H

e asked my wife to get out of the car. My wife faithfully followed his instruction to walk slowly. He asked many questions about her ability to walk. We thought he intended to pray for her ability to walk normally. We were excited, because we would be joining his Jerusalem pilgrimage soon. A helpful priest who knows my wife'€™s condition well would be our spiritual leader. We were waiting for a true miracle.

We felt honored because the famous charismatic Catholic activist and his wife wanted to see me and my wife after a Sunday service in East Jakarta. For me, he is nearly a holy man, one who can summon the Holy Spirit and heal whatever disease you have so long as you follow his instructions and have strong faith.

This would be our second visit to the Holy Land. The first was 10 years ago and was organized by an official Catholic travel agency. It was a disappointing trip. Rather than a bishop guiding the tour as promised, we were led by an English-speaking priest, who also led the religious services (my wife could only say a few English words). She cried a lot in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, asking for forgiveness and mercy.

'€œThank you very much for allowing us to join your Jerusalem pilgrimage,'€ I said, nearly kissing his hand.

He explained the travel plan. Suddenly, I saw tears well up in my wife'€™s eyes, though she tried to hide them. The preacher explained that he would divide the participants into two groups. He asked us to join the group of people who had physical disabilities or health problems.

'€œYou will feel more comfortable in that group. I am afraid the healthy people will be disturbed by your slow movement,'€ the man said, innocently.

My wife was shocked to hear such remarks from a person she adored so much. I have taken care of her for 14 years. We never imagined that her physical condition would be an annoyance to others. I could understand his argument, but we had frequently traveled abroad and received much help from strangers.

'€œAt airports I often see elderly and handicapped Muslims in wheelchairs going to Mecca, especially during the haj pilgrim season. Why are they treated with such love by their tour guides?'€ she asked me.

'€œCatholics are always proud as a caring people because we are the disciples of Jesus. But why can I not get treatment like the Muslim pilgrims at airports in Jakarta, Singapore, Dubai or Doha? They are cheerful, despite their sickness,'€ she said tearfully.

In Jeddah and Medina, I also saw cheerful people in their wheelchairs, probably because they received kind treatment from normal people.

Please don'€™t feel bored by my telling the same story again. My wife broke her spine in 2001 after falling down in our bathroom. A well-known professor of orthopedics agreed to lead her surgery at a private hospital in West Jakarta. Then, we met with a doctor, whom we believe was sent directly by Jesus to cure her. He was not just a senior orthopedic, but also very fluent in reciting the Bible. Who wouldn'€™t be impressed?

But you know what happened? My wife walked into the operation room and she walked out paralyzed.

'€œThis is Jesus'€™ plan,'€ the doctor told us. Since then she has had to use a wheelchair.

We received so much advice from friends and relatives about where to go for the best medical doctors, traditional medications, Chinese treatments, and so on. We are always grateful to my generous office. We visited Lourdes in France one year after her failed surgery. We hoped Mother Mary would work a miracle on my wife and we could leave the wheelchair there.

'€œYou will be healed my child. But only God knows what is the best for you,'€ a flower-seller told my wife in Lourdes.

She also often asked Muslim clerics to pray for her health. Until now, she is a regular viewer of Islamic TV programs. Just mention a few Muslim clerics and she will easily recite their advice.

In 2010, my wife'€™s condition improved significantly thanks to the great help of Dr. Oh Kim Soon, a famous orthopedic at Island Hospital in Penang, Malaysia, who conducted a second operation. The doctor relieved her of severe pain that she endured for eight years after the first operation. However, she still can'€™t get rid of the wheelchair.

Two years later, we celebrated Easter and Holy Week with the help of a Catholic priest and an Indonesian Muslim who worked in Rome. Just the two of us went, without disturbing other people.

'€” Kornelius Purba