Speak

After a week of fast forward, here i sit with the cosmic pause button very much pressed down, held down. Winter’s showing its warmer side today, a little wind, a reminder of your magic. My first real pit-stop for the year. Waking up a little later finding that the world is still spinning, maybe i won’t save the world today.

Father, Creator, Inventor, Initiator, Ignitor, instigator, Happy Maker.

Ah, Great coffee. Great people. Tiamo.

What next Father? Are we there yet?

I’ll write a song.

Work in progress.

I see a canvas,
painting a work in progress,
I see twelve colours,
still in the twelve pencils,
I see a family,
with a blur of faces,
I hear the children,
with names still on hold,
I see a generation,
a crowd in the distance,
I peek into the future,
still you are in control.

Sometimes hope is enough,
to keep hoping on,
sometimes maybe is enough,
to walk through the storms,
Teach me to give a moment,
to give today a chance,
To wait for an answer,
waiting on the dance.

I see a shinning city,
today still asleep,
I see fathers with children,
unborn, still a dream,
I see open heavens,
breaking of the sky.
I see the a cosmic ovation,
as the world wonders why.
Show me how to see,
to open up tomorrow.

Sometimes hope is enough,
to keep hoping on,
sometimes maybe is enough,
to walk through the storms,
Teach me to give a moment,
to give today a chance,
To wait for an answer,
waiting for the dance.

Give today my daily bread,
a little more for tomorrow.
All I ask is for hope,
to see and to keep seeing,
for hope is all i have,
To open the next door.

I understand the term ‘drive by wire’ as the technology in cars where the act of driving is independent of the actual physical-mechanics of the vehicle. Where once the turning of the steering wheel also physically turns the axle which then turns the wheels, that process is now superseded with a computer and servo go between. The turning of the steering wheel tells the computer to turn the servo which in turn turns the wheels, indirectly we loose physical contact with the physical functions of the vehicle. The steering wheel becomes almost a joystick, a game console. In place of a man-machine relationship, we get a man-computer-machine relationship. We loose direct control of the vehicle. Amplify that in the largest commercial jet in the world, and we get fly by wire. The question skeptics always ask is whether we can trust the computer.

S

Foolishness vs ‘Foolishness’

1 Samuel 13:13

“ You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you.”
-Samuel to Saul

1 Samuel 14:6

“ Come let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be (perhaps) that the Lord will work for us.”
-Jonathan to his armor bearer.

‘Wisdom’ vs Wisdom

1 Samuel 14: 24

“Curse is the man who eats any food until evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies” (LAW)
- Saul

1 Samuel 14: 30

“ How much better if the people had eaten freely today of the spoils of their enemies which they found! For now would there not have been a mush greater slaughter among the Philistines?” (GRACE)
-Jonathan

O

Two people, Saul and Jonathan , Father and Son. We see here a simple yet stark distinction. Foolishness vs “Foolishness, ‘Wisdom’ vs Wisdom. One founded upon self , a knowledge of good and evil, law and works, the other upon grace, faith and hope. One operating out of pride, insecurity, uncertainty and fear, the other upon trust and child-like faith. One built upon self experience, cynicism and judgement, the other upon humble ‘foolishness’ and unashamed, whole dependance. Both may seem similar, yet so starkly contrasted against one another, only one differentiating factor, Obedience. Its fair to say, all said and done, Wisdom = ”foolishness“ = Obedience.

A

Sometimes understanding, a mind’s understanding, acquired knowledge becomes a smoke screen, a distortion to what we see or believe. It becomes a filter that works well to package and to breakdown the bigness, the wonder, the God-scale into bite size pieces that we can understand, into what we choose to realistically believe or not believe. They become benchmarks of whether we can or cannot trust, evidence-based-faith (a paradox), Where is faith in all this? where is ”foolishness“ in all this? Does everything need to make sense, checked and balanced, whetting our obsession with control. It is time to un-understand, time to loose control, time to drive by wire.

P

Father, you founded all things, you created all things. In You all things, all plans, all hope were initiated, were invented, were born. Yet so much in me undermines this largeness of You. Allow not my wisdom to render me foolish in your sight. Teach me to be ”foolish“ enough to not try to understand, or calculate or try to make sense of. Teach me not to take control but to allow wonder to happen. Father help me walk forward, not looking forward but upward, blindly ahead with eyes to heaven. Teach me to drive by wire, to allow you to be the base, the foundation, the understanding upon which I dare to engage the world, your world with conviction and confidence. Teach me to fly by wire, led, ”foolishly“ trusting to the prompting of your Spirit. Teach me wisdom, teach obedience, teach me patience to wait for you to call.

I look to the heavens,
I search for a sign,
Silly, I’m hoping, that maybe I’ll find,
Will someone please tell me,
if you’re dreaming tonight,
Can my heart fall from my eyes.

Is it too much to hope for,
Is it too high to fly,
Will my sleep find me easy,
will the cold hold my eyes,
If I can choose what I dream of,
This my dream tonight.

Take my hands let me lead you along,
pick the words to the sound of this song,
All of tonight, i’ll be dancing with you.
I’ve set a table for two.

The brush stroke of heaven,
smudges the sky,
Simple, searching, maybe I’ll find,
Amongst the stars, a smile left behind,
that’s all that i need tonight.

Can I buy you a pencil,
for the rest of my life?
Can i match them with colors,
or colors with white?
Can I dream of these moments ?
If this is my dream tonight.

Take my hands let me lead you along,
pick the words to the sound of this song,
All of tonight, i’ll be dancing with you.
I’ve set a table for two.

Co-write this story,
on the pages lay pen,
when words come few,
you can color or paint,
Frame a picture,
of the years that will come,
with both our smiles, tonight.

In the greatest act of grace,
You lay your life,
You lay our life down.

Overcomer of the grave,
Christ you stand
Christ you stand crowned

The greatest hope the world to know,
the lost of life that saves the world.

Make my life worth,
an ending,
Take my life,
make it yours,
Every breath,
worth a story,
Take my heart,
I am yours.

For a world that’s lost its faith,
saving grace,
saving grace found.

King of glory take Your place,
all the earth,
all the earth, bow.

Died a death the world to show,
what it takes to save the world.

Make my life worth,
an ending,
Take my life,
make it yours,
Every breath,
worth a story,
Take my heart,
I am yours.

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
       will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

 2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
       my God, in whom I trust."

 3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare
       and from the deadly pestilence.

 4 He will cover you with his feathers,
       and under his wings you will find refuge;
       his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

 5 You will not fear the terror of night,
       nor the arrow that flies by day,

 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
       nor the plague that destroys at midday.

 7 A thousand may fall at your side,
       ten thousand at your right hand,
       but it will not come near you.

 8 You will only observe with your eyes
       and see the punishment of the wicked.

 9 If you make the Most High your dwelling—
       even the LORD, who is my refuge-

 10 then no harm will befall you,
       no disaster will come near your tent.

 11 For he will command his angels concerning you
       to guard you in all your ways;

 12 they will lift you up in their hands,
       so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

 13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
       you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

 14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
       I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

 15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
       I will be with him in trouble,
       I will deliver him and honour him.

 16 With long life will I satisfy him
       and show him my salvation."

I cannot help but talk with you forever,
I wake I’m hoping that maybe you’ll call.
I watch for your face on the train in the morning.
Tell me why I’m crazy bout you..

I want to catch the chill of the mornings with you,
To chase pink pidgeons all across the street.
Can my white be good enough to show you,
Have You’ve caught a glimpse of me.

Here’s my simple simple love song
With simple simple words and notes,
With simpe simple pictures,
Let me put together a simple love song.

I’ll sit to hear you tell your funny stories,
Watch the sparkle stay in your eyes,
Do I deserve the joy of this journey,
You have stolen my simple heart.

How can I tell you it will all be alright,
When the day snows, and the sun fails to show.
I can’t fix your tear ridden memories,
But I can give the best of me.

How can you not want the tallest mountain,
Are you really that simple?
Is that all it takes to make you smile?

Sometimes I wish I never saw,
because when you see, you dream,
and when you dream, you hope,
when you hope, you find courage to draw pictures,
when you draw pictures, you need colours.

Maybe I've run out of colours.

Give me courage to accept,
the things i cannot change,
Give me strength to change,
the things i can.

Give me picture frames,
which give me reason to capture creation,
Give me windows,
to look out of, at your sky.

Give me keys,
that open doors to heaven,
Give me a broken watch,
so i can wait on you for the time.

Give me pink pigeons,
so i am reminded you made each special,
Give me friends,
I now know how you look like.

Give me white sheets of paper,
so i can draw when words come few,
Give me a zoom button,
so i can see the detail of each tear drop.

Give me colour pencils,
as i try to figure out the shades of the rainbow.
Give me a ring,
remind me i belong to you.

Give me a pause,
let me catch my breath,
Give me a wow,
So i can describe the stars.

Give me a sigh,
to end a long long day,
Give me a coffee,
to start a new one

Give me simple things,
enough for today,
Give me new knee patches,
I've worn mine out on the carpet.

|V|

Borrow my smile,
Have my sun for the day,
Take my bright yellow tunes,
Make my good times yours.
You can.

Take a picture of my over happy,
Catch my cold,
Fit into my old blue sweater,
Sip my morning coffee.
You can.

Its really that simple,
The flowers smell good.
The pidgeons are pink.
The trains are late.

|Ch|

You wrap this world in shades of sunshine,
Fall from your palms, your magic stardust,
Cast a spell upon me, You make me happy.

|V2|

Catch the first train to your stop,
Find a one way ticket,
Toss you a little bucket,
filled with joy and laughter.
I Can.

Buy a little heaven,
pack your lunch with a happy note.
Cut and paste my heart into yours.
I Can.

Its really that simple,
The flowers smell good.
The pidgeons are pink.
The trains are late.

|Br|

Shop with me for the right door to open,
Kneel with me on the grey carpet,
Choose the colours of the curtain on our walls,
Tell me does White go with twelve other colours.

Sometimes Twelve Colours are enough... And Maybe White.

Look what I found:


A real prayer.

I return to the place at your feet again. I find myself there so often nowadays. Like a son, hands still dirty with the business of the father, carried away with the world to save, my jacket soaking from the hours in flight . The world calls for so much of my time, creativity. It craves so much for the good I can do. Teach me to be a Mary in Martha world.

But You summoned me in ways so tangible, my knees are aquianted with the carpet once again. Father keep me here, let me wait, listen, wait. Still my eager heart, pause my pounding passion, slow me down to your pace. Let me find audience in Your inner courts, take the front row seat to my life. Like a writer, script my life, like a director, direct my paths

Tune my soul to the rhythm of heaven. Each step accounted, each step defned by you. Keep me real. Keep me simple. Open the eyes of my heart to small steps ahead, and only to small steps. But keep me fixed on the fullness of formation that you are shaping me to be. Tell me in in ways that I understand, that you are working, that you are in control, remind me that the world spins at your instruction, that the sun burns at you beck and call.

My soul cries for something I have yet to understand, the spirit screams for something yet unseen. Remind me to wait as the story that has already been written is slowly revealed, like a movie, the bang is always at the end. So much is left to unfold. Let me not lose my innocense, let me not let my understanding of good and evil purge the child like glee.
Allow me enough faith to return to the feet of the Father, knowing that I can leave my world behind, take my cape off, put away my gadgets.

Father more than anticipate, let me be still and know that God, you are in control.

29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his
Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
30 And those he predestined, he also
called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Amen? Let me start again……

Great Huh?

I AM THANKFUL:
FOR THE WIFE
WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT,
BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME,
AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.

FOR THE HUSBAND
WHO IS ON THE SOFA
BEING A COUCH POTATO,
BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME
AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.

FOR THE TEENAGER
WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES
BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME,
NOT ON THE STREETS.

FOR THE TAXES I PAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM EMPLOYED.

FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE
BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.

FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.

FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE

FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING,
WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING,
AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME.

FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING
I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT
BECAUSE IT MEANS
WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH. .

FOR THE PARKING SPOT
I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING
AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION.

FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM WARM.

FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH
WHO SINGS OFF KEY BECAUSE IT MEANS
I CAN HEAR.

FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.

FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES
AT THE END OF THE DAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN
CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.

FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF
IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE. 


Courtesy of SENG.






 


 

City.

The Project of the City is perhaps one that has seen a scheme too many. Archigram brought us an utopian image of the machine, a walking city. Koolhaas gave us an amusing if not rather comical glimpse of a perverted collage. I almost feel that society is jaded with these somewhat ‘God-complex’ visions of ‘city’, it knows not whether to patronisingly laugh or cry at the depressing agendas that are hung out. It yearns for a different modal.

How very uncanny that the very cartoon of cities on legs is one that prevails today- the city, a well-oiled machine. I find it rather unsettling that the very structures that support the largest human eco-systems around the world is one that is built upon a frame work that is so divorced of the human condition. Human infrastructure is invented based on economic modals. Economically rational grids, blocks, urban centres, spines. Our cities are ordered around financial and economic networks. Program is driven by profitablity, relationships are determined by economic viability.

I find it hard to accept (though I truly appreciate the gesture) that as architects we (in our “socially responsible” aspirations to improve society) put together what I would consider ‘human appendages’, (themsleves driven by economic reasoning)- spaces like public plazas, riverside walks, fancy apartments, cultural precincts- naively we think that we’ve put together a winning scheme for the most livable city in the world. Well-oiled liveable Melbourne. Infrastructure that we deem necessary to support the ‘livable’ human condition. We have first define what is livable, then built cities that tells its users how to behave, informs them of techniques to live, work, play. Reminds me of the Matrix.

Structures Support. Life Emerges.

While I believe the need for these structures (work, live, play), I question the ‘life’ of its users. We understand the retail model, the economic model, the net-letable-area model but we’ve conveniently forgotten communal modal of the city. Have we left the ‘human’ role to suburbia?

I beg to differ.

I’m interested in the rebellious nature of emergent orders that break the rules of the machine city, one that fluctuates, has no fixed boundaries, evolves by need, improvises. I’m relieved that the ‘human’ within the city has improvised. It is this imporvisation that I believe calls us away from the prozaic nature of rigid systems. Improvisation is the ‘human’ variable within the equation of the city.

Melbourne. Emergent Systems.

Out of the non-hierachical grid, informal urban centres (communities) have formed, out of linear systems, organic relationships have emerged. Precincts, meeting points, collective icons, communities organically sprout. Innovation happens at grassroot level, foodcourts become study spaces for students, the State Library lawn- a haven for nappers, street intersections become meeting places, Myers becomes a thoroughfare. All these go to say that as much as structures have been put place to support the ‘life’ , life needs to find its own way. Communities are evidence of life.

International Students. Transient Community.

International students accounts for 16% of the population living in the city, 17,700 study in the city. The collective uniqueness of being overseas sets it apart as the largest community in Melbourne. What interests me is the transient nature of this community with an average life cycle of 3-4 years (duration of academic life). The idea of ‘community’ here is one that has a rapid, regenerating cycle that allows for new cultures/trends to be set, for change to be introduced within a very short timeframe (as opposed to the inter-generational modal of 30 years.) What better petri dish to identify the viability of existing structures (live, study, play) and to trial a communal modal for the city?

MELBOURNE. BARCELONA. KUALA LUMPUR. RESPOND.

Bang. White streaks across the sky.
Staining the atmosphere with brightness of day.
The scream of scramjets break the stillness,
Heaven explodes with gold of the dawn,
I’m running out of words to describe.

The heart skips its beat,
The deafening colision of cosmic colours
The mountains applaude,
The clouds find formation, perfect.
I’m running out of words to describe.

Let me taste the colour purple
Can I smell the number 5,
let see the smell of coffee,
hear the cry of unborn babies,
Can my heart touch grace.

This is my world,
A picture of your collective imagination,
Tilting just right to catch the morning light.
Shaded white at its poles and mountain peaks.

This is your world,
A real time ever blooming exclamation,
Of the splendor of heaven’s intention,
Ordained we stand as guardians,
To this world of mine.

its funny how abruptly priorities shift. how spontaneous hope can be. love it.

Here's a wishlist for 2007

Song of the year.
Un-remember-ance.
Tomorrow.
Strong Families.
God Father.
25.
Europe. OMA
Strong Friendships.
Joshua Generation.
OS.Foyer.
A beautiful city.
If I May Write- An Album. 7 songs to go.
forgive me?
Good coffee.
growth.
2008.
2009.
2010.
a good guy for SL.
weddings. babies.
new friendships.
oppotunities.
worship.
Faith.
late nights.
good projects.
new platforms.

five more minutes to write.

All nighters, Inspiring projects, passionate people, wedding, friends, songs to write, yellow trace, a city to plan, a life to live. Bingo.

Pose?