Tuesday, May 24, 2005

Crossing the line

I cannot help but pity Anakin. Or is it just me? Somehow I felt sad that no one helped him get through what was happening all around him. Obi Wan should have known and gave advice. Yoda could have indicated something to Anakin. Padmi could have assured him that all will be well. Or anyone one among the Jedi Council. But then, it is really the decision of Anakin to join the dark side.

Maybe that is my problem with the good force in the Star Wars: you have to listen to what you feel. Feelings though are not to be trusted. Let’s take Anakin who trusted his love for Padmi. Was it wrong for him to want the love of his life to continue living? Was it wrong to feel betrayal when the people around you when they seem not to trust you (unfortunately Anakin was deceived by the Emperor)? How about the other Jedis? Were they not feeling that something wrong is happening? They should have known that something is amiss with Anakin.

And all this made me think about the line: the line between the good and the dark side ( or for Star Wars : the force). How easy it is to be lured by power, immortality, fame and strength. How easy to be deceived that what you are doing is for the good of someone but in reality you are doing it for your own good. Did Anakin really want for Padmi to survive her childbirth for herself of for his own?(it was for his own really, a selfish decision that pushed him more to the dark side) Did the Chancellor wage the war for peace and democracy instead of power? (Of course, we saw that it was for power).

No one can stay on the line. One must choose. It must either be for or against. And I hope that for me, it will always be the “good” force.

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Lion Chaser Manifesto

Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshiping what's right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze new trails. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don't try to be who you're not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away.

Chase the lion.

In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson (www.evotional.com)