Reading the Traces of Time: Between Tragedy and Harmony at the End of the Year
(Reflection on the Commemoration of December 28th)
By: Ali Aminulloh
December is not just the closing month of the calendar. It is a vast waiting room where memories and hopes intersect. For those who are willing to pause and reflect, every date we pass by actually has a “soul.” It is not just a number, but a series of stories and meanings that God has entrusted to us for us to read.
In spiritual traditions, contemplating the phenomena of time and the events of the universe is an intellectual obligation. As Allah says in Surah Ali ‘Imran, verse 190:
“Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day, there are signs for men of understanding.” In the following verse, God always creates something with meaning; nothing is wasted.
December 28th presents itself as an open page that demands that we become Ulul Albab. Those who use their minds to learn from four seemingly disparate events (December 28th) that are linked by a common thread of life, namely:
1. QZ8501 Tragedy Day: A Warning of Vigilance
Nine years ago, gray skies enveloped the Karimata Strait. The tragedy of the AirAsia QZ8501 crash, which claimed 162 lives, is a lasting wound in our history. This commemoration is not meant to reopen old wounds, but rather to serve as a stark reminder of human mortality. It teaches us the importance of vigilance, safety, and the awareness that death often comes without knocking. At this point, we are invited to cherish every second of our remaining breath.
2. Short Film Day: Narratives in Limitations
Moving on from grief, December 28th also celebrates National Short Film Day. There is a philosophical message here: that beauty does not have to be long. A short film proves that within the limitations of time and space, humans are capable of creating profound messages. This is a call for us to continue creating, no matter how small, because sincere contributions will always find their audience.
3. Call a Friend Day: A Bridge in the Silence
In this fast-paced digital age, we often feel alone in the crowd. Call a Friend Day reminds us that technology should bring us closer, not further apart. Pressing the call button and hearing a friend’s voice is an effort to build harmonious communication. A sincere conversation can be a cure for loneliness, a reminder that we are social beings who need each other’s emotional support.
4. Card Game Day: Building Simple Closeness
Finally, there is warmth in Card Game Day. Behind the laughter of shuffling cards, there is a philosophy of togetherness. It’s not about winning or losing, but about spending time without devices, sitting around, and building closeness within family and friends. Around the game table, we learn that true happiness is often found in simple things done together.
Epilogue: Reflections on the Doorstep
As the sun begins to set on the western horizon on December 28th, we realize that life is a combination of vigilance against sorrow, enthusiasm for creation, courage to greet, and humility to play together.
The year will soon change, but the lessons we learn today will serve as a lasting foundation. Let us enter the new year with a more sensitive heart: that every event is God’s unwritten verses, waiting for us to interpret with wisdom.
Because in the end, it’s not how long we live that matters, but how much meaning we manage to find in every second He gives us.**
Indonesia, December 28, 2025
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