emerging from the wounds of the hive,
A precious lesson from the heavens, unforeseen and profound.

Acceptance softly knocked upon our hearts,
Teaching us to behold fate not merely with sight,
But through the lens of a heart that comprehends,
That blessings and trials are but twin faces of love,
A love that never errs, like sun and moon entwined,
Shining together through darkness and light.

And gratitude, oh gratitude, arrives like a rainbow after the storm,
Coloring the fissures etched upon our souls,
Imparting wisdom that behind each sorrow,
Lies Your gentle hand, wiping away tears,
Like morning dew reviving withered blossoms,
Breathing life into hopes that seemed extinguished.

O Allah, with each step we tread,
Teach us to embody fullness,
Full of patience when the world constricts,
Full of acceptance as life tests our resolve,
And full of gratitude, even in our wounds,
For behind Your decree, we understand,
Lies a tapestry more exquisite than mere human longing,
A symphony of existence waiting for our souls to play,
Amidst shards of pain, we shall continue to dream.

Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia, 2024