Becoming Extraordinary by Doing Ordinary Things
M. Zakyuddin Munziri
@zakiego
Originally written in Bahasa Indonesia.
We feed people. An interesting phrase to use as the title of a documentary film. Without much thought, in the shortest tempo, fingers swiftly moved, pressing the play button.
My guess was wrong.
Initially, I thought this film would only tell the story of feeding disaster victims in evacuation centers. It didn't. It was much more than that.
I always get emotional when facing disasters. No, not because of fear. But because I always feel admiration for those who help God's servants in times of hardship.
This film tells the story of José Andrés, he is "just" a chef. At a young age, he was already able to work at a classy restaurant. His career was brilliant. He had books and appeared on television. Great attention was directed at him. Eventually, José founded a company that also operates in the food industry. Making his name a brand. A chef representing Spain.
But then a calling came. When an earthquake struck Haiti in 2010. His world changed.
Everyone always has a moment in life that, kind of, you'll receive a call. And you never know when the call is gonna arrive, and from whom, or from where. But one day, I get… I receive a call.
José then flew to Haiti. On the first flight that opened. He planned to stay for 3 days and provide food assistance for the evacuation centers there. But as it turned out, he stayed much longer.
More than just a "cook," José, who was someone with many connections, then connected many donors and cooks, organized aid, and sent tens of thousands of food portions to various remote areas.
He was just carrying out a simple mission, just "feeding people."
One of his colleagues said,
In a crisis, you call on the experts. Where there was a medical crisis, you bring in a doctor. And no one was calling on the cooks and chefs of the world when there were people who are hungry.
I agree. We never gather the cooks when there is hunger during a disaster.
From José Andrés, I learned that to become extraordinary, we just need to do ordinary things.
As Zen RS wrote in his piece titled "Heroes Are Not Needed During the Pandemic."
Or like the story of a security guard I read about in early April. Someone who lost their job in the South Jakarta area couldn't pay their rent and was forced to sleep at a commuter train station for several days. He claimed he could survive because "every morning a security guard he didn't know bought him a wrapped rice meal."
It seems we don't need to expect heroism because heroes often act grandly only once. What we need during the pandemic is kindness that can be done repeatedly, every day, by everyone... like that security guard, like most of us.
At the end of his writing, Zen closes with a sentence, "Blessed is the nation that can appreciate ordinary people and ordinary jobs."
For me, Mbah Sadiman is an extraordinary person, even though he only does something ordinary, planting trees.
For me, Mr. Achmad Yurianto is an extraordinary person, even though he only does something ordinary, being the spokesperson for Covid-19 response.
For me, Mr. Sutopo is an extraordinary person, even though he only does something ordinary, being the public relations officer of BNPB (National Disaster Management Agency).
For me, Buya Syafi'i Ma'arif is an extraordinary person, even though he only does something ordinary, being a lecturer and chairman of Muhammadiyah.
And other extraordinary humans, by just doing ordinary things.
We don't need to become superhumans, who can fly and lift heavy weights with one hand, to become extraordinary.
We just need to do ordinary things, but to the best of our ability.
If we are a child, then honor our parents to the best of our ability.
If we are a parent, then educate our children to the best of our ability.
If we are a student, then study to the best of our ability.
If we are a teacher, then teach to the best of our ability.
If we are a public servant, then serve to the best of our ability.
If we are a leader, then lead to the best of our ability.
And again, at the end of my prayer, I only hope that God takes my life when I am being of benefit to others.
First written in Pelaihari, May 29, 2022, 2:50 PM
Completed in Banjarmasin, June 6, 2022, 11:38 PM
