In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.


LomoHome of the Day.

Nice day it's been. I won the LomoHome of the Day at www.lomography.com. You can go straight to my LomoHome to check out the pics: http://www.lomohomes.com/ChrisOng. For winning, I get USD 50.00 to spend at the Lomo Shop, which I have every inclination to. How fun. Perhaps a Pop9? Haha.

More discourse on wisdom? Not tonight.

The more I walk around Melbourne City, the more curious places I discover. Yesterday, it was the Sahara Cafe, which I found out today that the main clique of Melbourne Lomographers hang out from time to time. It's a really Bohemian-looking place with lots of foliage hanging around. Yes, foliange - ferns, small trees... etc. Very cool electronica coming out from the stereos.

Another place which I happened by is a record shop in one of those alleys near Bourke Street Mall. It's also a cool place to hang out, if you happen to know the people there. The record selection is good while, at the same time, widespread. Lots of techno names there. The only con about it is that it's way more expensive than most other shops here in Melbourne. Not that Melbourne record shops are cheap anyway.

Two new places to go to. Last week, when Ruth was here, we went into a Jazz music store which is underground, its entrance along Block Place. Very trendy. Lots of character. I'm really soaking into the Melbourne lifestyle. Cool

Anyway, it's late. I wanna sleep. So, buenas noches.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam

In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.


New cross-processed photos... Visit shuttercollective.com.

Sometimes, I wonder when I'll ever work out my place here in Melbourne. Some parts fit and some parts don't. The lucky thing, though, is that we humans are highly adaptable, and I'm no exception. Unlike animals, we actually think beyond our instinct. We strive to do more than survive. That alone gives us the edge over other living things. That alone makes us higher beings, the so-called civilised. We are intelligent.

The other night, Pearlyn asked me, "Then why do humans go to war? Why are we so stupid as to fight and kill each other off?"

My reply was that intelligence is not enlightenment.

I would like to correct that: Intelligence is not wisdom.

Many months ago, I had a discourse on wisdom here. Wisdom is like intelligence, but it is not the same as intelligence. Wisdom can only be used for doing what God intends for us to do. If we are really smart and we make a advantageous move to further our own evil actions, that's not wisdom. That's shrewdness. Wisdom does not necessarily make sense until the outcome is achieved. Intelligence depends on logic. Wisdom does not.

Why?

Because wisdom comes from love... and God is love. Why else would Solomon so vehemently pursue wisdom, as though it was more important than anything else on earth? Wisdom is a virtue that is as equal as patience. Both virtues, nevertheless are bound together.

Anyway, enough of this. Just felt like spewing out some words tonight... good night.

Ad Majorem dei Gloriam

In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.


Easter Holiday visitors

Good Friday was good. The last week was good. Things will get better day by day. Some updates:

- Starting my job as a volunteer video editor for RMITV, for the weekly rock band variety show called PLUCK, on channel 31.
- Going on nicotine patch from this Tuesday. It's part of a 10-week program to quit smoking.
- Going to start looking for job, because I've finally got permission from Immigration to work.
- Got a new camera: LOMO SuperSampler. Will put pics up later on this month, I suppose.

So, Happy Easter! The Lord is risen 2000 years ago. And everyday that passes, we Christians celebrate our salvation in song, dance, scripture and, most importantly, worship. And sometimes, we can celebrate our salvation through our hardships and problems.

Even the miniscule ones.

There are days when we have our own problems... the problems that we bring upon ourselves. Examples that I've been through these last months are: finance, social, ethical and health. There are also problems that others cast upon ourselves. Sometimes, those are more complicated, especially when you are conscientious enough not to abandon your friends.

In the past, I have had a couple of friends who I felt were a drag. They were often social misfits (so was I but I was the complete misfit and went to bother no one). They always needed someone to listen to because no one listened to them. I had the patience to listen to them. And so they came back again and again... after some time, they began to depend on me for advice that I'm not qualified to give. A few months of this can drive the most patient person to insanity.

So what is a guy to do with friends who come everyday and relate their problems (the same problems) everyday, day in, day out, every waking moment? We can give them real solutions and hard facts... we can practically tell them how to solve their problems... but they can't do it because i) they won't admit it to themselves; ii) they are afraid of the truth; or iii) they are not listening.

So what can I do? Well, I'm sure the most patient person in the world still needs to be more patient. Prayer helps, but if your friend doesn't believe that it does, then it's not really effective.

In the end, there are also choices to make. They have their choices. You have yours. Let's say that they come to you so regularly that your daily routine and functions begin to get affected. Then you know it's bad. They are entering a sphere of your personal influence that has not been granted to them. Often they are so engrossed in their personal problems that they don't realise this, even if you tell them openly. They simply won't get it.

Anyway, I was talking about choices. We have the choice, too, to choose our friends. We can choose to be less friendly with them. It's cruel, I know. But sometimes, that's our only option, especially when we have our own problems, which makes us totally unqualified to counsel others anyway. We can also choose to continue to give in to them by exercising more patience... By becoming friends with someone, we take on a responsibility to share their problems. So we go through the same thing again and again with them, everyday, every hour when they are with us, being there for them.

So you choose between continuing the friendship or ending it. See what works for you. I don't believe that the first choice is a selfish one because there are some things that we just can't afford. It's not that we always have the capability to help others out. If we do, then the whole world is a better place. Remember: some of their problems are ones that they need to figure out entirely by themselves, and we shouldn't even be giving them hints at all.

On the other hand, if you choose to continue being friends with them, you'll have to be a responsible friend. That means you're committed. You allow them into your personal space.

Whatever it is, keep everything true. Stay truthful to your friend and yourself. Don't dodge it. The truth can be very painful, but it is still better than being lied to. A 'yes' must mean 'yes', and a 'no' must mean 'no'. Don't leave any gray areas behind. For me, I'd make the decision as soon as possible because, then, I can move on with a clear and clean spirit.

Keep moving forward. Don't stop. Don't be afraid of what we can't see. The path might be dark, but with faith in Him, we prevail.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam

In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.

Palm Sunday, 2003


The State Library Of Victoria, which is just outside my apartment. (More here...)

Easter is next week. Time for some holidays. Ruth and two of her friends are coming down from Canberra on Tuesday. They are on holidays too. I sure got my work cut out for me (and I haven't even gone for confession yet).

How's life, everyone? Yesterday, I just screwed up a presentation that I had so carefuly planned. But it's okay. It's just one assessment. Got an essay due on Tuesday, but that one's easy. I know I haven't been blogging. But I won't feel sorry about not blogging. If I don't feel like blogging, then I won't blog. We shouldn't be blogging just for the sake of blogging.

Nowadays, I so much prefer to talk to people face to face than to blog, write e-mails, telephone them etc. I want personal physical contact. I think it's one of the best ways to get to know people. Body language and environmental contexts get across correctly. There is no guessing your friend's intention. At least, that's how I'd like meetings to be. You never know people until you meet them. Only then will wisdom come easily.

What I want to share about tonight: God has been talking to me in my sleep. I think it's a wonderful thing that He talks to me that way. However, the things He has been telling me are not that fantastic. I will not go into what He is trying to tell me. I believe that I'm being warned against certain things that can be detrimental to me. Especially things that tempt me, things of ambition, things of desire. I've been here for about 2 months and I haven't really been tempted drastically in any way. But I think He knows that I will be in the near future and I should be careful forthwith.

Anyway, yes. I want you guys to continue praying for me through this Easter and after. I'm praying for you everyday, especially for you, you and most of all, you. To the last 'you': Been a while since I heard from you. Send me an e-mail! I really wish to hear from you... and I hope one day, we can look back and laugh about the past.

My financial crisis, as it had been for 2 weeks, is not over. But I found a solution, a legitimate one. So thanks for your prayers. I know that the solution had been God's answer. Thank God for sending someone down to help me out.


The Magnificat (Lk 1:46-55)

"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour;
because He has looked upon the humiliation of his servant.
Yes, from now onwards all generations will call me blessed,
for the Almighty has done great things for me.
Holy is His name
and his faithful love extends age after age to those who fear him.
He has used the power of His arm,
he has routed the arrogant of heart.
He has pulled down princes from their thrones
and raises high the lowly.
He has filled the starving with good things,
sent the rich away empty.
He has come to the help of Israel his servant,
mindful of His faithful love,
according to the promise He made to our ancestors,
of His mercy to Abraham and to his descendants for ever."

Ad Majorem dei Gloriam