missing link

A monumentous conclusion was reached today in unlikely circumstances. During a conversation in the Terrace Cafe, Wentworth Building, University of Sydney, it was realised that the missing evolutionary link is, in fact, Schrödinger's cat. Schrödinger's cat is in a box with a dangerous radioactive source, but nobody can look inside the box, hence nobody knows whether the cat is alive or dead. More to the point, there is a finite probably that it is alive, and a finite probability that it is dead. But who can say that the animal within the box is actually a cat at all? Nobody can say "it's a cat" with complete certainty since they themselves can't look inside the box. Hence there's a finite probability that it's a cat, a finite probability that it's a dog, and a finite probability that it's the missing evolutionary link that scientists worldwide are searching for desperately. Who would have thought that the reason they can't find it was that poor old Schrödinger just nonchalantly put it in a box nobody can look into...

romantic

There are moments in my life when a fact I have known since I was a boy is confirmed to me again: I am little more than a hopeless romantic at heart.

Lisa Mitchell's song "Incomplete Lullaby" is pretty much exactly what I think of as beautiful music. Simple piano, simple voice, weird lyrics with thoughtful imagery... it's got it all, and it gets me every time.

The boys laughed at me for liking her so much in Australian Idol last year... but whatever. I'm finally old enough to make up my own mind about the music I like. It only took 23 years...

lack... or not...

So I don't have a computer right now. Im trying not to class the way i
feel about this as 'withdrawal symptoms' but its hard since im reduced
to blogging by email from my phone. Sad, huh?

Anyhow, the worst thing about this is that i can't write in the way i
really feel like writing now. I feel like writing something cryptic
about confusion in the vain hope that it'd be read and understood by
just the right people, but i can't do that very well. I feel so much
and i know so little... such a foolish and familiar place. Could
somebody please point me towards the door? A loving push in the right
direction would also be appreciated. In fact, while ur at it, just
take care of my whole life and keep the change.

If I'm going to kill off the sin in my life - which i must, or it will
kill me instead - maybe i should be starting with laziness.

More thoughts later perhaps, when it's not my bedtime and i don't have
to give my thumbs RSI in the pursuit of self-expression.

individuality

In response to a post here, by the lead singer of Anberlin...

...and by "in response to", I probably just mean "to explore the themes of", 'coz I don't think I say anything much new...

In the West, our individuality is important to us, but that false and destructive amalgamation of two into one is so dangerously easy for us... I think maybe its because we're made to live in unity and in community. I mean, the false amalgamation that Stephen Christian talks about is one person with another, but one person with a community is a totally different thing, and yet inextricably related. There is something about life in community that delinearises relationships (in which I include friendships, of course) enough for them to be more healthy, more constructive and more inclusive than they would be otherwise. Likewise, there is something about relationships between two people, and them with others, and so on, that enrichens the life of the whole community.

I remember once hearing a bishop (or archdeacon, I can't quite remember) from the Congo talk at an Easter convention in Katoomba while he was visiting Australia, and he rebuked us (all 3000 of us who were present) for having such an individualistic culture, particularly in regard to our Christian lives. Our communities have broken down, and it seems that we've fallen back upon our individualism, which has furthered the downfall of our communities, and so on. While it's important to remember ourselves, it is absolutely essential to remember each other as well. None of us stand alone, despite all impressions to the contrary - as a sufferer of depression, I know how alone one can feel, but as one who has received treatment, I know how illusory is this sensation. Furthermore, for those of us who are in Christ, God has given to us as a gift the Christian community that we are a part of. Bonhoeffer wrote that we shouldn't complain of what we've been given, but as thankful recipients we should thank God daily for what He has provided us with. Being thankful implies remembrance, and Biblical remembrance always implies action.

Action requires a driving power, and God has given that to us. As Paul said to Timothy in his first letter to him (I think it's his first letter anyway), God didn't give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of love, of power and of self-discipline. Hehee... I'm really thankful for that memory verse I learnt at school! Love moves the heart to want to act, power enables the action, and self-discipline is to make sure you keep using both of these. Among other things of course. At 11:30pm, it's always hard to remember the point I was trying to get accross, but I believe it to be that all of these qualities are given to individuals, and all are for the benefit of other individuals and the community. If you lose sight of yourself, you won't be able to see the loving, empowering and self-disciplining spirit that is at work in you through Christ (and never forget that is is only through Christ), and if you lose sight of those around you and the community that you're in, you won't be able to see how to best use these things. Both awareness of self in Christ and awareness of others must be a present reality in our lives. I guess it even follows from what Jesus said were the greatest commandments: "Love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, mind, strength" implies both an awareness of what your "all" is, and that you know that but for God's grace you are nothing, since your "all" is for Him and not you; "Love your neighbour as yourself" implies that you know who your "neighbour" is and that you know how to love them, and hence that you know their needs.

I hope that's at least a little bit clear, because I really think it's important, having experienced this gone wrong on both extremes (even at the same time! go figure). I guess that I would sum up by saying that the healthiest relationships, and I would also say the healthiest communities, are relationships and communities made up of individuals who know who they are but who also know that they don't, and can't, stand alone.

mediocrity

If you're reading this post, it means at least the following:

1. You're blessed with the resources to write letters and emails
2. You can, or you will be able to vote
3. You have time on your hands

Do not settle for mediocrity! Neither in our governments, nor in our society, nor in ourselves. We are in the middle of a world that is bleeding, bruised and angry. If you know Christ's love, share it, live it, let it move your hands and feet and mouth. Open your eyes and open your heart - we have all had both closed too long now.

"He has shown all you people what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
And to walk humbly with your God."
- Micah 6:8 (TNIV)