The thought of failure is inevitably and inexorably instilled upon our bodies and souls. Evolutionarily, we have been physically set up to survive, our bodies nothing more than the sum of the parts that we use as a tool to ensure the survival of our species. Our minds and thoughts often care little more than survival, chemicals being freely transferred across our endocrine system and nervous system to coordinate our bodies to ourselves and other bodies. Our brain is the center of it all, cephalization ensuring our most important physical attribute goes protected.
And there is no profound argument that can claim we are more than animals, more than the rocks that we lightly throw and skim upon the surfaces of our reservoirs. There is nothing that can convince me that there is purpose, that there is something more than the physical world that matters. There is nothing that can claim with correct reasoning that humanity is somehow “different” than others, not in the physical sense, obviously. There is no argument that can possibly prove that humans are somehow “more important” than anything else in the grand scheme, long term existence.
Except for the argument of love.
Yes, I’m fuckin’ around. I hate finals.
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Monday, May 4, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Lent
is over.
I had another post, but I saved it for later, since I think this needs to be said.
I can finally eat meat!
So I found that Lent ends on Holy Thursday. Naturally, I decided to eat meat on Saturday.
My brother, mother and I went to Applebee's and I ordered a shrimp entree...and a sirloin steak.
For once, ironic considering how small they are, my eyes were bigger than my stomach.
We took a to-go box, and saved the shrimp for later because the steak gave me a stomachache.
I guess I deserved that.
Also, I ate with Cha Tri Dinh! We went to Chili's (God bless America) and had a blast with my parents, brother, Rosemary and Nila. It was good times.
I also found out that Cha goes on Facebook often but found out how to sign in without letting people know he's online.
He's so tricky.
Like a priest would be...
I told Stephanie about my stomach problems after eating meat, proclaiming that I think I might have lost my appetite for meat.
She responded with, "That's the worst news ever!"
I smiled, thinking she might actually care for once.
That is, until she said, "Other than Jesus being dead of course."
Is everything a joke to you, woman!? Have you no soul?
Here's an Easter story.
There was once this teacher of a catechism school on Sundays. She was talking about Easter to her very young students.
"Does anyone know what Easter is?" she asked, smiling at the children.
Unfortunately, she was met with silence. Children seem to understand the precise moments to be quiet and loud, and knowing this, they often do the opposite.
However, one child was brave enough to raise her hand.
"Yes, dear. What is Easter?" the teacher asked supportively to the nervous girl.
The girl put her hand down and gulped.
"It's when Jesus comes out of the tomb," she replied meekly.
The teacher was very happy.
"Exactly," she began. "Easter Sunday is wh-"
"But," the girl interrupted, now filled with confidence. "If he sees his shadow he goes back in and winter lasts six more weeks!"
I had another post, but I saved it for later, since I think this needs to be said.
I can finally eat meat!
So I found that Lent ends on Holy Thursday. Naturally, I decided to eat meat on Saturday.
My brother, mother and I went to Applebee's and I ordered a shrimp entree...and a sirloin steak.
For once, ironic considering how small they are, my eyes were bigger than my stomach.
We took a to-go box, and saved the shrimp for later because the steak gave me a stomachache.
I guess I deserved that.
Also, I ate with Cha Tri Dinh! We went to Chili's (God bless America) and had a blast with my parents, brother, Rosemary and Nila. It was good times.
I also found out that Cha goes on Facebook often but found out how to sign in without letting people know he's online.
He's so tricky.
Like a priest would be...
I told Stephanie about my stomach problems after eating meat, proclaiming that I think I might have lost my appetite for meat.
She responded with, "That's the worst news ever!"
I smiled, thinking she might actually care for once.
That is, until she said, "Other than Jesus being dead of course."
Is everything a joke to you, woman!? Have you no soul?
Here's an Easter story.
There was once this teacher of a catechism school on Sundays. She was talking about Easter to her very young students.
"Does anyone know what Easter is?" she asked, smiling at the children.
Unfortunately, she was met with silence. Children seem to understand the precise moments to be quiet and loud, and knowing this, they often do the opposite.
However, one child was brave enough to raise her hand.
"Yes, dear. What is Easter?" the teacher asked supportively to the nervous girl.
The girl put her hand down and gulped.
"It's when Jesus comes out of the tomb," she replied meekly.
The teacher was very happy.
"Exactly," she began. "Easter Sunday is wh-"
"But," the girl interrupted, now filled with confidence. "If he sees his shadow he goes back in and winter lasts six more weeks!"
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Based on a True Story...
It’s like a scene from a comedy, and then you realize how horrible it is.
Here I am, sitting at my local library, my weekends filled with the droll and arid taste of studying. I had been sharing a table with a stranger, both of us mutually compatible with capitalizing the limited space. No words were exchanged. We just sat and minded our own business.
And then I believe my stranger left temporarily. I’m sure many of you have been in that peculiar, potentially awkward situation when you’re sitting with a friend, and then your friend leaves to use the bathroom. Then someone else attempts to take the seemingly vacated spot, only to hear your disappointing proclamation, “I’m sorry. I believe someone is sitting there.” Or if you’re Jillian, “I already claimed that spot.”
But that’s another story in itself.
Now imagine this person has left, and someone else is trying to take the “empty” spot.
Imagine a paraplegic, confined to a wheelchair, a Stephen Hawking type. He can only move with the movement of his fingers, the index dictates the direction of his desire. I see him from the corner of my eye, the shame of my mobility preventing me from looking at him directly.
What I see for literally the next three minutes is his painstaking attempt to wheel into a small spot. I noticed that he had glasses and hadn’t shaved in a while. He first tried to go into the spot feet first. Then, when he found he couldn’t fit, he turned around and wheeled backwards. He still couldn’t fit all the way, but stopped, half his back end in the spot, face to face with me, who was still avoiding any eye contact possible. I’m pro at that. When he stopped, seemingly settled into his spot, he began to open the book on his lap.
FML, his arms were shaky. He couldn’t clench his fingers to open the book so he half-scooped it up with one hand and shuffled through the pages clumsily. It was really a sad sight, this old, frail man confined to a wheel chair and trying so weakly to open a book and simply try to enjoy the minor pleasure of reading. For us, it’s simply sit down and open, but for this man, it has taken him (and still taking him as I write this) an immense effort to do that which we take for granted. At this point, I was torn between laughing out loud and crying.
Then I noticed he was wearing a baseball cap with “I <3 Jesus” on it. Again, I was torn between laughing and crying.
Then I noticed the book he was trying to read was the Bible.
He took another three minutes to open it up, his arms vibrating involuntary and violently and his fingers noncompliant. It was as if God sent this man to see if I had a heart or not.
Well, God. I didn’t laugh out loud.
I just chuckled.
And he left.
You may say that I’m going to hell, but let me explain the reason behind my overt burst of giddiness. I didn’t laugh at his condition itself, far from it. I was laughing at the fact that it was such an exaggerated form of his condition and seemed almost surreal. I was laughing at the fact that this could be a scene straight from 30 Rock, and I was definitely laughing at my own awkwardness and inability to deal with the situation like a mature adult. It was ridiculously awkward and random. I was laughing because this is a situation that could easily be handled with maturity, but I noticed that I failed to be mature.
Dammit. I’m still definitely going to hell.
Here I am, sitting at my local library, my weekends filled with the droll and arid taste of studying. I had been sharing a table with a stranger, both of us mutually compatible with capitalizing the limited space. No words were exchanged. We just sat and minded our own business.
And then I believe my stranger left temporarily. I’m sure many of you have been in that peculiar, potentially awkward situation when you’re sitting with a friend, and then your friend leaves to use the bathroom. Then someone else attempts to take the seemingly vacated spot, only to hear your disappointing proclamation, “I’m sorry. I believe someone is sitting there.” Or if you’re Jillian, “I already claimed that spot.”
But that’s another story in itself.
Now imagine this person has left, and someone else is trying to take the “empty” spot.
Imagine a paraplegic, confined to a wheelchair, a Stephen Hawking type. He can only move with the movement of his fingers, the index dictates the direction of his desire. I see him from the corner of my eye, the shame of my mobility preventing me from looking at him directly.
What I see for literally the next three minutes is his painstaking attempt to wheel into a small spot. I noticed that he had glasses and hadn’t shaved in a while. He first tried to go into the spot feet first. Then, when he found he couldn’t fit, he turned around and wheeled backwards. He still couldn’t fit all the way, but stopped, half his back end in the spot, face to face with me, who was still avoiding any eye contact possible. I’m pro at that. When he stopped, seemingly settled into his spot, he began to open the book on his lap.
FML, his arms were shaky. He couldn’t clench his fingers to open the book so he half-scooped it up with one hand and shuffled through the pages clumsily. It was really a sad sight, this old, frail man confined to a wheel chair and trying so weakly to open a book and simply try to enjoy the minor pleasure of reading. For us, it’s simply sit down and open, but for this man, it has taken him (and still taking him as I write this) an immense effort to do that which we take for granted. At this point, I was torn between laughing out loud and crying.
Then I noticed he was wearing a baseball cap with “I <3 Jesus” on it. Again, I was torn between laughing and crying.
Then I noticed the book he was trying to read was the Bible.
He took another three minutes to open it up, his arms vibrating involuntary and violently and his fingers noncompliant. It was as if God sent this man to see if I had a heart or not.
Well, God. I didn’t laugh out loud.
I just chuckled.
And he left.
You may say that I’m going to hell, but let me explain the reason behind my overt burst of giddiness. I didn’t laugh at his condition itself, far from it. I was laughing at the fact that it was such an exaggerated form of his condition and seemed almost surreal. I was laughing at the fact that this could be a scene straight from 30 Rock, and I was definitely laughing at my own awkwardness and inability to deal with the situation like a mature adult. It was ridiculously awkward and random. I was laughing because this is a situation that could easily be handled with maturity, but I noticed that I failed to be mature.
Dammit. I’m still definitely going to hell.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Lenten Journey (March 2)
I hate giving up stuff for a reason other than my own volition. I hate New Year's Resolutions and giving up stuff for Lent. If there's something in excess and superfluous to your life, you should take the initiative to stop it yourself. you shouldn't wait until January 1st or Ash Wednesday to do it.
As much as I think it is wonderful we sacrifice and walk with Christ during the Lenten season, I think that we should always be walking with Christ, sacrificing to show that Man does not live on bread alone, but indeed, on the Word of God.
That's the idea, and that being said:
[The Day After Ash Wednesday]
Stephanie: i just stole a girlscout cookie from my roommate
Stephanie: i hope she doesn't mind
Andrew: youre going to hell
Andrew: God minds
Stephanie: balls
Stephanie: i'll apologize later
Andrew: to whom?
Stephanie: my roommate
Stephanie: and god
Andrew: Jesus fasted in the desert for 40 days and you couldn't resist a cookie for less than a week?
Stephanie: false
Stephanie: weeks
Andrew: days
Stephanie: nope
Stephanie: weeks
Stephanie: at least two
Stephanie: if not three
Stephanie: and jesus is jesus
Andrew: shouldnt we strive to be like Jesus?
Stephanie: we should indeed
Stephanie: but might i point out that you had meat yesterday
Andrew: and i might point out that i fasted for the rest of the day
Stephanie: hi, at one day
Stephanie: you fail.
Stephanie: and i fasted too
Stephanie: and
Stephanie: managed not to eat meat
Stephanie: i think i win
Andrew: fine
Andrew: i'm giving up meat for lent
Stephanie: for serious?
Andrew: just to win
Andrew: and yes
Stephanie: JUST TO WIN?
Stephanie: bah
Andrew: a victory for Jesus
Andrew: i swear
Stephanie: thats what they said on the crusades
Andrew: but i'm not killing people
Andrew: it's a bit different
Andrew: the crusades are the crusades
Andrew: don't even
[Pause]
Andrew: say something hilarious before i go
Stephanie: i can't do it on cue!
Stephanie: i don't even mean to be hilarious
[Pause]
Andrew: one more try
Stephanie: nope
Stephanie: but im not letting you win
Stephanie: we'll discuss this later
Andrew: i'm giving up meat starting tomorrow
Stephanie: wait
Stephanie: lent starts today
Stephanie: starting now
Stephanie: you have to give it up
Andrew: i have a dinner to go to
Stephanie: jesus vs dinner
Andrew: argh
Andrew: fine
Andrew: today
So yes, I'm giving up meat for Lent, but can you honestly blame me?
I mean, c'mon. Giving up meat for Lent vs. losing to Stephanie. Before you judge me, ask yourself, WWJD?
As much as I think it is wonderful we sacrifice and walk with Christ during the Lenten season, I think that we should always be walking with Christ, sacrificing to show that Man does not live on bread alone, but indeed, on the Word of God.
That's the idea, and that being said:
[The Day After Ash Wednesday]
Stephanie: i just stole a girlscout cookie from my roommate
Stephanie: i hope she doesn't mind
Andrew: youre going to hell
Andrew: God minds
Stephanie: balls
Stephanie: i'll apologize later
Andrew: to whom?
Stephanie: my roommate
Stephanie: and god
Andrew: Jesus fasted in the desert for 40 days and you couldn't resist a cookie for less than a week?
Stephanie: false
Stephanie: weeks
Andrew: days
Stephanie: nope
Stephanie: weeks
Stephanie: at least two
Stephanie: if not three
Stephanie: and jesus is jesus
Andrew: shouldnt we strive to be like Jesus?
Stephanie: we should indeed
Stephanie: but might i point out that you had meat yesterday
Andrew: and i might point out that i fasted for the rest of the day
Stephanie: hi, at one day
Stephanie: you fail.
Stephanie: and i fasted too
Stephanie: and
Stephanie: managed not to eat meat
Stephanie: i think i win
Andrew: fine
Andrew: i'm giving up meat for lent
Stephanie: for serious?
Andrew: just to win
Andrew: and yes
Stephanie: JUST TO WIN?
Stephanie: bah
Andrew: a victory for Jesus
Andrew: i swear
Stephanie: thats what they said on the crusades
Andrew: but i'm not killing people
Andrew: it's a bit different
Andrew: the crusades are the crusades
Andrew: don't even
[Pause]
Andrew: say something hilarious before i go
Stephanie: i can't do it on cue!
Stephanie: i don't even mean to be hilarious
[Pause]
Andrew: one more try
Stephanie: nope
Stephanie: but im not letting you win
Stephanie: we'll discuss this later
Andrew: i'm giving up meat starting tomorrow
Stephanie: wait
Stephanie: lent starts today
Stephanie: starting now
Stephanie: you have to give it up
Andrew: i have a dinner to go to
Stephanie: jesus vs dinner
Andrew: argh
Andrew: fine
Andrew: today
So yes, I'm giving up meat for Lent, but can you honestly blame me?
I mean, c'mon. Giving up meat for Lent vs. losing to Stephanie. Before you judge me, ask yourself, WWJD?
Friday, February 6, 2009
Matthew Strikes Again (Feb. 2)
SO. I'm checkin' out Matt's Xanga (which all of you should follow) and he asked his readers to do something, so instead of studying for physics, I'll do it.
"24 HOURS TO LIVE! (AKA 24 HOURS UNTIL YOU DIE)
Must Have...
- Minimum 8 Hours of Sleep
- Freedom to go anywhere (instant transporation)
- Can go with anyone you want, or alone, at any time
- At some point in the day, you must take two tests (15 minutes each)
- One of the tests must be a rigorous academic subject that you are good at
- The other test must be on an academic subject that you care about the most/are most interested in
- If you pass these two tests, you will be able to fix any significant social/political problem in the world. What would you fix?
- Where do you go, who is with you, and what do you do there?
12 AM -
1AM -
2AM -
3AM -
4AM -
5AM -
6AM -
7AM -
8AM -
9AM -
10AM -
11AM -
12PM -
1PM -
2PM -
3PM -
4PM -
5PM -
6PM -
7PM -
8PM -
9PM -
10PM -
11PM -
12AM -
What would you do?
Places to go?
Activities?
Abilities?
People?
Interests?
Concerns?
Talk to me about it after... If enough people fill it out, I'll type up mine! :D!"
12AM-5AM: I'll sleep and wake up just before the sunrise, so I can catch it one last time with the woman I love on a beach somewhere nowhere near civilization. I know, I know. Those of you who know me well are probably thinking, "No way Andrew can get up that early! Freakin' lazy-ass mother fu-" But this is a hypothetical so just let me have my fun, ok? =)
5AM-7AM: I'd eat breakfast with aforementioned woman while watching the sunrise. We'll talk and laugh and just be all smiles. Breakfast will include sausages and eggs and tater tots. Wait, wtf? That's what I eat at the dining hall...talk about pathetic aspirations. Anyways, the food itself hardly matters, as long as I get to eat something and enjoy my morning.
7AM-10AM: After I eat and watch the sunrise and change my Facebook status accordingly, I'd take a 3 hour nap. I freakin' woke up hella early!
"Andrew Nguyen just had an amazing morning with [insert name here], watching the sun rise on a deserted island and enjoying each other's company! About 2 minutes ago. - Comment"
10AM-11AM: I'd take my two tests. The first one would be an essay test. I'd probably take the essay portion of the SAT I again, since I did pretty well every time I took it. Then, after those first 15 minutes, I'd take a 30 minute break to cram for a Human Anatomy test, which is the required course I'm taking now for my degree, leading the way to a dental school acceptance hopefully. The world problem I'd fix would be world hunger. I think everyone should have a chance to be nourished. That way, they can be healthy to make good decisions. I just want everyone to be happy =)
11AM-12:30PM: I'll probably go to Church. I want it to be a Sunday celebration, with one of my friends presiding, and any other friends who happen to be priests also present behind the alter. Also behind the alter I'd like Cha Tri Dinh, simply because he really, really, really knows how to help out alter servers. Yes, I'm speaking as the voice of experience. Matt and I would have walked around aimlessly without him.
Also, I'd like the FLOCK Choir to sing for mass. The gathering song will be "Go to Distance" from Hercules. I want Tri Phan and Thuy Angela to sing the Responsorial Psalm and generally lead the vocals with the rest of FLOCK backing them up. Anh Hoan will conduct and My will be on piano when she's not singing. The music will be the Mass of Glory setting by Bob Hurd. I'd like to be the one to deliver the homily, giving insights about my life and my observations. I'd make it as funny as possible too so that Jesus himself will un-nail himself from the cross to slap his knee and clutch his ribs.
I hope water doesn't spill out, though.
Ok, ok, I'm going to hell, I know.
The Nicene Creed will be sung in Vietnamese as Kinh Tin Kính even though technically, it's missing some parts. Also, the peace-giving part will be long like it is at Youth Mass because everyone will give everyone a hug. The congregation will consist of all my friends, if they so choose to come. Normally, I hate it when that part lasts a long time, not because I don't like to extend peace, but because some people give peace while others stand around uncomfortably. If everyone was involved and it was long, I wouldn't mind. I just don't like leaving people out. That's why when I sang in FLOCK, I was the first one back to the choir section, ready to sing the Lamb of God. I don't like leaving members of the congregation out.
Anywho, after communion (which will feature "The Servant Song" as the song), FLOCK will regale us with a meditation song. I'm thinking Irish Blessing, but it could be anything as long as it's pretty. The last song will be "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban. It will be sung by Josh Groban and Mariah Carey, since I think they have the two best voices for their genders in the world.
12:30PM-2:30PM: I'll have lunch with my friends. It will be at a Pho luncheon where we can order plates that a restaurant would normally serve. I'll probably go with some Com Tam dish. Lunch will probably be with my Dong Hanh friends and whoever else went to church like Pray4Fun, my Pacific friends, Boy Scout friends, Bellarmine friends, anyone. We'll pay for the priests. It'd be a lot of fun, like the DHDH meals we had or any meal with Sean, Eric and Michael, haha.
2:30PM-5PM: Hang out at a remote beach with all my friends. Just enjoy the sun and laugh and play. Build sand castles, play football, bury people, argue with Michael Lai, etc.
5PM-6PM: Play basketball. It doesn't matter with whom as long as the games are competitive and fun. I'd actually like to play at American Airlines Stadium where the Dallas Mavericks play cuz I think it's one of the nicest stadiums in the NBA. Actually, it'd be cool to play in front of a sell-out crowd. The game wouldn't be as polished as an NBA game, but if it's competitive then it'll be fun to play and watch too.
6PM-6:30PM: Shower.
6:30PM-8:30PM: Play mafia with anyone who wants to play. Attendance is only required for my brother, cuz he knows how to make it interesting. We'd play on the beach and watch the sun set. We'd play until we need to light torches to see the cards.
8:30PM-10:30PM: Fatty dinner with my family, including all the cousins and uncles and aunts on both sides of my family. Also, all my friends are invited. So really, it's a party with food. We'll be jolly and merry and enjoy ourselves, laughing and joking. The food will be anything anyone wants. I'll probably have a hella gourmet burger with hella gourmet fries or something, haha. We'll be loud and talk and yell and sing at this dinner. Good times will be had. People will leave the dinner saying, "Wow. Andrew knows how to have a good dinner."
10:30PM-11PM: I'll play Super Smash Brothers Melee with Tri Nguyen. I know it'd yield something exciting, haha.
11PM-11:30PM: I'd say goodbye to everyone. Not the sad goodbye. The normal good bye. We shouldn't need to tell our friends and family how much we love them at the last moment. The whole day should be filled with words of appreciation. I wouldn't need to tell anyone that I'll miss them or that I love them. They should have already heard it from me.
11:30PM-11:59PM: I'd take all the pictures that were taken of my day and write a caption for them. There would probably be hundreds so I'll just probably caption the ones I like the best. I'd leave a picture book, showing everyone how I think life should be a relaxing and happy journey.
12AM: I'd change my Facebook status or something, haha. I'd like to die asleep with a smile on my face on my bed with my Appa stuffed animal.
If you really just read all of that, then you realize I didn't do anything lasting, except for making that photo album at the end.
A happy life isn't determined by important actions, but rather, is determined by actions done happily with important people.
"24 HOURS TO LIVE! (AKA 24 HOURS UNTIL YOU DIE)
Must Have...
- Minimum 8 Hours of Sleep
- Freedom to go anywhere (instant transporation)
- Can go with anyone you want, or alone, at any time
- At some point in the day, you must take two tests (15 minutes each)
- One of the tests must be a rigorous academic subject that you are good at
- The other test must be on an academic subject that you care about the most/are most interested in
- If you pass these two tests, you will be able to fix any significant social/political problem in the world. What would you fix?
- Where do you go, who is with you, and what do you do there?
12 AM -
1AM -
2AM -
3AM -
4AM -
5AM -
6AM -
7AM -
8AM -
9AM -
10AM -
11AM -
12PM -
1PM -
2PM -
3PM -
4PM -
5PM -
6PM -
7PM -
8PM -
9PM -
10PM -
11PM -
12AM -
What would you do?
Places to go?
Activities?
Abilities?
People?
Interests?
Concerns?
Talk to me about it after... If enough people fill it out, I'll type up mine! :D!"
12AM-5AM: I'll sleep and wake up just before the sunrise, so I can catch it one last time with the woman I love on a beach somewhere nowhere near civilization. I know, I know. Those of you who know me well are probably thinking, "No way Andrew can get up that early! Freakin' lazy-ass mother fu-" But this is a hypothetical so just let me have my fun, ok? =)
5AM-7AM: I'd eat breakfast with aforementioned woman while watching the sunrise. We'll talk and laugh and just be all smiles. Breakfast will include sausages and eggs and tater tots. Wait, wtf? That's what I eat at the dining hall...talk about pathetic aspirations. Anyways, the food itself hardly matters, as long as I get to eat something and enjoy my morning.
7AM-10AM: After I eat and watch the sunrise and change my Facebook status accordingly, I'd take a 3 hour nap. I freakin' woke up hella early!
"Andrew Nguyen just had an amazing morning with [insert name here], watching the sun rise on a deserted island and enjoying each other's company! About 2 minutes ago. - Comment"
10AM-11AM: I'd take my two tests. The first one would be an essay test. I'd probably take the essay portion of the SAT I again, since I did pretty well every time I took it. Then, after those first 15 minutes, I'd take a 30 minute break to cram for a Human Anatomy test, which is the required course I'm taking now for my degree, leading the way to a dental school acceptance hopefully. The world problem I'd fix would be world hunger. I think everyone should have a chance to be nourished. That way, they can be healthy to make good decisions. I just want everyone to be happy =)
11AM-12:30PM: I'll probably go to Church. I want it to be a Sunday celebration, with one of my friends presiding, and any other friends who happen to be priests also present behind the alter. Also behind the alter I'd like Cha Tri Dinh, simply because he really, really, really knows how to help out alter servers. Yes, I'm speaking as the voice of experience. Matt and I would have walked around aimlessly without him.
Also, I'd like the FLOCK Choir to sing for mass. The gathering song will be "Go to Distance" from Hercules. I want Tri Phan and Thuy Angela to sing the Responsorial Psalm and generally lead the vocals with the rest of FLOCK backing them up. Anh Hoan will conduct and My will be on piano when she's not singing. The music will be the Mass of Glory setting by Bob Hurd. I'd like to be the one to deliver the homily, giving insights about my life and my observations. I'd make it as funny as possible too so that Jesus himself will un-nail himself from the cross to slap his knee and clutch his ribs.
I hope water doesn't spill out, though.
Ok, ok, I'm going to hell, I know.
The Nicene Creed will be sung in Vietnamese as Kinh Tin Kính even though technically, it's missing some parts. Also, the peace-giving part will be long like it is at Youth Mass because everyone will give everyone a hug. The congregation will consist of all my friends, if they so choose to come. Normally, I hate it when that part lasts a long time, not because I don't like to extend peace, but because some people give peace while others stand around uncomfortably. If everyone was involved and it was long, I wouldn't mind. I just don't like leaving people out. That's why when I sang in FLOCK, I was the first one back to the choir section, ready to sing the Lamb of God. I don't like leaving members of the congregation out.
Anywho, after communion (which will feature "The Servant Song" as the song), FLOCK will regale us with a meditation song. I'm thinking Irish Blessing, but it could be anything as long as it's pretty. The last song will be "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban. It will be sung by Josh Groban and Mariah Carey, since I think they have the two best voices for their genders in the world.
12:30PM-2:30PM: I'll have lunch with my friends. It will be at a Pho luncheon where we can order plates that a restaurant would normally serve. I'll probably go with some Com Tam dish. Lunch will probably be with my Dong Hanh friends and whoever else went to church like Pray4Fun, my Pacific friends, Boy Scout friends, Bellarmine friends, anyone. We'll pay for the priests. It'd be a lot of fun, like the DHDH meals we had or any meal with Sean, Eric and Michael, haha.
2:30PM-5PM: Hang out at a remote beach with all my friends. Just enjoy the sun and laugh and play. Build sand castles, play football, bury people, argue with Michael Lai, etc.
5PM-6PM: Play basketball. It doesn't matter with whom as long as the games are competitive and fun. I'd actually like to play at American Airlines Stadium where the Dallas Mavericks play cuz I think it's one of the nicest stadiums in the NBA. Actually, it'd be cool to play in front of a sell-out crowd. The game wouldn't be as polished as an NBA game, but if it's competitive then it'll be fun to play and watch too.
6PM-6:30PM: Shower.
6:30PM-8:30PM: Play mafia with anyone who wants to play. Attendance is only required for my brother, cuz he knows how to make it interesting. We'd play on the beach and watch the sun set. We'd play until we need to light torches to see the cards.
8:30PM-10:30PM: Fatty dinner with my family, including all the cousins and uncles and aunts on both sides of my family. Also, all my friends are invited. So really, it's a party with food. We'll be jolly and merry and enjoy ourselves, laughing and joking. The food will be anything anyone wants. I'll probably have a hella gourmet burger with hella gourmet fries or something, haha. We'll be loud and talk and yell and sing at this dinner. Good times will be had. People will leave the dinner saying, "Wow. Andrew knows how to have a good dinner."
10:30PM-11PM: I'll play Super Smash Brothers Melee with Tri Nguyen. I know it'd yield something exciting, haha.
11PM-11:30PM: I'd say goodbye to everyone. Not the sad goodbye. The normal good bye. We shouldn't need to tell our friends and family how much we love them at the last moment. The whole day should be filled with words of appreciation. I wouldn't need to tell anyone that I'll miss them or that I love them. They should have already heard it from me.
11:30PM-11:59PM: I'd take all the pictures that were taken of my day and write a caption for them. There would probably be hundreds so I'll just probably caption the ones I like the best. I'd leave a picture book, showing everyone how I think life should be a relaxing and happy journey.
12AM: I'd change my Facebook status or something, haha. I'd like to die asleep with a smile on my face on my bed with my Appa stuffed animal.
If you really just read all of that, then you realize I didn't do anything lasting, except for making that photo album at the end.
A happy life isn't determined by important actions, but rather, is determined by actions done happily with important people.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Reflections from the Samaritan
Kudos if you can read and understand the whole thing.
A naked lamb once said to me,
"Kind sir, but I am cold."
To which I told him hurriedly,
"Young lamb, but I am old."
So I left him there in winter,
Freezing without heat,
But on my honor I must say
I had a friend to meet.
So I kept on walking down the path,
Along the rocky ground,
When to my busy, sad disdain,
A newborn calf I found.
He told me, "I am cold,
Cold and lost alone."
To which I told him kindly,
"Your problems are your own."
And just like that I left him,
Again in winter's chill.
I had some friends to meet
Just over yonder hill.
But as I climbed the mountain,
A broken sight I saw.
It caught and held my rapture,
Kept my heart in awe.
Three friends of mine ahead,
Whom I had planned to see,
Were working hard together
To rob a man, to beat him and to flee.
I stood there, speechless,
Not knowing what to do.
I hid away in horrid panic,
Off the pathway too.
I sat there waiting, watching, wishing,
Thinking of my choices,
And then I heard some men
Nearing with their voices.
Two priests they were,
Held in high esteem.
They would surely help the man,
So their reputations made it seem.
But they ignored his cries,
His anguish and his bid.
Their callous, selfish arrogance
Recalled what I just did.
But still was I afraid.
While knowing I did wrong
Did not know the means of fixing,
Until some others came along.
Two men this time were rabbis,
Respected and revered.
They were known for charity,
Their kindness went unpeered.
Yet they quickly stepped their foot,
Approaching the poor soul,
Leaving him thus injured
Naked in the cold.
At last I could no longer
Sit aside and watch him die.
Walking toward the beaten man,
I relieved him of his cries.
I picked him up with gentle hands,
And placed him on my back,
And thus began to turn around
With much heavier a pack.
On the pathway back to town,
I saw my friend the calf.
He laid there on the road so still
Even with the prodding of my staff.
Holding tears I moved along,
Again in focused goal,
When I came across the lamb
Who told me he was cold.
But now his chill would last forever,
Laying in a frozen bed.
His eyes so dull and lifeless,
Spoke the nature of the dead.
But still I carried onward,
Hoping to save one life at least.
Internal, complex feelings
Made me run, in hope of all things peace.
I found an inn not far after,
But found it to be proud.
The keeper saw the near-dead man
And said, "No Levites are allowed."
I told him not to worry,
I'd pay for all expenses
And extra for the trouble,
If he gains his senses.
And so I walked out of the inn,
As the road split left and right.
I thought of lessons I had learned,
From the beaten, good Levite.
A naked lamb once said to me,
"Kind sir, but I am cold."
To which I told him hurriedly,
"Young lamb, but I am old."
So I left him there in winter,
Freezing without heat,
But on my honor I must say
I had a friend to meet.
So I kept on walking down the path,
Along the rocky ground,
When to my busy, sad disdain,
A newborn calf I found.
He told me, "I am cold,
Cold and lost alone."
To which I told him kindly,
"Your problems are your own."
And just like that I left him,
Again in winter's chill.
I had some friends to meet
Just over yonder hill.
But as I climbed the mountain,
A broken sight I saw.
It caught and held my rapture,
Kept my heart in awe.
Three friends of mine ahead,
Whom I had planned to see,
Were working hard together
To rob a man, to beat him and to flee.
I stood there, speechless,
Not knowing what to do.
I hid away in horrid panic,
Off the pathway too.
I sat there waiting, watching, wishing,
Thinking of my choices,
And then I heard some men
Nearing with their voices.
Two priests they were,
Held in high esteem.
They would surely help the man,
So their reputations made it seem.
But they ignored his cries,
His anguish and his bid.
Their callous, selfish arrogance
Recalled what I just did.
But still was I afraid.
While knowing I did wrong
Did not know the means of fixing,
Until some others came along.
Two men this time were rabbis,
Respected and revered.
They were known for charity,
Their kindness went unpeered.
Yet they quickly stepped their foot,
Approaching the poor soul,
Leaving him thus injured
Naked in the cold.
At last I could no longer
Sit aside and watch him die.
Walking toward the beaten man,
I relieved him of his cries.
I picked him up with gentle hands,
And placed him on my back,
And thus began to turn around
With much heavier a pack.
On the pathway back to town,
I saw my friend the calf.
He laid there on the road so still
Even with the prodding of my staff.
Holding tears I moved along,
Again in focused goal,
When I came across the lamb
Who told me he was cold.
But now his chill would last forever,
Laying in a frozen bed.
His eyes so dull and lifeless,
Spoke the nature of the dead.
But still I carried onward,
Hoping to save one life at least.
Internal, complex feelings
Made me run, in hope of all things peace.
I found an inn not far after,
But found it to be proud.
The keeper saw the near-dead man
And said, "No Levites are allowed."
I told him not to worry,
I'd pay for all expenses
And extra for the trouble,
If he gains his senses.
And so I walked out of the inn,
As the road split left and right.
I thought of lessons I had learned,
From the beaten, good Levite.
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