Slow Tongue

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, - James 1:19

If we are to take a look at it from the side of the speaker, perhaps it does make fair sense. When someone pours out their heart in good intention, speak of that which they have lived, experienced, words upon which they have experimented their very lives, right or wrong, correct or otherwise, merits more than words that rolled out without more than a mere moment’s thought. It is only fair then, that to answer words that have taken years and months and lifetime to compile, we might need a matching period to consider. Instant answers or counter arguments doesn’t do justice.

Perhaps in many case, the rightness or wrongness of an answer bears less relevance when we actually scrutinize our assumptions.

To see with unclouded eyes are hardly an easy thing to do.

On the other hand, while there are certainly undeniable good and reasonable things proposed by many good atheists and humanist, my one question will be how will their believe hold up in the face of that which is senseless, unreasonable, uncertain and that inevitable appointment with death.

Humble us, dear Lord.

Of Being Interesting

Sir, what book do you recommend?

Sketchbook, the best book in the world

Yes, indeed how my hands itch and yearn to pick up a pencil and scribble away. But deeper inside than drawing for drawing’s sake, I come to face another more important question.

What are you interested in?
What are you interested in, well I mean besides drawing?
Because if you are not interested in anything, the work you do are not going to be interesting. And people won’t want to watch boring things.

What am I interested in? What turns me on? These are the deeper question that underlies the expression. Perhaps it is true that one can never express for the sake of expressing. There needs to be more.

‘I am interested in entertaining people, in bringing pleasure, particularly laughter, to others, rather than being concerned with ‘expressing’ myself with obscure creative impressions.’ ~ Walt Disney

What is the difference between indulging in expressing myself and blessing the audience? The focus is different. One is done mindful of people. One is done solely for self-gratification. Yet it is also true that like minded people will also relish by your self-gratifications.

Sometimes I do wonder, can an artist who is only interested in comics Only, ever be a great comic artist? Will a dork only interested in fantasy ever be able to create good fantasy? Perhaps, but will fantasy be based on fantasy based on fantasy many times removed from reality ultimately loses its touch and connection with human? Will fiction born of fiction be its own demise? Perhaps there has got to be that vital link of human connection in an artist’s works that makes them truly great.

Originality – not that it is something that we can seek directly. We can’t be original for original’s sake, can we? But to birth something new, to add something to the existing landscape, an artist will need something deeper within. Many wonderful works that I love, be it in films, images, words or music, one core ingredient is that I can relate to it, that I can somehow care about it.

What makes me interesting? Can I really be different, a difference that count?

‘How monotonously alike all the great tyrants and conquerors have been: how gloriously different are the saints.’ ~ Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis

Perhaps herein lays the answer. I have to recognize the Giver, Sustainer, Author and Finisher of all things. All the gifts that I have comes from Him, all the trainings, opportunities and experience as well as all the wonderful people in my life are a gift from him. I can be where I am today because of His generosity. And to be different, to be the head and not the tail is all have to do with his favor. I can only be different – to be great if I can put it that way by abiding in Him. How can I be fruitful save to remain in Him? To walk with Him, to be close to Him, to be attentive and sensitive to Him, that is what it takes to make me interesting – a Fellowship with the Divine.

Help me therefore to surrender all these to You.
For it is only in You that I can reach my fullest potential.
For it is only in You that I can touch my destiny.
For it is only in You that these make any differences in Eternity.

Best Days

Write it on your heart that every day is the best day of the year - Ralph Waldo Emerson