Anthropology Museum @ UBC

Looking at all those totem poles (asherah poles?) which hides stories of past civilizations, I start to wonder where exactly we are in time.

As we now stand and admire them as historical symbols and objects, should we also stop to admire our own creations? Those cement walls, those glass doors, those emergency water hoses, the fire sensors, even the signages? Cos after a few hundred years, they too, will go down history as witnesses to our times. (3020A.D.:Oh, what an intricate signage! Look, it's made of ALPHABETS! Wow, what a primitive communication tool...) Why look back at things of the past when we can look into the present which will eventually become the past of the future?

This kind of thinking usually sets me into perspective of how self-focused we are! At least I am... Do we look at things of the past from the view point that we, the present, are more advance then them, and should learn to appreciate things of the past(which is inherently inferior)? Those hand-weaved baskets, primitive iron-head arrows, do they reek of inefficiency to you, when compared to what we have now?

Simply thinking how much development can proceed in the next century puts me to shame on that. Laugh when your newly bought laptop is put into a historical museum and labelled as "antique", can you?

Perhaps I should understand that we exist as a mere dot (much like Singapore is to the rest of the world) in the whole timeline of Time itself, and that whatever we try to be smug about (our technology, our artistic nature, whatever) pales in comparison to whatever else there is out there, be it in the past, the present or the future.

We just can't beat the Engineer himself.

Perhaps we should simply stand to enjoy the moment itself, knowing that all things will come to be known as past.

Do Not Worry

Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Luke 12:22-34)