Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Scottish Version

Scottish version of Amazing Graze in the previews tonight of next week's episode.

I knew I was on to something and yet no one was talking about it.

Amazing Grace - how sweet the sound - that saved a wrench like me

I once was found but now am lost

Was blind but now I see (THE EYE)

The Wolverine is back

I always loved Chad Gaudin. And when he was traded with Rich Harden to the Cubs, I by chance got to see his first game at Wrigley (in which the Cubs beat the Giants with the help of Harden and Gaudin's pitching).

So when I heard the other day that he was released from the Yankees, it didn't even cross my mind that he might be wearing green and gold this season. But sure enough the A's signed a one year deal with him yesterday.

Chad Gaudin can be hit or miss but when he is on, he's good so I'm glad to see him back. Especially since the A's did barely nothing in the offseason - this gives me something to look forward to.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Amazing Grace

** Warning - there might be LOST "spoilers" so if you care you shouldn't read - although I don't think you would if you didn't..

AMAZING GRACE

This last week's episode brought me to a lot of deep thought. And it quickly reminded me of my favorite LOST preview that was shown in January with my one of my favs, Willie Nelson, singing Amazing Grace (one of my favorite Christian hymns)

You can watch it here: Grace - Lost Preview

"Amazing Grace" is a Christian hymn written by English poet and clergyman John Newton (1725–1807) published in 1779. With a message that forgiveness and redemption is possible regardless of the sins people commit and that the soul can be delivered from despair through the mercy of God."

So how is it that I haven't read yet a blog relating this promo and last week's episode?

Jacob tells Richard (Richardus/Ricardo) that the Island is like a cork to keep the "evil" out. The other side (Man in Black) doesn't believe that people can change and redeem themselves. He explains that he (Jacob) was bringing people to the Island in hopes to prove him wrong - yet no one had.

I started to wonder if the people in the promo had anything to do with what last week's episode was about and what Jacobs was saying because it doesn't seem to me that everyone has sinned. For example what did Rose and Bernard ever do to deserve her cancer? Perhaps there is something we aren't seeing because for the most part every story has had a "sin".

I quote it because Christianity teaches us that we all sin. I'm not saying LOST is completely Christianity now but the idea of what they are focusing on is very prevalent in Christianity. We are all not perfect. We all sin. The only one who didn't was Jesus Christ - that's why he forgives us of our sins, etc...

I don't really think that LOST is trying to preach the bible to us - I merely think they are basing it off of a theory.

"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see. "

I might be going on a limb here - but I've faced two deaths almost a year a part. My father died February 2009, my grandfather (his dad) February 2010. Not something anyone wants to go through but one thing that comes out of laying a loved one to rest, is the aliveness that comes from those around you and experiencing it as well. When faced with the reality of death, how does one react? Is it not that the little things in life don't matter anymore? Or even the "big" things?

Thinking on LOST there are extreme cases - to someone running away from the law to someone striving for the acceptance of a father to someone who just didn't want to have a baby at that moment. Life. Stress. Worry. Fear. Sin. We all live it.

But given when you are faced with death - would you want to do anything to remain alive? would you willingly let God (or Smoke Monster, or whatever higher being you believe in) take you because you are ok with life (smoke monster part was a joke)? Or would you want a second chance to make amends, to live differently, to get back to the U.S. in this case?

The thing is, most people just live day by day, not thinking it might be their last. You hold off on calling that one person who means something to you because you are too busy, you postpone hanging out with a family member because you are too tired, you live your life just trying to survive - just get day by day. Not ever thinking it might be your last.

So if you were faced with that..

Would you go peacefully? Do anything to live? Or really just want to make a change to live better, more alive and more present because you were too busy worrying about something else?

"
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,

And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun."