becoming

Copyright edmund

the trail of a family becoming

My 30th Birthday Thanksgiving Gathering

My 30th Birthday Thanksgiving Gathering:

Sharings:
01) Mrs. Kathleen Ho (Edmund’s Mom)
02) Enrico (Edmund’s First God-son) [Also in video]
03) Cecilia (Edmund’s Wife)
04) Andrew Lai (Edmund’s Second God-son)
05) Kevin (Fellowship Vice-Chair)
06) Margaret (Long-time Co-Worker)
07) Jessica (Edmund’s Second God-daughter)
08) Andrew Yeung (Fellowship Brother)
09) Edmund (Speaking on himself)
10) Song: “Mercy” [audio] / [lyrics]

Photo Album:
Edmund’s 30th Bday Thanksgiving Gathering 2003

More to post later …..

I was just wondering…. what a 180 degree rotation of me be like? I mean, do everything completely opposite…

And for starter, my name will be “oy punwpa“…. (turn your head and you will see).

Um, interesting…. looks like a Finnish or an African name ……

Toronto Chinese Christian Grace Fellowship
gracefellowship.ca

Time to leave.

Time to leave.

When is the right time to leave? Should a person hold on to what s/he does best until s/he die, or physically incapable to sustain? What if his “best” is hindering others to move on — an obstacle to grow?

Or should a person exit the stage when s/he can not perform to the same level as s/he once did? Is “performance” the only factor? What about opportunities? Opportunities for others to learn? Opportunities for others to fail? Opportunities for others to experience what it is like to be…..

Exiting can cause huge amount of anxiety — for the next-in-line, for the people you served, and for yourself. But still, when it’s time, you have to do what you ought to.

When is the right time to leave? When you are at peace with yourself and can honestly tell God that you have served your generation diligently and have served them well. ¶

the Matrix

—— ***WARNING: Movie Spoiler Ahead*** ——–
The conversation between the Architect and Neo in Matrix Reloaded seems to be dragging on and on and on….. but I doubt if anyone of us truly understand what has been said …..

Architect: hello Neo.

Neo: Who are you?

Architect: I am the Architect. I created the Matrix I’ve been waiting for you.
You have many questions, and though the process has altered your consciousness you remain irrevocably human ergo some of my answers you will understand, and some of them you will not.
Concordantly, while your first question may be the most pertinent, you may or may not realize it is also the most irrelevant.

Neo: Why am I here?

Architect: Your life is the sum of a remainder of an unbalanced equation inherent to the programming of the matrix. you are the eventuality of an anomaly which despite my sincerest efforts I have been unable to eliminate from what is otherwise a harmony of mathematical precision. While it remains a burden assiduously avoided it is not unexpected, and thus not beyond a measure of control. Which has led you inexorably….here

Neo: You haven’t answered my question.

Architect: Quite right. Interesting…that was quicker than the others.

(TV “Neo”s:
Others [how many others?] what others? answer my question!)

Architect: The matrix is older than you know. I prefer counting from the emergence of one integral anomaly to the emergence of the next, in which case this is the 6th version.

(Tv Neos:
5 ones before me? 4…3..2.. what are you talking about? There are only 2 possible explanations, either no one told me….)
Neo: …or no one knows.

Architect: Precisely. As you are undoubtedly gathering, the anomaly is systemic–creating fluctuations in even the most simplistic equations.

(Tv Neos:
You can’t control me!
I’m gonna smash the wall
I’ll fukkin kill you!
etc..)

Neo: Choice. The problem is choice.

Cut to Trinity vs Agent.

Architect: The first Matrix I designed was quite naturally perfect, it was a work of art…flawless, sublime. And triumphed equally only by its monumental failure. The inevitability of its doom is apparent to me now as a consequence of the imperfection inherent in every human being. Thus. I redesigned it based on your history to more accurately reflect the varying grotesqueries of your nature. However, I was again frustrated by failure. I have since come to understand that the answer eluded me because it required a lesser mind, or perhaps a mind less bound by the parameters of perfection. Thus the answer was stumbled upon by another–An intuitive program, initially created to investigate certain aspects of the human psyche. If I am the father of the matrix, she would undoubtedly be its Mother.

Neo: The Oracle.

Architect: Please. As I was saying, she stumbled upon a solution whereby nearly 99% of all test subjects accepted the program, as long as they were given a choice…even if they were only aware of the choice at a near unconscious level. While this answer functioned, it was obviously fundamentally flawed, thus creating the otherwise contradictory systemic anomaly, that if left unchecked might threaten the system itself. Ergo those that refused the program, while a minority, if unchecked would constitute an escalating probability of disaster.

Neo: This is about Zion.

Architect: You are here because Zion is about to be destroyed–its every living inhabitant terminated, its entire existence eradicated.

Neo: Bullshit
(TV Neos:
Bullshit!
Bullshit!
Bullshit!)

Architect: Denial is the most predictable of all human responses, but rest assured…this will be the 6th time we have destroyed it, and we have become exceedingly efficient at it.

Cut to Trinity vs Agent

Architect: The function of the One is now to return to the Source, allowing a temporary dissemination of the code you carry, reinserting the prime program. After which, you will be required to select from the matrix 23 individuals–16 females, 7 male–to rebuild Zion. Failure to comply with this process will result in a cataclysmic system crash, killing everyone connected to the Matrix, which coupled with the extermination of Zion will ultimately result in the extinction of the entire human race.

Neo: You won’t let it happen. You can’t. You need human beings to survive.

Architect: There are levels of survival we are prepared to accept. However the relevant issue is whether or not you are ready to accept the responsibility of the death of every human being on this world.
It is interesting reading your reactions. Your 5 predecessors were, by design, based on a similar predication–a contingent affirmation that was meant to create a profound attachment to the rest of your species, facilitating the function of the One. While the others experienced this in a very general way, your experience is far more specific–vis a vie..love.

Neo: Trinity.

Architect: Apropos, she entered the matrix to save your life, at the cost of her own.

Neo: No…

Architect: Which brings us at last to the moment of truth, wherein the fundamental flaw is ultimately expressed, and the anomaly revealed as both beginning and end.
There are two doors. The door to your right leads to the Source, and the salvation of Zion. The door to your left leads back to the matrix, to her and to the end of your Species. As you adequately put, the problem is choice. But we already know what you are going to do, don’t we? Already, I can see the chain-reaction–the chemical precursors that signal the onset of an emotion, designed specifically to overwhelm logic and reason–an emotion that is already blinding you from the simple and obvious truth…she is going to die, and there is nothing you can do to stop it.

Architect: Hope. It is the quintessential human delusion, simultaneously the source of your greatest strength and your greatest weakness.

Neo: If I were you, I would hope that we don’t meet again.

Architect: We won’t.

Neo exits out of the left door.
————————————————————————————

Do you understand any of this?
Welcome to the Matrix….. ¶

3 images which I will used as art decor of our new place:
Saved
Joint
Called

If Albert Camus knew about SARS ….. ¶

I had a good time with Cc on Tuesday when we attended a special talk on married couple relationship at Milliken Gospel Church. I am sure Cc and I have heard most of the materials before. But it is always great to be reminded once again on what we have vowed to do for each other and at the same time have it checked on what we have actually done. Sometimes, we are so rejective on listening to what we know already. We thought it would be a waste of time to listen to the same thing again. We can’t be bored at all. While it might be true in our academic study (who wants to learn HCF and LCM again?), it is not true when the subject is on our living. Many times have we thought what we know in life is the same as what we already did in life? This is not true. How many good virtues do we know in life? Lots and lots! But how many have we actually walked? …….

This reminds me of Paul saying to the Philipians:
“Only let us live up to what we have already attained” (Phil 3:16)

How true it is! As Christians, God never judges us on what we don’t know, but what we did not do! (But isn’t that enough already?)

So the next time when you hear some very old-fashioned sayings, before you doze off and allow your bodily functions to stagnate, ask yourself, “Have I done that already?” If so, good for you! If not, then LISTEN AGAIN CAREFULLY!

Sometimes, allowing yourself to get a smack on the face and wake up is better than always being defensive and protective and learn nothing. ¶