A Cup on the Wall

Secangkir Kopi di Dinding

Saya duduk bersama seorang teman di kedai kopi yang terkenal di dekat kota Venisia, kota air dan bertabur cahaya. Ketika kami menikmati kopi kami, seorang pria masuk dan duduk di kursi kosong samping kami.


Pria itu memanggil pelayan dan menyampaikan pesanannya dengan berkata, "Pesan 2 cangkir kopi ya, satu taruh di dinding."  Kami mendengarkan pesanan itu dengan penasaran dan memperhatikan bahwa pria itu dilayani dengan secangkir kopi namun membayar dua cangkir. Segera setelah ia berlalu, sang pelayan menempelkan selembar kertas di dinding yang bertuliskan: Satu Cangkir Kopi.

Sementara kami masih duduk di sana, dua pria lain muncul dan memesan tiga cangkir kopi, dua cangkir disajikan di meja dan satu di dinding. Mereka minum dua cangkir kopi namun membayar tiga dan kemudian mereka pergi. Pada kali ini sang pelayan melakukan hal yang sama, ia menempelkan selebar kertas di dinding yang bertuliskan: Satu Cangkir Kopi.

Nampaknya praktik ini sudah biasa di tempat ini. Namun tetap saja hal itu unik dan mengherankan kami. Karena kami tidak ada urusan dengan hal itu, maka kami habiskan kopi kami, membayar tagihannya dan pergi.

Beberapa hari kemudian, kembali kami memiliki kesempatan mengunjungi kedai kopi itu. Sementara kami menghirup kopi kami, seorang pria masuk. Cara berpakaian pria ini tidak cocok bagi kemewahan dan suasana kedai kopi ini. Kemiskinan nampak dari penampilan dan wajahnya. Setelah ia duduk, ia menunjuk ke dinding sambil berkata, "Secangkir kopi dari dinding." Sang pelayan menyajikan secangkir kopi kepada pria kumuh ini dengan standar pelayanan kepada pelanggan yang terhormat dan bermartabat.

Pria itu menikmati kopinya hingga habis dan pergi tanpa perlu membayar. Kami kagum melihat kejadian ini ketka sang pelayan melepaskan selebar kertas dari dinding dan membuangnya ke tempat sampah. Kini kami mengerti apa yang telah terjadi. Penghormatan yang tinggi bagi orang-orang yang berkekurangan telah ditunjukkan oleh penduduk kota ini dan membuat mata kami berlinang airmata.

Kopi bukanlah kebutuhan mendasar bagi masyarakat dan kehidupan kita. Poin untuk diperhatikan yaitu ketika kita menikmati kesenangan dari berkat apapun, mungkin kita juga perlu memikirkan mereka yang ingin menikmati berkat itu sama seperti kita namun mereka tidak sanggup memilikinya.

Perhatikan karakter sang pelayan, yang melakukan tugasnya dengan konsisten dan murah hati sehingga ia menjadi jembatan antara pihak yang membagi berkat dan pihak yang berkekurangan dengan pelayanan penuh senyum kepada siapapun.

Renungkan juga pria yang berkekurangan itu. Ia memasuki kedai kopi mewah itu tanpa merasa rendah diri dan mengemis minta secangkir kopi, tanpa perlu tahu siapa yang telah membayar kopinya. Ia hanya perlu menunjuk ke dinding menyampaikan order secangkir kopi, menikmatinya dan pergi.

Kita dapat belajar tentang kemurah-hatian dan kepedulian penduduk kota ini terhadap sesama manusia. Demikianlah caranya menunjukkan belas kasih dan mempertahankan martabat bagi umat manusia.
Diterjemahkan oleh Hadi Kristadi untuk Pentas Kesaksian dari artikel via email.

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Cup of Coffee on the Wall

I sat with my friend in a well-known coffee shop in a neighboring town of Venice, the city of lights and water. As we enjoyed our coffee, a man entered and sat on an empty table beside us.

He called the waiter and placed his order saying, Two cups of coffee, one of them there on the wall. We heard this order with rather interest and observed that he was served with one cup of coffee but he paid for two. As soon as he left, the waiter pasted a piece of paper on the wall saying A Cup of Coffee.

While we were still there, two other men entered and ordered three cups of coffee, two on the table and one on the wall. They had two cups of coffee but paid for three and left. This time also, the waiter did the same; he pasted a piece of paper on the wall saying, A Cup of Coffee.

It seemed that this gesture was a norm at this place. However, it was something unique and perplexing for us. Since we had nothing to do with the matter, we finished our coffee, paid the bill and left.

After a few days, we again had a chance to go to this coffee shop. While we were enjoying our coffee, a man entered. The way this man was dressed did not match the standard nor the atmosphere of this coffee shop.

Poverty was evident from the looks on his face. As he seated himself, he looked at the wall and said, one cup of coffee from the wall. The waiter served coffee to this man with the customary respect and dignity.

The man had his coffee and left without paying. We were amazed to watch all this when the waiter took off a piece of paper from the wall and threw it in the dust bin. Now it was no surprise for us the matter was very clear. The great respect for the needy shown by the inhabitants of this town welled up our eyes with tears.

Coffee is not a need of our society neither a necessity of life for us. The point to note is that when we take pleasure in any blessing, maybe we also need to think about those people who appreciate that specific blessing as much as we do but they cannot afford to have it.

Note the character of this waiter, who is playing a consistent and generous role to get the communication going between the affording and the needy with a smile on his face.

Ponder upon this man in need. He enters the coffee shop without having to lower his self-esteem he has no need to ask for a free cup of coffee without asking or knowing about the one who is giving this cup of coffee to him he only looked at the wall, placed an order for himself, enjoyed his coffee and left.

When we analyze this story, along with the other characters, we need to remember the role played by the wall that reflects the generosity and care of the dwellers of this town. What a way to show compassion and maintain human dignity for all.

Diposting oleh Hadi Kristadi untuk PENTAS KESAKSIAN http://pentas-kesaksian.blogspot.com