This is Jakarta, the city of angels. In the day or in the night, the angels are there in most of place in the city. Wheather in public spaces like the streets, pedestrian walks, crossing bridges, traffic lights, even on public transportation like buses and trains. They are part of our life. We share space and time together with them.

Uniquely, they aren’t like we used to know as angels in fairy tales. They don’t have wings. They can’t fly. They don’t dress in white. There’s no gold crown above their head. And no wizard of oz things in their magical spell. They are simple. A living human being like us. They eat, they drink, they sleep, they die. They walk towards us, and move further us. They come and go. Passing through one to another. They dress are broken, no shine of bright color. Sometimes what they wear is the only possession they have. They have age, most of them are elderly, but some are younger. They don’t have residents. The streets, under the bridge, bus shelter is what they consider as home. They are jobless. Begging to people in the surroundings for pennies in many ways, is what they call job. It’s the only way to earn their daily spoonful of rice. To feed their hunger strike. To keep them alive. Each day, and everyday. They are beggars. Street scarvengers.

It’s strange, but it’s true. The beggars of what people disrespect are part of magical angels ability. They have nothing compare to us. We have lots of delights in life, while their time to enjoy have passed. We have more chances, while they’re praying to be given one. Many of them are disabled. Some of their lives are depending on us. This is what people should know and realize of what they are. Hope is on the edge.

People might feel ashamed to be around them. It’s not abviously comes through their mouth, but it’s seen in how they interact with them. They feel disgusting, as if they’re dirt on a muddy streets after rain. All they need is help. What they want is cheap. Only one, two, or couples of pennies. It’s more than enough for them. We can give it to them and fulfill their needs. Don’t they know if they give to the needs, and the needs thankful for that, then wish them goodness, it’ll eventually coming true. It’s how they play their role as an angel. When angel pray to God, then God answer the pray.

Looking around in our surroundings, there are lots of beggars. I once met a beggar on a crossing bridge. She was an old lady. Her hair was white. Her dress was totally unpropper. She looked weak, maybe hadn’t eat since morning. She looked up to every people that passed by, hoping there’s one generous man to give a little pleasure. I couldn’t even hear her voice. Her eyes showed sorrow. As I passed her by, I smiled to her. I couldn’t help but only for a coin. Not much, I thought. But she still thanked for me, saying nice words, wishing goodness in life-a voice of an angel.

“Thank you very much. May 4JJI give you all the goodness in life and bless you always”, She said.

…

There are times when I feel low, like when I was going to have my working contract ended. I had to find another new place for my next pond. I had tried many, many times looking from many vacancies. From the paper to the internet. But, what was the result? Zero. Nothing but losing lots of money for spreading lots of CV’s. I had tried, harder. And I had prayed too, so I could get one chance for interview. Feel frustrated of the condition at that time, then I started to think, that might be there was something wrong-or should I say a better way to reach it. It wasn’t the CV, it wasn’t the experience, and it wasn’t the recommendation letter. So, what was it then?

I once read a Hadist from Rasulullah saw. He said,

“There is no curtain (boundaries) between those who disarm and God, as God will answer all their pray…” (HR………)

Maybe, just maybe, those beggars are some of those disarm people in meanings. If I help them-which it’s only a cheap penny-then they pray for me, may God answer it. I remember words of wisdom to help them by giving them some of our money. It’s not a hard thing to do. It’s worth more than everything you have. A little sacrifice pay off the thing you need most at the time. The next thing I know, I got an interview at one company located at WTC complex on Jl.Sudirman. I got hired a month later. How I grateful and thankful now.

…

Now, almost a year later, at my day in the office, I wonder a magical things that happened to me. How I reach my feet now is undescribeable. May be an angel had helped me. She exchanged pray with pennies. I know there are lots of beggars out there. I can not say all beggars are angels, but I believe what comes through their mouth is what God may answer. It’s like angels who always pray, worship and thankful to God everytime, all the time. I won’t disrespect them. I always smile and head low when passing through them. Coz I believe one, just one, of my biggest hope and dream made come true through their words.