How do we define “hope”? Although I know TikTok is not available in Hong Kong, for young Indonesians, life is missing if you don’t scroll through the screen of this app. So let’s find out what we have on TikTok.
Struggling to make money in the real world? Want to work and have fun? Want to channel your passion? TikTok may be the answer for many young people in Indonesia, who are actively “working” by live streaming on their TikTok accounts. Some even do it while working. There is also the phenomenon of Goyang Bor (Bor’s Dancing, Bor is the name of the leader), where a group of people around 50 to 65 years old make a living with dancing activities. It’s simple, if a viewer gives them a “doughnut” (30 TikTok coins or five Hong Kong dollars), they will dance to a song for 30 seconds. Or a group of people may take the initiative to live stream by playing children’s games to get the gift. Some even provide a lot of weightlifting equipment such as gallons of water, gas cylinders, dumbbells, and others. When people give “rose” (10 cents), they lift the small gallon once. For “doughnuts”, they lift the gas cylinders five times. “Hope” for them is when people give “love” through screen taping, adding followers, throwing lots of gifts, especially the most expensive on TikTok such as “Pegasus” (42,999 coins or 5,000 dollars).
On the audience side, are we sharing hope or giving love when we buy TikTok coins to throw gifts to them? We’re excited and challenged to redeem some money for a live streamer to lift a gallon of water until they can’t stand anymore. Or we hope that by giving the most expensive gift, we will be addressed, recognised and remembered by the live streamer. I need love, so I buy and give love.
In light of this phenomenon, what does the “pilgrim of hope” of the Jubilee Year 2025 really mean? Where can we find true hope?
In this year’s pilgrimage of hope, we are reminded that we cannot live without true love and compassion. It is love that guides and directs our lives so that we can taste eternal life. Perhaps all this time our hope or our love has been like a robber who has personal interest behind their actions.
Jesus has given us the secret of eternal life, because we are not servants, but friends: the commandment of love, which he exemplified even unto death on the cross (John 15:12-15). He redeemed us so that we can regain this life with hope and love, like how he raised the widow’s son (Luke 7:11-17).
This Year of Hope invites us to be a Good Samaritan! To do acts of love is no longer an obligation, an invitation, a compulsion or even a burden. We love because it is our nature. It is the consequence of being a child of love to love. Even our thoughts, words and actions should come from love because love is our nature. Be the agents of love who first ignite, burn in the fire of love, then act, full of sincerity like the Samaritan. So that our pilgrimage in this world does not feel like carrying a heavy cross, as if it were heavier than the cross of Jesus.
Rather, it is full of joy and peace because we have tasted eternal life in our daily lives through the love we receive and share.
Kevin Hendrarto Tandautama
Tandautama is a seminarian under
the Order of Carmelites in Indonesia.
