justice

what do we do when a minor circumstance and what could be deemed as casual interaction lead to justice dilemma? As i was going through my day, what was intended to be relaxing and unobtrusive event ended into a dilemma for me. although parties involved might not have perceived it in a similar way, i had to think through how our act would perpetuate a tendency to assume and default to the negativistic and selfish view of 'its just how people are these days' kinda thinking. there were issues of how we thought only of ourselves and rationalized our behaviors to justify our actions. Blame toward the other party was even concocted in order to further rationalize the behavior. what i kept thinking was, if we behave this way already when we have plenty of resources, how would we behave when there is scarcity and the desperation for survival means comes into picture. i really had to sit through and think about how i could act on this. am i going to do something for the sake of saving face (so Chinese of me), or are there larger implications of how i need to consider the welfare of others due to my action/inaction?
How much of my own desires to not pay where due is needed perpetuate an injustice and selfishness that distort our sense of responsibility not just to others, but to ourselves for the resources that we use. How much of our refusal to take on our responsibility do we then impose onto others to take on, because we refuse to recognize and accept our own? So much for a relaxing day....

some questions...

This is the Cathedral at Plaza de Armas in Cuzco, another is facing opposing it. I looked through the amazing structures and chapels within this church, and was amazed at how delicately crafted and detailed the paintings and art were.

I walked through it using a audio guide and listened to archbishops and other priests of this church tell its history. I knew that missionaries and monks used cultural figures in order to communicate with the indigenous locals. Using local metaphors in order to interpret theological issues in a culturally sensitive manner. It was actually interesting to see a guinea pig at the center of the Last Supper being shared by Jesus and the disciples. This example, however leads to a question of how do metaphors and interpretations change the meaning of the subject. Some have the leeway of not having a crucial effect of delineating from the central context, such as, having the guinea pig at the center of the Last Supper. But how about the role of the saints? This has been a main source of criticism for many Catholics from their Protestant counterparts.
Through the Cathedral, there were several statues of saints and some were identified as the saint that people ask prayers from to help them gain wives or husbands (almost tempted on this one). I'm aware that part of what took place with Santeria and some voodoo gods during the colonization was to project the identities of these gods onto Catholic saints as a way of preserving their religion and to avoid perishing from the consequences of the inquisition. A covert way to maintain their culture and faith. However, so much of these have been adapted into the religion that this has become part of the mainstream catholic practices in some cultures, warranting the criticism of idolatrous practices. (such as the concept of 'praying to the saints' to receive their wishes...which i believe is the bastardization of asking the saints to pray for them) So, how do we practice and balance cultural values that are necessary to communicate and digest theological issues, while avoiding it to change the central theology of the Bible? With the appreciation that there are also discussions on how to have a balanced interpretation of the Bible since for most of what we currently think and interpret have always been interpreted through the lenses of the hegemonic groupings of the Western world?
Another picture of the smaller cathedral on the other side of the plaza.

Change (recommmendation: you should listen to Tracy Chapman's "Change" while reading this)

So having gone through multiple meetings in collaboration with gov't agencies in how to determine and plan for the lives of children we care for, i find myself frequently frustrated and appalled that people who spend 1hr a month (the most for some) could determine and decide the lives of families and welfare of children. is this an isolated phenomena? i pessimistically don't think so since i've been to two different counties that inadequately think and relate with families who are crisis, yet casually decide how their lives ought to be lived. Change for the better needs to happen soon, but when individuals who are supposed to advocate for families are not always keeping the family's welfare in mind instead of their own, who will stand up for them?

Shift to another change...

Recently after speaking with a friend about such situations, references of other experiences, some first hand, continue to suggest that maybe, maybe, although there are some changes, we still have a long road to go. college students who are ordered to lie face down on the streets for an unverifiable and illegitimate road stop merely because the color of their skin did not fit the assumed appropriate ones of a community, really??! i emphasize this because if i am not careful of my own reactions, i could ask this question in such a disbelief, but could be interpreted in multiple ways...disbelief that it is shocking to hear about it because i cannot fathom because this is not my own reality; disbelief that people continue to be treated with such injustice that it is unfathomable...maybe disbelief and unfathomable are inappropriate labels the least, but also conceptualization. Disbelief and unfathomable are ready expressions, yet when one really thinks about it, these are pretty inappropriate things to say when one shares about horrible and unjust experiences that have been lived by many, and to say that they are unfathomable and are a disbelief, have maybe just distanced and somewhat denied the reality of one's experience. a change is necessary in our conceptualization, and hopefully a change in the reality that we live in how we treat and relate with others at the very least.

maybe when we change the way we relate and consider others could we be more CareFull in how we think and suggest how to help families and how we also relate and think of others.

Voting....

The US is going through a pretty crucial time in the next few days during which choices will be made on whether who and what we choose that would be best for the country. Consequently, these choices are closely related to how we define and interpret our obligations based on what we hold important, ethical, and believe. It continually stupefies me that there are so many of us who continue to assume and insist that the issues are simple and if one claims to be of a certain philosophy or faith, then one must and ought to vote a certain way. Yet, there is almost a negligence to think through the complexity of the issues that are insisted to be forced to fit in a particular belief. I have just been told that i'm not a Christian because of my voting positions and my understanding of the issues which are drastically different than others who claim to be of the same belief (the same group who also accused me that I'm not christian because i did not vote for Bush during the past presidential election). I was repeatedly told that they will be praying for me. I don't oppose that, glad that someone could be praying for me. Yet, when one insist their interpretation of what is Christian is the correct interpretation and to presume that i do not know the Bible...well, that's worth a contention at the very least. Back to the argument though on how could we singly define what is Christian based on one issue yet exclude concepts related to justice and love and state that those are not part of the equation regardless of their profession of faith....hmm, once again, a suspicion understanding of what Christ taught. i think discussions and disagreements are good and healthy because it widens our perspectives and allows people to dialogue and tests our understanding and belief...but does this always mean that our belief is always on the line??

labri reunions

so, in the fall of 2006, these group of little kids met at some small little mountain town in Switzerland. Most didn't know each other, and had no idea what their future relationships might entail. Little did they know is that the legend of labri continues to be alive, and will take hold of some of them....two of these little ones will become one next month:)

Chateau Chillon in the background

2007 reunion at Hermosa Beach pier

Friends are friends forever if the Lord's the Lord of them.....(Micheal W, where are you???)

I think we gotten to know each other better than our first meeting at the lake. Look at us, we can't get enough of each other and need to keep holding on...
friends, see ya at our Labor day reunion '08:)

switzerland

Times cherished

lots of tulips in different shades

sitting by the lake with friends and having lunch

hiking up the snowy mountains

come on, we dare ya!

having lunch with Juanita in Thonon, France

these are moments that i crave, just hanging out with friends and enjoying the scenery. can't believe its been almost a year since i've left europe and now just visiting. it was weird to be back there and feel as if i've never left...the only difference was that i did have to leave after being there for just a week.

a song....

"Fathers be good to your daughters
Daughters will love like you do
Girls become lovers who turn into mothers
So mothers be good to your daughters too"

this song by john mayer pops in my head once in a while. working with different families has been challenging,
yet, a privilege when they allow you to enter their lives, and sometimes, become one of them.
yet, there are times when you just don't want to accept the reality of how some families understand
what their roles and relationships are. right along these lyrics is also the biblical command
for parents not to embitter their children. This verse has been more meaningful after working with children who suffer from abuse, mostly from their own families. Whether as actual perpetrator or colluders
by not protecting their children.
How did we get this far, that we have convoluted relationships and love to the point of destroying one another? Will we recognize a redeemed relationship apart from this mire of
destructive relationships? I can't wait for the day when everything will all be fully redeemed....