The Boy and the Ocean

A boy was walking by the ocean and found the most beautiful stone his eyes have ever seen. He decides to keep it, and thanks the ocean for giving him something precious he has been wishing for all his life. One day, while walking by the shore with the stone in his hand, the ocean spoke to him, "Throw back the stone in the water. I will give you something more beautiful and precious than you can ever imagine." The boy replied, "No! This stone is mine! It is my treasure and it is all that I have and own in my life. I am not giving it up to you!"

The boy walks away and goes home.

That night, in a dream, the boy saw himself playing with his stone by the ocean shore. Suddenly, a big wave washed him away bringing him to the ocean floor with the precious stone gone from his hands. He cried and was angry at the ocean, "Why did you take my stone away from me?!! What do you want from me?!!" The ocean was silent. The boy shouted harder, "You took away the most important thing in my life! Now I have nothing, and I hate you!"

As he cried, an earthquake suddenly split the ocean floor open, and a big wooden chest came out of the ground right in front of him. The ocean told the boy, "Open it. I brought you here because I am yours, and all that is mine I give to you." The boy opened the chest and there he saw his precious stone along with the most beautiful stones and gems in the whole world -- pearls, diamonds, emerald, gold, jade, etc.

The boy woke up from the dream and he understood. That morning, he took his precious stone and offered it back to the ocean. His heart was filled with gratitude and assurance that the ocean loves him, and will give him all that he will ever need. All the days of his life.

Form, Function, Light

What intrinsic value do color, shape, texture, size, sound, light, etc. have that makes us long for and appreciate the forms they take? Who or what is behind all of these? There must be something missing inside all of us that has a very strong affinity for the unseen face of God. If the sun and the moon cease from shining the Light, where shall we then find it? Why do we recognize light in a dark world? Why do we look for it? Have we seen it before the sun ever rose, before the world opened its eyes? There was light before we even existed, and from this light our existence came such that when the world was created, the first thing said was "Let there be Light!"

The switch was turned on.

When you see the world through Forms, you will always see its shadows. When you see the world through the Spirit, you will always see its Light. This is true with the objects, people, and things that we look at, categorize, and relate with each day. Black, white, short, ugly, fat, gay, straight, pretty, dirty, rich, poor, etc. - all these are forms, and they all yield shadows. Why can't we look at the sun's form for 5 seconds or greater? Because it is light and it only yields light.

Be aware that beautiful people, places, and experiences are but symbols of beauty themselves, they are not the real image. Everyday, we see facets of beauty displayed right before our eyes, and we ought to remember that the spectacle is not the oracle, the sight is not the light. If we look at people as spirits, we will see the light in them, and we will love them regardless of the forms they take.

Two Poems

As you arise from last night
into the promise of first light,
the bird by the window may not sing,
the day may bring forth no good thing.
But may the Light that enters your eyes
still color the world with truth not lies.
I will arise next to you,
together we will see the sky as Blue,
the sun Gold, the meadows Green,
the Beauty of things seen and unseen.
Wake up in love, truth, and beauty.
Rise up with faith, hope, and mercy.



If you were to sit next to the sunrise
or lie with the daisies of the field,
it will be difficult for me to choose
which Beauty to behold:
You have the splendour of the Sun
You bloom like the Flowers
You are Beautiful
and I love you.

The Eye of Beauty

If we had no Desire, we would not look to the right nor to the left; our eyes will not be attracted to the fascination and beauty in sight. It is as if everything around us screams, "Look at me! Look at that!" It is as if all of us are looking for something and wanting to be looked at. If one is blind and does not know who sees his/her every good or evil deed, does that make him/her unfulfilled? As I write even now, I spontaneously respond to the eyes that render me attention, and it does make me feel good to be looked at, to have someone else's attention pleasant or unpleasant as it may be. Whether their eyes shoot arrows of hate or approval at me, being looked at is enough to put me in the spotlight and feel very important. Maybe it is because, to some unexplained degree, some form of life-giving Light shines through every eye that beholds us.

"Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder..."

Sometime ago, some fellow humans came across my path, and though we never really stared at each other for frequent and long hours, I felt better and stronger than being appreciated or envied for wearing the coolest shoes in town. I WAS LOVED BY BEAUTY AND IT WAS NOT THROUGH THE EYES OF THE BEHOLDER; IT WAS IN THE PRESENCE OF THE BELOVED. Behold the eye of Beauty!

One day, we will have no need for human attention and approval. We will not need to put on fashionable clothes or drive fast expensive cars. We are actually blinded by those for now. Some day, blind men will see and the eyes of the Beloved will look at us with pure love.

We shall behold the face of God.

The Miracle of Today

Miracles happen everywhere around us. The person next to you is one, the people around you are another. It is when we live in love that the blessing of miracles is released and shared. I remember sitting next to my sister in her hospital bed, looking at her as she slept. I saw a miracle: She was a miracle of her own. She enabled me to love and know what it means to share this with one another.

My grandmother had some grudges with my mom when she was still alive. Days before she died, grandma had a dialogue with her. My mom asked her for forgiveness; for any offense or harm she has caused her, little as it may have been. My mom also asked in behalf of other relatives for forgiveness, and my grandmother told her, "All of those are in the past now, they don't matter anymore." That was another miracle.

Today is a miracle. I am a miracle. I can help, I can share, I can support, I can learn, I can grow, I can be the best person I know. I CAN LOVE.

My sister and grandmother both passed away and they left us with a miracle. They reminded us of the miracle that is in us, and that the people around us are miracles too. This is the same miracle that was shared and given to us 2,000 years ago. Jesus came and lived, performed miracles, and reminded us of the place where miracles constantly reside in endless grace and beauty. He gave us the miracle of redemption, the miracle of forgiveness, the miracle of new birth, the miracle of God's amazing love.

He gave us the miracle of Life. Eternal.

Made in China

Cheap labor for cheap thrills have made China the backyard of post-modern commerce and industry. Toys, gadgets, shoes, paper, tools, etc. sold in the US and the rest of the world are made by the hands of the Chinese people. Do not underestimate, however, the growing presence and the rising power of such a people and nation. Zhang Yimou's Hero and House of Flying Daggers are the best films I have seen this year so far. He is a genius, he throws the story at the audience the way his characters throw their daggers and use their swords: graceful, strong, precise, and horribly beautiful.

These are disturbing times - the white armies who conquer lands and slay innocent lives are approaching their defeat. These are the days of the underdog, the oppressed, and the conquered territories. The superpower is about to drown in weakness and a new Power will arise. This is man's story ruled by shifts of power, not the balance of power. All of us are competing for Ultimate World Super Power title holder. But God has a different story - the Truth. He is Power and He will reign forevermore. We have battles to win and enemies to destroy, while God has souls to save. Man's pen is mightier than his sword. God's Word - the Truth - is also His Sword, double-edged, piercing through marrows and the deep bottomless conscience.

If you are given a gift, you would hope it is something useful, precious, and worth your time and existence. There is a sense of expectation that drives us to open gifts, to uncover the unseen, to receive something new and fresh. Life is a gift, and if there is nothing in it for us when unwrapped, then we are no more than fools wasting our time and lives on this planet. Have you received the gift of life? Are you hoping it is something beautiful, extraordinary, exquisite, and divine? It better be, otherwise what you have received is not a blessing but a curse, a joke that everyone, except you, will laugh at.

The characters in Hero and House of Flying Daggers were burdened by the governments upon their shoulders. They were all fighting for the same cause - the right to rule and reign over the land - avenging the principles and the lives of their predecessors. Jin and Mei came from two opposite camps, both being played as "pawns on a chessboard" by their leaders until they both found each other. In love. Eventually, they both abandon their people, and fight for love and for one another. Their governments didn't care if they died or not, they only wanted the mission accomplished. Jin and Mei lost their people and their lives. They died in each other's arms knowing they have love that is worth dying for.

On any given day, love conquers all.

So will a new Super Power really change the destiny of mankind? Will it finally put an end to persistent struggles with equality, race, wealth, justice, healthcare, employment, etc.? As mentioned earlier, a shift of power, not a balance of power will occur, and the world will just become a more competitive, more vengeful place to live in. It seems that all the gifts we are unwrapping are all empty and making us more discontent, hateful, jealous, greedy, and insecure. Have you received the true gift of life?

Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."