THE TERMINATOR

From January 1^st, 1990 to December 31^st, 1999, it was a time when the professional basketball world witnessed the greatest of all time and professional wrestling was at its peak; changing from flamboyant colours and larger-than-life personalities to a darker and edgier attitude based sports-entertainment regime.

We witnessed the prominence of two rap legends, we saw the birth of singing queens, R&B was softening our hearts and rock was giving a generation something to believe in. Now when you turn on your radio, you’re guaranteed to hear filth dedicated to someone’s behind.

Within the decade of film, an animated lion’s death made millions cry, toys came to life, dinosaurs roamed the big screen, Will Smith started hunting aliens and a woman laid on a door floating on cold waters and selfishly allowed a man to freeze.

The days where people weren’t desperate for WiFi; we had to deal with dial-up internet. We didn’t have smart phones; instead we had brick phones and pagers. There were no iPods and mp3 players; but portable CD players.  Also television wasn’t in high definition and gaming consoles were starting to make their way into the hermit world. (R.I.P Sega).

Back then, it was still fairly safe to be outside, playing sport after school until sunset, and riding your bikes up and down the streets acting like bikies in the night.

Fast forward fifteen to twenty-five years, it’s no longer recommended for children to stay outside once it gets dark. Even if it was still safe—no matter your age—our life partners have officially turned into smart phones, laptops and gaming consoles.

When you wake up, when you get home from work or school and until you finally go to sleep, you’re on your phone. This even occurs during sacred events and family gatherings. Technology has definitely advanced; but so has its takeover of personal communication and quality time. We practically feel bare without our devices. We always want the latest gadgets. Even toddlers know how to use a touch pad. And we are moving into a stage where robots and machines are replacing human workers.

Although at times it’s perfect for relatives or lovers who live on opposite ends of the world, technology definitely helps kill the mundane and aids the urgency of daily activities and errands; but, we live in a generation where people are extremely impatient. They find answers online in under a minute and when adversity strikes, they want a conclusion to life’s matters immediately.

And, when the electricity goes out, life comes to an abrupt halt; and then when it’s back on, we celebrate like the war has finally ended.

Australia+Cross+Philippines Art Piece

I’ve been quiet for the past two days because I’ve been working on this art piece. I just finished today and it feels amazing to finally be back revisiting my love for art.

And at the moment, my right arm, hand and finger tips are in excruciating pain. (try colouring! It’s actually quite stress-relieving… Well until the pencils get smaller).

Not much to explain about the art piece. It really speaks for itself. Both chained to the flag pole in the country that we are in and it is only by the cross, that we are truly connected.

Yes, okay. I could have added a laptop and a mobile phone in there but, oh well! It’s finished now.

Hope you all like it!

The PROS and CONS of a Long Distance Relationship

 “How do you do it man? How do you go months without the one you love?”

Really I’d like to answer, “It’s simple. My laptop, alcohol beverages and my hands are real team players. They get the job done,” that should enhance the awkwardness, and cement mind-imageries of the fore-mentioned, and they will never ask again.

Anyway, as a How I Met Your Mother fan, I thought it’d be cool to go Ted Mosby and draw up a PROS and CONS list to answer the question.

You know, every main character in every good story has a goal. You need to know what the main character wants. You enjoy the ride; the adventure of all the battles and the giants that said main character has to face in order to achieve this goal.

The obvious goal for us is: We want to cross out the Long Distance and just be in a Relationship.

But what if our brainstorming list sways heavily towards the CONS, should I reconsider and give it the good ol’ Texas Hold ‘Em, FOLD? Of course not, you need to be in it, to win it. You need to see the river card and play the round to the very end – raise the stakes! And that’ll lead you to the bigger picture – Winning.

“But what if you’re bluffing?”

Well we’re not, we’re raising the stakes!

So let’s break out that Yellow Legal Pad!

THE PROS

• You learn patience, endurance and how to be mentally and emotionally strong
• You are forced and taught about the meaning of trust
• You find the importance of communication
• You’re able to build and work on your character, dreams and ambitions
• You won’t be fully reliant on your significant other
• You can spend more time with your family and friends
• Your relationship can conqueror anything

THE CONS

• You can’t physically be with them and see them
• You can’t protect them
• You can’t visit and comfort them when they are upset, sick or in hospital
• You have no idea what they could be doing
• It can bring you into depression
• It feels like breaking up with someone that you still love
• It’s heavy on your wallet
• Temptation; you can become desperate for companionship
• You spend anniversaries on Skype
• You’re lonely, and you’ll see couples together
• It can take awhile to re-adjust back into the relationship

A Long Distance Relationship definitely has more CONS; but if you notice the differences, the PROS column is far more beneficial in the long run.

When you can finally be together…

• You’ll physically be with them and see them.
• You’ll be able to comfort them.
• You’ll be able to put your salaries together.
• You won’t be desperate for companionship anymore.
• You’ll be able to spend anniversaries together and
• You’ll be one of those couples at weddings and parties

The CONS are important to consider, but they are temporary. The PROS can last forever. No matter if it fails and ends, or if it continues to the ends of the earth, the hurt will fade; but the lessons you take with you will be there…(And let’s add a One Tree Hill reference to end)  Always and Forever.

Song for GRACE

In the past, I’ve failed to accept the gift of God’s grace. I felt a sense of worthlessness throughout my life and such remorse for my past actions that I felt I had to do more and add onto what our God has already done for generations of the past, present and future.

I finally accepted what Christ done way before I met Grace and I believe with all my heart that, God – once again – undeservingly gifted me with another form of grace.

It started within a span of three days (April 23-25, 2014). I met her and I haven’t been the same since. I believed in Love at first sight. When I first saw her, I actually heard the words, “That’s her. The One you’ve been waiting for.”

I believed in it, and I always draw back to it when it gets hard, or when we get into an argument. The moment that solidified my love for her was when I told her everything that had occurred before meeting her. I told her my secrets. Everything. And she said, “It’s okay. It’s in the past… I will love you for who you are now.”

In that moment, she saw me, the way that God sees us. And she continues to view me in that light. We fight, we are more than 2,000 miles away, we  misunderstand; (and as this blog continues, I’ll share more of these matters and situations in depth) but she is perfectly named. She shows me grace, every single day. And that’s what inspired this song, and that’s what inspires me to be better, and to love God and her more.

Verse One:

It was only for three days

And we never expected this

Alone we waited all this time

But tonight, we’re finally here

 

Verse Two

Two world’s collide, two lonely lives

Our God of grace, He saves us again

You know my worse, you know my best

And the best is right in front of me

 

CHORUS

After everything you know

You see beyond all the pain

Cause love is what you bleed, I can guarantee

That you are perfectly named

 

Verse Three

From overseas and all the under tones

As we miss and understand

We fix our ways to make this work

Now the pieces follow the plan

 

Verse Four

You saw my darkness crying out

So you cleaned it with your heart

You showed me the bright shining sun

Now adoration for you is found

The Distance Sucks; but the Best Part is You!

Who in their right mind would decide to embark on such a journey – a relationship with distance attached to it? It’s just a profound amount of water acting as the barrier, right?

Realistically, you bathe in the glory of WIFI and, you sleep and awake to your mobile phone and laptop. Yes, of course it’s the person on the other side of these technological devices that you wish to physically be with, and see; but you’re unfortunately stuck with polishing and head butting the screen, hearing brain-affecting reception and seeing that make up of their pixilation.

A long distance relationship can be described as an emotional rollercoaster; however, I’d call it, endurance with a side of unlimited migraines.

And I’ve done it three times now.

Not like this though.

The infamous cliché speaks of being third time lucky. I might sound like I’m unhappy and talking trash like a heel professional wrestler; but honestly, I am lucky. She’s amazing. She challenges me. She sees beyond the words and judgments of people and looks at the core of my blueprints and sees a passionate man, finding a way to survive and to belong and to achieve.

If you ask my family and my friends who I am, they’ll say that I’m a walking blender. They’ll tell you that I’m not all there. They’ll tell you that I’m a lazy, alcoholic with a childish mindset. If you attempt to change, they’ll notify their first impression of you and allow that to sink in until their breath runs out.

I will admit, a lot of intoxicating liquids and illegal plants have been injected into this membrane and it has spread into the depths of my flesh. I sometimes forget where my wallet is and I’m so anxious to find the dark brown leather holder of gold and riches; though if I’m being honest, I’m eager to find it, not for the gold and riches – my driver’s license and my keycard are in there. However, I do have a condom (see second paragraph), and I do have notes of money; however, you wouldn’t be able to buy much in Vietnam and Malaysia.

Now add that on top of a long distance relationship: financial turmoil, being confused and misplacing your belongings. It doesn’t give much evidence in supporting your case when proving people’s judgments to be wrong. It also doesn’t add to the amount that you need to endure and to buy that plane ticket to go back to where she is.

If the heartbreak of being apart hasn’t enraged and consumed you already, it’s the late nights and soaking up as much time as you can, wishing, hoping that time speeds up to your next meeting. You wish that every day is Sunday, that weeks become days until November comes around.

You desperately are in need to save up. You need full time work, no matter if the work that you have experience for is messy and back-breaking, you need to do what you can – even if it means putting your dreams aside.

Long distance can’t be forever – there needs to be a time when it ends – and all bad things must come to an end. She needs to be there eventually – permanently – beside you.

And a heart can only break so much.

And despairingly, what colour do balls turn into after they’ve turned blue?