TESTING CONCERN

Piece of dialogue in the scene jokes on television about a beggar and a woman. Parlente woman, standing by the roadside. Waiting for a taxi. Suddenly a beggar approached him, while extend hand: "Alms Ma'am, I have not eaten!" He said, plaintively. "Equally, I also have not eaten," replied the woman, light, without glancing at the beggar.The scene was intended to invite laughter jokes. I was laughing. At first glance, the response of the woman, very precise, but the ridiculous: both had not eaten. Two sentences similar but have different meanings. Beggars have not eaten, probably because they do not have the money to buy food. Aka no one wants to eat. While the woman had not eaten, because it may not have time to eat. Still satisfied, or are dieting.Events such as these, are often encountered in real life. Because the real work of literature, film, drama, music, etc.., Removed from society phenomenon. Often, someone told me about problems facing life, just the other person instead of expressing sympathy, what else to offer assistance. In fact the opposite. Complaining about problems that happen to him anyway. The same issue but have vastly different characteristics. Perhaps, this is one form of human selfishness. Or might also attempt to avoid the member for help, even if just an expression of sympathy.Most of us, including me, maybe you, too, often think: "Can not help others because we also need to be helped". Logically, perhaps rightly so. How to help others, while our own hard? The absence has always been a reason to eliminate the obligation to help others. Yet, in truth everyone must have a sense of caring that is born of faith in God, who sees every activity servants.A story at the time of the Prophet recalled: Abu Hasan Ali ibn Abi Talib or the law of Allah, the Prophet is known as a generous friend. Abu Hasan had given all the money he had, some six dirhams to a beggar. The money had been due, to buy food for his two sons: Hasan and Husin. As a result, Abu Hasan came home with empty hands. He explained to his wife Fatimah Az-Zahra that money to buy food has he "lend to God", (people who give money to beggars equal to lend to Allah-al-Hadith).Furthermore, on the same day visited by an Arab Abu Hasan Badawi intends to sell a camel to Abu Hasan for one hundred dirhams. Prices are very cheap at the time. And great uncle of the Messenger of the child should pay for it, if you already have money. After a time, come again another an Arab Badawi, offered camels Abu Hasan for three hundred dirhams. God has given sustenance to Abu Hasan sum of two hundred dirhams.On the basis of concern, without the advance return for a miracle like the story of Ali bin Abi Talib above, one afternoon the overcast, drizzly and cold. Representing feeling a little irritated, I sat alone in the guest chair, with both feet selonjor on the table. A cup of coffee seems pretty warm ginger.Suddenly, a middle-aged man appeared in the doorway while greeting. Men with relatively small stature, height about 125 cm is Mr. Ramli. As usual he first greeted me smile. Our family had been long enough to recognize Mr. Ramli. Approximately since settling in this housing a dozen years ago. His job as collector donated money to the donors orphanage which is located not far from the housing complex, Mr. Ramli made a loyal visitor to our house. Beginning the first week of every month, usually Mr. Ramli is always coming. Only this time, I was somewhat taken aback. I currently do not have money to donate. Although our family was recorded as the donor remains for the orphanage where Mr. Ramli serve, it does not mean we always have money for donations. And was not some time ago Mr. Ramli's here and it feels, I've paid for this month? I then went up to him. Before she could ask, Mr. Ramli first arrival times to explain this, for other purposes.For a moment he was silent. "Tell me sir, what can I help you, 'I urged him. "My son Mom, tomorrow receive a report card, but before I have to pay school fees in arrears, the total amount of  150.000, - Rupiah. I do not have the money, perhaps she could help me. God willing, next month I pay, "he said in a thick accent minang.Tuition, wow ..., again tuition. I myself, this afternoon has just done a little heavy psychologically. Going to the Principal and asked her policy so that children can still receive my report card. Although not yet paid tuition fees by the amount of ten times that required Mr. Ramli for his report card. Of course, I did not tell this problem to Mr. Ramli. Wherever possible I avoid being like a scene jokes in the story above. I then took the money in your wallet that takes a number of Mr. Ramli. For 150,000, - Rupiah seems to still exist. Problem shopping tomorrow, God will have lower sustenance, God willing.The same problem but not similar. Without intention to brag, I am among those who learned at least compared with Mr. Ramli. I have the power to appear before the Principal and succeed. I think it rightly so. Regarding school policy, there must be tolerance. Education, including government program priorities. In fact, the issue of education has become a commodity issue for a number of political figures to gain the sympathy of the people. Starting from the international standard of the school bid, cheap and even free education school, became a campaign slogan everywhere. So ironic, if there are schools that "hostage" report card with the reasons students do not pay school fees.But, for Mr. Ramli, a simple man, not fluent in Indonesia, this issue becomes very difficult. Until he could not sleep by the narrative. It was, less ethical as well, I teach Mr. Ramli in a way that I take in my child's report card fighting for. Even if I explain, very small chance of success. Therefore, based on observations, little man with a small body of hard to get a place anywhere, especially when dealing with bureaucracy in this country. I can only give limited that he can receive. Limited to testing the sense of concern ....

MENGUJI KEPEDULIAN

Sepenggal dialog dalam adegan lawakan di televise tentang seorang pengemis dan seorang wanita. Si wanita parlente, berdiri di pinggir jalan. Menunggu taksi. Tiba-tiba seorang pengemis menghampirinya, sembari mengulurkna tangan: “Sedekah Mbak, saya belum makan!” katanya, memelas. “Sama, saya juga belum makan,” jawab si Wanita, enteng, tanpa melirik si pengemis.
Adegan lawakan memang bertujuan mengundang tawa. Saya pun tertawa. Sepintas, respon si Wanita itu, sangat tepat, tapi konyol: sama-sama belum makan. Dua kalimat serupa tetapi memiliki makna berbeda. Pengemis belum makan, mungkin karena tidak punya uang membeli makanan. Alias tidak ada yang mau dimakan. Sedangkan si Wanita belum makan, karena mungkin belum waktunya makan. Masih kenyang, atau sedang diet.
Kejadian seperti ini, acap kali ditemui dalam kehidupan nyata. Karena sesungguhnya hasil karya sastra, film, drama, musik, dll., diangkat dari phenomena masyarakatnya. Sering, seseorang bercerita tentang persoalan hidup yang dihadapi, justru lawan bicara bukannya mengungkapkan rasa simpati, apa lagi menawarkan bantuan. Malah sebalikanya. Mengeluh tentang persoalan yang menimpa dirinya pula. Persoalan yang sama tetapi memiliki karakteristik yang jauh berbeda. Barangkali, ini salah satu bentuk egoisme manusia. Atau mungkin juga upaya menghindari member pertolongan, walau sekedar ungkapan rasa simpati.
Kebanyakan dari kita, termasuk saya, mungkin juga Anda, sering beranggapan: “Tidak dapat membantu orang lain karena kita sendiri juga perlu dibantu”. Logikanya, barangkali memang demikian. Bagaimana membantu orang lain, sementara kita sendiri susah? Ketiadaan selalu menjadi alas an untuk menghilangkan kewajiban membantu sesama. Padahal, sejatinya setiap orang mesti memiliki rasa kepedulian yang lahir dari keyakinan akan adanya Tuhan, yang melihat setiap aktivitas hambaNya.
Sebuah kisah di zaman Rasulullah bertutur: Abu Hasan atau Ali bin Abi Thalib menantu Rasulullah, dikenal sebagai seorang sahabat Rasulullah yang dermawan. Abu Hasan pernah memberikan seluruh uang yang dimilikinya, sejumlah enam dirham kepada seorang pengemis. Uang tersbeut sedianya, untuk membeli makanan bagi kedua putranya: Hasan dan Husin. Alhasil, Abu Hasan pulang dengan tangan kosong. Ia menjelaskan kepada istrinya Fatimah Az-Zahra bahwa uang untuk membeli makanan telah ia “pinjamkan kepada Allah”, (orang yang memberikan uangnya kepada pengemis sama dengan memberi pinjaman kepada Allah- al Hadist).
Selanjutnya, pada hari yang sama Abu Hasan didatangi seorang Arab Badawi bermaksud menjual seekor unta kepada Abu Hasan seharga seratus dirham. Harga yang sangat murah kala itu. Dan hebatnya anak paman Rasulullah tersebut boleh membayarnya, kalau sudah punya uang. Selang beberapa waktu, datang lagi seorang Arab Badawi yang lain, menawar unta Abu Hasan seharga tiga ratus dirham. Tuhan telah memberi rezeki pada Abu Hasan sejumlah dua ratus dirham.
Atas dasar kepedulian, tanpa mengedepankan imbalan berupa mukjizat bagai kisah Ali bin Abi Thalib di atas, suatu sore yang mendung, gerimis dan dingin. Mewakili perasaan yang sedikit gundah, saya duduk sendirian di kursi tamu, dengan kedua kaki selonjor di atas meja. Secangkir kopi jahe agaknya cukup menghangatkan badan.
Tiba-tiba, seorang lelaki setengah baya muncul di ambang pintu sembari memberi salam. Lelaki dengan postur relative kecil, tinggi sekitar 125 cm adalah Pak Ramli. Seperti biasa ia lebih dulu tersenyum menyapa saya. Keluarga kami sudah cukup lama mengenali Pak Ramli. Kira-kira sejak menetap di perumahan ini belasan tahun silam. Tugasnya sebgai pemungut uang sumbangan kepada para donator panti asuhan yang berlokasi tak jauh dari komplek perumahan, membuat Pak Ramli menjadi pengunjung setia rumah kami. Setiap awal bulan minggu pertama, biasanya Pak Ramli selalu datang. Cuma kali ini, saya agak terperangah. Saat ini saya belum punya uang untuk mendonasi. Walau keluarga kami tercatat sebagai donator tetap bagi panti asuhan tempat Pak Ramli mengabdi, bukan berarti kami selalu punya uang buat donasi. Lagi pula bukankah beberapa waktu yang lalu Pak Ramli  sudah datang dan rasanya, saya sudah membayar untuk bulan ini? Saya lalu beranjak menghampirinya. Sebelum sempat bertanya, Pak Ramli lebih dulu menjelaskan kedatangannya kali ini, untuk maksud lain.
Sejenak dia terdiam. “Katakan saja Pak, apa yang dapat saya bantu,’ saya desak dia. “Anak saya Bu, besok terima rapor, tetapi sebelumnya saya harus melunasi iuran sekolah yang menunggak, total sejumlah Rp 150.000,-. Saya tidak punya uang, barangkali Ibu bisa membantu saya. Insya Allah bulan depan saya bayar,” ungkapnya dalam logat minang yang kental.
Uang sekolah, waahh…, lagi-lagi uang sekolah. Saya sendiri, siang tadi baru saja melakukan pekerjaan yang agak berat secara psikologis. Mendatangi Kepala Sekolah dan meminta kebijakan darinya agar anak saya tetap dapat terima rapor. Kendati belum bayar uang sekolah dengan jumlah sepuluh kali lipat dari yang diperlukan Pak Ramli buat rapor anaknya. Tentu saja, saya tidak menceritakan masalah ini kepada Pak Ramli. Sedapat mungkin saya menghindari sikap seperti adegan lawakan dalam kisah di atas. Saya lantas mengambil uang di dompet sejumlah yang dibutuhkan Pak Ramli. Untuk Rp 150.000,- agaknya masih ada. Soal belanja besok, Tuhan pasti menurunkan rezekinya, insya Allah.
Persoalan yang sama tetapi tak serupa. Tanpa maksud menyombongkan diri, saya termasuk orang yang terpelajar setidaknya dibanding Pak Ramli. Saya punya kuasa untuk menghadap Kepala Sekolah dan berhasil. Saya kira memang sudah sepantasnya demikian.  Menyangkut kebijakan sekolah, haruslah ada toleransi. Pendidikan, termasuk program pemerintah yang prioritas. Bahkan, masalah pendidikan sudah menjadi isu komoditas bagi sejumlah tokoh politik untuk meraih simpati rakyat. Mulai dari tawaran sekolah taraf  internasional, sekolah murah bahkan pendidikan gratis, menjadi slogan kampanye dimana-mana. Jadi ironis sekali, bila ada sekolah yang “menyandera” rapor muridnya dengan alas an belum bayar uang sekolah.
Tetapi, bagi Pak Ramli, seorang pria sederhana, tidak fasih berbahasa Indonesia, persoalan ini menjadi teramat sulit. Sampai ia sulit tidur menurut penuturannya. Rasanya, kurang etis pula saya mengajari Pak Ramli dengan cara yang saya tempuh dalam memperjuang rapor anak saya. Kalaupun saya jelaskan, kemungkinan berhasil sangat kecil. Sebab, berdasarkan pengamatan, orang kecil dengan tubuh yang kecil sulit mendapatkan tempat di manapun, terutama bila berurusan dengan birokrasi di negeri ini. Saya hanya bisa memberi sebatas yang dapat ia terima. Sebatas menguji rasa kepedulian….