first impressions, part one

Question for all you xangans:

When meeting someone for the first time, should first impressions of a person be considered the whole story?

Stolen from someone's AIM profile.. Umm, lol.

becuziluvblue asked a question about the Pope that several people have asked me in the past, so I thought I'd post it here:

i have a question. do catholics place the pope above all man, only under god and saints? do u love him as a man like you said or also as a role? if that makes sense...

Posted 4/14/2005 at 9:38 AM by becuziluvblue

Well, a lot of people, Catholic or not, have heard that Catholicism declares that the Pope is infallible. But what most people don't know is that it doesn't mean the Pope is perfect or above all man. The Pope's infallibility is only limited to anything that has to do with Church teachings, which includes what's in the Bible. He can clarify Church policies or take a stance on social and political issues as long as he bases all of his reasoning on the original teachings of the Church. This article explains it in more detail.

So although there are some people who regard the Pope as above all man, "officially" he really isn't except in terms of faith. However, I'm sure most people would agree that he is a great role model for all to follow. As a seminary student, he struggled just like everyone else, having been forced to work in the Nazi concentration camps of his native Poland. He fought for the Polish people, from the Nazi days until the fall of communism. Then during his last months, he could have just given up and resigned, but instead chose to perform his Church-related duties even as he struggled with his life. As a result, many people, including myself, Catholic or not, see him as the "People's Pope" and give him props for all the work he's done both inside and outside the Church.

As for me personally, I see him as a role model in terms of his faith and his life's struggles, as well what he believed politically. I know I'll never be as faithful as he was no matter how hard I try, but certainly I'll remember him as someone to look up to.

Funny, I thought I might score higher, lol.

As I walked out of church not more than twenty minutes ago, I thought about the Pope's recent passing.

How should I be reacting? Should I be grieving? Somehow, I feel saddened by the whole prospect of his passing but I don't consider myself to be grieving.

Last night, I didn't get back until 5am from a night at a friend and her bf's place to celebrate her and my roommate's birthdays. In terms of grieving, I don't think I found it while playing Texas Hold 'em until 4 in the morning.

Nevertheless, I see the late Pope as a man of faith dedicated to good, and he certainly deserves a lot of credit both for his work for the Church, peace, and addressing world issues, particularly his promotion of modern-day ideas such as democracy.

Maybe I'm not grieving, but I'm just comfortable with the fact that he's likely in a much more comfortable state right now compared to his struggle to survive during this past month.

Rest in peace, John Paul.

To the man whom I grew up with (literally, since 1978), I hope you get well soon, wherever that ends up being.

out there

hear the soothing voice
calm splashes from the heavens
blessing in disguise

angelic

I don't believe I've ever posted this song. While I'm not really an
anime fan, I like the exploratory theme of this song. There are times
in my life when I feel like the young boy the female vocalist is
talking to when listening to this piece.

It is interesting how this song refers to a 'cruel angel.' Not sure
what it symbolizes, perhaps the inevitable loss of innocence?

zankoku na tenshi no you ni
shounen yo shinwa ni nare

Like a cruel angel,
young boy, become the legend!

aoi kaze ga ima
mune no DOA wo tataite mo
watashi dake wo tada mitsumete
hohoende'ru anata

A blue wind is now
knocking at the door to your heart, and yet
you are merely gazing at me
and smiling.

sotto fureru mono
motomeru koto ni muchuu de
unmei sae mada shiranai
itaike na hitomi

Something gently touching--
you're so intent on seeking it out,
that you can't even see your fate yet,
with such innocent eyes.

dakedo itsuka kidzuku deshou
sono senaka ni wa
haruka mirai mezasu tame no
hane ga aru koto

But someday I think you'll find out
that what's on your back
are wings that are for
heading for the far-off future.

zankoku na tenshi no TE-ZE
madobe kara yagate tobitatsu
hotobashiru atsui PATOSU de
omoide wo uragiru nara
kono sora wo daite kagayaku
shounen yo shinwa ni nare

The cruel angel's thesis
will soon take flight through the window,
with surging, hot pathos,
if you betray your memories.
Embracing this sky [universe] and shining,
young boy, become the legend!

zutto nemutte'ru
watashi no ai no yurikago
anata dake ga yume no shisha ni
yobareru asa ga kuru

Sleeping for a long time
in the cradle of my love
The morning is coming when you alone will be called
by a messenger of dreams.

hosoi kubisuji wo
tsukiakari ga utsushite'ru
sekai-juu no toki wo tomete
tojikometai kedo

Moonlight reflects off
the nape of your slender neck.
Stopping time all throughout the world
I want to confine them, but...

moshimo futari aeta koto ni
imi ga aru nara
watashi wa sou jiyuu wo shiru
tame no BAIBURU

So if two people being brought together by fate
has any meaning,
I think that it is a "bible"
for learning freedom.

zankoku na tenshi no TE-ZE
kanashimi ga soshite hajimaru
dakishimeta inochi no katachi
sono yume ni mezameta toki
dare yori mo hikari wo hanatsu
shounen yo shinwa ni nare

The cruel angel's thesis.
The sorrow then begins.
You held tight to the form of life
when you woke up from that dream.
You shine brighter than anyone else.
Young boy, become the legend!

hito wa ai wo tsumugi nagara
rekishi wo tsukuru
megami nante narenai mama
watashi wa ikiru

People create history
while weaving love.
Even knowing I'll never be a goddess or anything like that,
I live on.

zankoku na tenshi no TE-ZE
madobe kara yagate tobitatsu
hotobashiru atsui PATOSU de
omoide wo uragiru nara
kono sora wo daite kagayaku
shounen yo shinwa ni nare

The cruel angel's thesis
will soon take flight through the window,
with surging, hot pathos,
if you betray your memories.
Embracing this sky and shining,
young boy, become the legend!

breathing...

I found an interesting quote last week while taking a break from work:

在呼吸中 練伸展
在伸展中 觀動靜
在動靜中 釆虛實
在虛實中 見剛柔

Mandarin pronunciation:
zai hu xi zhong, lian shen zhan
zai shen zhan zhong, guan dong jing
zai dong jing zhong, bian xu shi
zai xu shi zhong, xian gang rou

"Within your inhalation and exhalation, you practice expansion.
Within your expansion, observe movement and stillness.
Within your movement and stillness, know what is real and what is empty.
Within reality and emptiness, hard and soft appear."

Happy New Year Everyone!!!

恭喜發財!!