Antonius "Oki" Wiriadjaja
July was a bloody month. That’s my friend Oki, who was shot in cold blood in New York in a drive-by shooting in broad daylight. About a week later, my other friend was brutally murdered at her home in Hawaii. July was a month of unfathomable violence–and I’m glad it’s over.
It’s August now, and these painful wounds are still fresh, but starting to heal. This week-end, there will be a memorial service—a celebration of life–for my friend in Hawaii, whose legacy of love is continuing to inspire. Now, in the driveway where her body was discovered, the word “LOVE” is spray-painted in giant red letters across the wall.
And, as you can read on his blog, Oki is working hard on healing his wounds–both mental and physical–and sharing his journey with all of us. Though the bullets took a few of his organs, they left his sense of humor intact–and he’s turning his trauma into an opportunity to advocate both for the community where he was shot and for gun control.
In his own words: The greatest pain killer in the world doesn’t come from syringes or pills. It’s keeping your sense of humor when the world surrounding you is breaking apart. A spoonful of sugar. To keep the bitter away. Don’t get bitter. Get better.
To help Oki in his recovery, please consider making an online donation to his recovery fundraiser–any small amount will make a very big difference.
It’s always been deeply humbling and inspiring to know these two warriors of love and compassion–but now it’s even more so, since everyone directly impacted by these tragedies and traumas is choosing to resist hatred and anger–and instead embrace forgiveness and make a difference.
When Bob Marley was asked how he could perform two days after being shot, he said, “The people who were trying to make this world worse are not taking the day off. Why should I? Light up the darkness.” Yes, my friends, light it up.
