The 134-kilometer journey took me approximately 6 hours. It was full of winding roads and triggered my nausea. I arrived in the evening without knowing what was happening or how the situation would be. Exhausted, I fell into a deep sleep. The next morning, I couldn’t believe what I saw. At that moment, I was sure that this offline class in Mobuya village, North Sulawesi, was not a mere coincidence in my life.

As far as the eye could see, there was a living green carpet stretching across the valley. The school, where we were assisting the 11 teachers, was located right in the middle of the hills, surrounded by green scenery.

The cool air and beautiful scenery were a rare experience for someone like me, who had spent half of my life in a big city. Moments of inner listening through Quiet Time felt distinctly different—sacred, peaceful, and refreshing.

Here, we held the School of Reconciliation’s offline sessions for three days. From Quiet Time sessions, the 4 Moral Standards, Emotion Regulation, and Genogram Analysis, to essay reading in class. Between classes, we played Friends for Life cards and engaged in casual conversations. There were occasional jokes and quips from the teachers.

Throughout the sessions, many stories and discoveries surfaced, stirring up a mix of emotions. Stories long hidden in the depths of their hearts—never spoken and forming cracks within—were finally shared after a personal struggle over whether to speak up or remain silent.

We provided support without pushing them, creating a safe space for the teachers. They embraced it as a precious moment to be courageous and share their stories. There were tears, emotion, and relief from both the storytellers and those who listened.

Previously, the teachers here relentlessly prayed, asking God to help heal the cracks in their hearts in silence. Through the School of Reconciliation, these cracks were not covered or hidden but instead became openings for light to shine through. Each participant realized that by courageously sharing and acknowledging every difficult experience, they can begin to heal.

Each participant discovered God’s abundant love and the ability to ask for and offer forgiveness through sharing sessions, storytelling, and bravely acknowledging the cracks in their hearts that had long been hidden. It reminded me of Leonard Cohen’s words, “There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.”

Through SR, God allowed the light to shine through the broken stories of each participant. After three days, I continued my journey exhausted but with a light and serene heart. There is always light on every path to healing.

These broken stories that allow light to enter the heart can be found in SR classes across various islands in Indonesia. You hear many stories about how fractured parent-child relationships can heal, or how a husband and wife learn to manage conflicts. Elsewhere, there’s a story about setting clear personal boundaries by saying no or yes at the right time, or about someone restraining their impulse from infidelity. One of our friends is trying to find light amidst an identity crisis and reassess their role as the family’s breadwinner. On the other hand, there are those grappling with how to be mentally healthy parents for their children without imposing burdensome expectations on themselves.

It has been 10 years since the School of Reconciliation was first mentored by Teacher Nandor Lim from AKASHA Malaysia, and on its 10th anniversary, we can see that these cracks still exist in everyone’s stories. However, the dark spaces within are no longer there. From those cracks, light emerges. A hope for healing where each person uses the light within, no matter how small, to keep practicing toward healing.

Of course, this is not easy. Many sacrifices are made, and a lot of effort is put in to avoid falling into the same patterns of pain. Furthermore, there is discipline to be established as a form of self-care. A commitment to taking time to connect with oneself through inner listening and inner bonding.

Some participants from Papua and East Nusa Tenggara have to spend more money to attend offline classes in Jakarta. Participants, program facilitators, and the IofC team continue to support and grow together to make Initiative of Change Indonesia a community moving towards personal transformation.

To this day, support from Teacher Nandor Lim continues for the SR program team, and mentoring classes by School of Reconciliation facilitators are still ongoing. We need more people, time, and resources to expand our impact across Indonesia. There are still many regions, like Kalimantan and Maluku, that remain unreached, and this has become our focus.

By the end of 2024, we will conduct more offline classes, visiting friends where many of our participants gather, like Jakarta, Bandung, and Manado. In addition, we will hold bonding sessions with the Inner Child in Banyuwangi, East Java. May every encounter ignite the light that shines through the cracked spaces in their hearts.

Rinni Meir
Editor: Ari Budi
Proofread: Peter Heyes