2.09.2004

"Just Relax."

The bus driver said that to me after a hard run to the bus stop this morning. Even still, I pulled out my wallet, wanting to pay the fare. He reminded me again, "Just relax for a while! You've made it." Almost as if to say, "You've done enough." Almost as if he knew what was going on in my life. Kinda like God was speaking through him. "You've done enough for now. Stop pushing yourself. Stop pushing others. I'll see that the rest is taken care of. I'll call on you when I need you."

Late-night stretching, tensing, relaxing. Ankles feel shaky. Calves and thighs still strong. Abs could be better. Upper back is the worst. Too much pressure on the neck and shoulders as well. Must keep good posture. Feeling the blood flowing through my veins now, especially in my arms and fingers to the tips. Like they want so much to do something, anything. Hug. Hold hands. Write. Breathing is shallow on its own. Late-night deep-breaths exert me moreso.

The body is electric. The mind is eased. The joints and muscles feel fluid, no longer tense.

And now, the self is relaxed.

2.07.2004

I am part of something bigger than me.

We all are. How willing are each of us to do our part to ensure the survival of the whole?

Have I succumbed to "my role" in the grande scheme of things? As if it were some part in a play, an act, a show, a dance? Scheme. As if it were a (sub-)plot in some great conspiracy. Will I learn to think for myself? Will I learn to refuse the given role? Refuse what is "right" and replace it with what knowledge is "mine?" That will never happen if I stop asking questions, if I stop seeking answers.

Philosophy: Love and pursuit of wisdom by intellectual means and moral self-discipline. The critical analysis of fundamental assumptions or beliefs. A system of values by which one lives.
---dictionary.com, selected definitions

"When applied to any particular department of knowledge, philosophy denotes the general laws or principles under which all the subordinate phenomena or facts relating to that subject are comprehended. Thus philosophy, when applied to God and the divine government, is called theology; when applied to material objects, it is called physics; when it treats of man, it is called anthropology and psychology, with which are connected logic and ethics; when it treats of the necessary conceptions and relations by which philosophy is possible, it is called metaphysics."
-- dicitionary.com, note

...While philosophy seeks answers, it's not the answers that are important; the philosopher sees the importance of the question. It doesn't matter whether or not answers are found: only that the question is posed so that the search -- the journey -- can be made. All roads lead to same question sets -- Why was I created? What do I live for? What is my purpose here? Is this all there is to existing? -- as all sand in an hourglass falls through a narrow part in the centre. Having posed the question -- having passed through that narrow part -- one is open to the possibilities on the other side of that centre: Is the other side of the hourglass infinitely small or infinitely large?.

When does a single grain of sand pass through the narrow center alone? It does not. It cannot. The flow of time does not stop by natural means; when the hourglass has turned over, the flow of sand does not stop by natural means.

I don't have all the answers. My prescience is limited. What good can one make out of having boundless foresight? They would only be doomed to living life in the future.

"One hungered for absolutes which could never be.
Hungering, one lost the present." ---dune messiah, narrative



The basic rule in all races, religions, walks of life: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". The so-called Golden Rule... (of life?) With no conscious intention, I have tried to push others to their limits. As such, I am being pushed to mine. As such, I am afraid of what may come from expanding those comfortable borders. Yet my dependancy on that 'something' becomes heavier; my trust is amplified because of fear. Lord: Oh, that your hand would be with me... I must not fear. God never wastes a hurt, an experience: he can and will use them for good. I mustn't know it. I can't know it. I must believe it.



To blank my mind?
I'd be no more than a ghola corpse.
No memories. Only references to the former-self.
To not recognize the value in that?
I would be ignorant of infinite possibilities.
Some of those... could be better than now.

To not recognize that I was created with some kind of purpose?
I would be selfish to try work i'm unqualified for.
To hold on to the self too strongly?
I would be foolish to destroy myself that way.
To not recognize the creator by going against that purpose?
I would be useless to God, to others, even to myself.

When the old self is gone, when I have nothing to hold on to,
all I can do is trust in something bigger than me.

"If you place everything on yourself, and you lose everything... what do you have to live for? ...The only thing you gotta believe in is something bigger than you. Someone bigger than you." --Sheryl Baldovino [paraphrase]

I will not get anywhere by travelling in circles, or by spiraling inward, yet
I must make the full-circle at least once around,
to (re)assert my existence,
to justify my actions.
I must do the necessary to preserve that 'something.'
I must defend. I must.

Even if it means to pray for destruction.



Lord, destroy me.
Destroy the 'self' that the world has created in me.
Cruelty, malice, self-service.
Destroy the need for praise; only you are deserving of it.
Destroy the need to be of use; you have uses for me beyond my understanding;
uses only for good.

Leave only the spiritual gifts you have given me,
the servant's heart i was born with,
the abilities you created me to have and use,
the part of your personality that wants to serve others,
the experiences that have helped to mold the character you want me to be.

Destroy me, and mold the shape and character of Christ within me.



A ghola? Flesh reborn from dead flesh. Fitting.



I don't have all the answers, but I must share what I know.
It's part of what we all live for. [jan 8 blog, jan 3 blog].

2.05.2004

The Real Yesterday.

Yesterday. Another one of those purpose-filled days. Another day where I knew I just had to be alive for.

Chilling with Chico yesterday... It's not about whom you marry, where you live, or what you do for a living. While important decisions to make, those are all secondary. Without knowing, you reminded me of what it is that i'm supposed to be doing here. It's about the work you do that will last for eternity. And that work... the work that God's entrusted you with right now will last for eternity.

MSN with Robyn... If you're always looking back, you won't see what's right in front. Can I side-step that and say that those who live their lives in the fast lane end up at the end that much faster. The "look back" gives the opportunity to slow down. It's just a check: Where have I been? How have I grown since a year ago, since 3 years back? Nothing learned without looking back.

The journey may be fast-paced or a slow crawl; either way, it's better when it'sshared. God didn't will into existance millions upon millions of people so that we could make that journey alone. No matter your destination.

I see what's right in front, what's up ahead -- And I see danger. I'm better prepared for them because of the "look back," because of the slow-downs. You see them too. I know you do. I forecast a slow journey.



"Sometimes God is dangerous... He tells me, 'Come... let us go out and ride in the dangerous storm.' " - Unknown

2.02.2004

Weekend of F-U-N.

Wow, what a weekend. Friday night begins at St. Bernard's for the KFC Kids' Core Training: Heart for the Kids. While the memories of Finding Nemo and The Alliance (HOO-HAH-HAH!) and mini-guitar-workshops will last a lifetime, nothing will stick out as much the chat that I had with Paul until the wee hours of the morning.

The birth of KFC-101. I'm thankful for being given the opportunity and the privelege to share what I learned with the brotha'. It's refreshing to see someone who has such a big vision of future of Kids For Christ. It's a wonder how big his heart is for those kiddies -- how God gave him that heart. It's amazing how well he understands the importance of that part of the CFC ministries. Paul, you're gonna raise kids that'll move mountains.



Speaking of the privelege of learning and sharing knowledge... I saw a friend of mine who I haven't seen since the summer; I've wondered about her from time to time. There's no such thing as coincidence. Picked a random spot to sit in church yesterday -- which happened to be the same side of the church she comes in from -- which happened to have just enough seats beside me. She was undecided about going to the LA (leaning more towards no), but then decided to come because I had asked her. While there were many good and necessary things that happened at the meeting (e.g., Jonas' talk about Character and planning out february/march with E2 Core), nothing from that afternoon/evening sticks out more than the close-to-3-hour talk we had at Tim Horton's. There's no substitute for good conversation. The generally confused look on people's faces is amusing; it's time to build that lexicon. Just as people have come and gone in YFC, it's as I shared before (jan.27th entry): I'm ever thankful to the people who have walked out of my life, as much as I'm thankful for the people who have walked in. Robyn, let me be the first to welcome you back -- in both regards. Hope to be seein' ya around more: Other than the contributions you can and will undoubtedly bring, God's not finished with you yet.



Speaking of seeing and speaking to people you haven't seen in the longest time, I met up with a good friend of mine today from elementary / high school / YFC. We couldn't even remember the last time we had a sit-down talk. Had a 3-hour conversation with the guy about random thoughts in the past 2-3 years of our lives. Calvin, to be blessed/cursed with an early maturity... As important and necessary as it is to observe life around us, let's remember to really enjoy life itself-- enjoy what God's already given us.



I'm becoming a big fan of the whole 3-hour sit-down conversation over a snack or coffee. Beats any kind of e-mailing or MSN conversation. Really, there's no substitute for good conversation. Thoughts undergo little or almost no editing. The stories and the debates of over Life, Love, Relationships and the Pursuit of Happiness will always interest me and impact me in thought-provoking and meaningful ways. Intellectually, Emotionally, Socially, Spiritually. My whole life has seemed to ever-point me in that direction; I feel the most useful and fulfilled through the relationships that not only get me to think, but also allow me the opportunity and privelege to share my life message: to share what God has priveleged me to learn and experience through the different relationships that have come into my life, left my life, and stayed with me.

As the saying goes, Caring means Sharing. Sharing my life and experience and learning with others. My life isn't about me; My life is not my own: Not for my purposes, but for his.