New Year Resolution 2009.

Firstly,  Happy New Year to any readers I have out there...

I don't usually like to put up resolutions for new years...usually I don't have much good stuff.  But I have been reflecting on my weaknesses this past year and I hope to improve upon it through this year's resolutions.

1. See the sunrise at least once every month, attempt to do it for a whole week if possible, and then go to morning Mass before work.

2. Put to practice more of love through all my responsibilities.  That means work promptly and joyfully even when I see no love or end of it.  Also means apologizing and making up for deficiencies and failures when I have not done so.

3. Clean out my high school and college stuff, re-organize home. [Probably will be a late year project].

4. Try to find beauty everyday and thank God for it.

TMH

The Trek World / Gundam SEED

One of my lesser known hobbies is sci-fi and the contemplation of the future of humanity. Through the science fiction series of Star Trek and Gundam SEED universe, the writes wishes to explore what happens when...

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/10/30/designer.babies/index.html

And it is beginning to look very much that our very own reality is turning into what the sci-fi writers few decades ago have only imagined. Perhaps that is one of those things that draws people to the sci-fi genre, for its seemingly tangible reach. And some of these writers have gotten their vision and basis of story quite accurately.

In the Star Trek Universe, according to Star Trek Enterprise and Star Trek: First Contact, after the WWIII and the Eugenics War, earth was devastated. And in the story of Gundam SEED, the story took place in the middle of what could be called WWIII and a Eugenics War between the genetically modified "Coordinators" and "Naturals".

One thing is certain between the two science fiction timeline and storyline. Humans begin to experiment with genetic modification and creates designer babies, Khan in Star Trek's story and Kira Yamato in Gundam SEED's story. There were in both stories struggles with suffering -- oh yes it could happen even if a child is genetically engineered to be as perfect as they can be, never-being-sick, super-intellect, super-strength, and super long life not withstanding. They could also be the most ordinary and pure child growing up, or they could be posterchild of "modern technological advances", a celebratiy of sorts, they will still experience the human condition as we know of it. And the people around them are certainly going to be going through similar experiences as well. In fact, for them in one hand, it will be harder for than to grasp what everyone else is going through and on the other hand it could breed contempt. Obviously, they'll no doubt suffer from prejudices and violences due to their differences and no doubt from people with envy and hatred.

We as the current generation of human beings should really consider if we want to walk down that path. Technological progression is good but not in all sense, and having our technology dictate our moral is a definite no-no. When we take the future solely into our own hands, reaching out grasping as Adam and Eve did in the Garden...

It is the propagation of our specie that we're talking about here...a most sacred and primordial duty and calling of our nature! That and working with the sweat of the brows for our food.

When we take the man and the woman out of the marriage, when our children are no longer born of a gentle mother's womb and a loving father's care, where would the capstones of our civilization rest on? And, when the dismantling of the human family is complete, where would a people lost in the stars, void of their Origin, Family, and Creator traverse? When we have finally reached the final frontier, would we be standing as who we are or just a product of our own vices?

Need I to say that when Pax Romana reached its height of moral decay, it crumbled. And when an Empire ruled its subject colonies with contempt, they revolt thus ending the Empire where the Sun Never Sets. I hope this critical year of 2008 marked with the election in the United States will not bring us over the top of Pax Americana with our own moral decay with FOCA, same-sex marriage/union/whatever "laws", and "hate crime" laws on the table in the next four years to come. Fr. Caropi says it well, "We're in a crisis of manhood...man of leadership". This is the time that we need to stand up for Truth, to affirm Beauty, and to move in Love.

- TMH -

Good Bye Good Stop, and Hello Next Stop.

In the past year, I think I've said so many good byes that I'm beginning to notice them! And the crazy thing is, I really don't want to say good byes. One of my favorite St. Peter moments is on the Mount of Transfiguration when Moses and Elijah came to see our Blessed Lord. And dear St. Peter said to our Blessed Lord, "why don't we make three tents, one for Moses, one for Elijah, and one for You." Of course, our good Peter did not know what he was talking about. But he knows as well as any others, a good friend's stay, not to mention when the Law and Prophets came to stay, what joyous occasion!

Many things has happened in the past few months since the new year, and I'm sure many more will happen, and amidst all God's guiding hand is upon us. Whether we get to hang out with our friends tomorrow, or whether that program you're working on at work is going to be finished. Or even how it might be so quiet and lonely when everybody leaves for vacation in far away or fun places. All is in God's hands. All we can do is to do what we can today, enjoy today, live today, to the fullest of our strength -- even if you have to live it in tears, enjoy it -- 'cause tomorrow come and it be gone.

I think through separation, distance, and the unknown, God teaches us to treasure those moments of intimacy, gatherings, and the constant. To treasure, but not to linger on. Most definitely not intoxicated and fallen asleep at the stop, even if it is a Good Stop. Fr. Bob Scott used to say every semester, a homily call the Good Stop. I think my new lesson to is that when we finally reached the end of the stop, we have to be resolve and ready to say Good Bye to our friends at the Good Stop. To walk down literally that path leading to the next stop -- the next step into life. We are a people living in temperance. Can't have chocolate all the time, but when we do, we savor it -- but we do not splurge nor binge. Same thing with friendship and relationships. Although we all wonder what the Communion of the Saints is like when we finally have passed into the next life, I think we can get glimpses of it here on earth when we hang out with our friends. It is of course, so much more awesome in heaven.

I think I've had a lot of lesson on saying Good Bye this year so far. And the chimney on the train have just whistled the departing tone. I await for the vehicle to once again visit this place where all of us are together again. Some of you I might not see for a very long time, have a good trip and enjoy, I'll see you around. But for those I'll be seeing and possibly bugging for the next while, well, I'll see you then.

I'm rambling. My point being though, I feel like God has given me so much good byes in this first half of the year, and so much moments of closeness and moments of distance, so much struggles, and so much peace of mind, so much pain and yet so much comfort, so much unknown yet so much constant presence. In transit, I await for tomorrow and the next Good Stop. This time, I will bring my camera and my beads. It will be a good time -- in God's time.

Si Dios Quiere Mis Hermanos, ...Si Dios Quiere.

p.s. I was not going to write this entry, hence of my obvious rambling state of mind. But after reading Reuben's Adventure in Mexico entry, I felt drawn to finally write these thoughts down. After such a long time since my last posting. Well, hopefully I ain't confused too many of ya'll yet.


TMH