Dune

Just started book four, and I've got to say, I feel bad for Leto. Making that sort of choice would have been a lot more difficult for me. Frank Herbert, rest in peace. Dune is a fascinating planet, and one everyone should visit. Nothing quite compares to the sheer complexity he created not just on one planet, but for an entire universe. The movie does not do it justice, the miniseries doesn't give it the depth, only the books can suffice.

Science Fiction has been a source of imagination for a long time. Whereas Fantasy makes you think, "That's incredible!" Science Fiction makes you wonder, "Is it possible?" A thought I have begun to prefer, since wondering about what can be seems better to me than imagining what isn't true about our reality. Dragons and griffins would be awesome to behold, but we already accept the fact that it is highly unlikely we would ever see one. In addition, when someone talks about science, it has rules, structure, and a tendency to be based off of the human interaction with the known, and Science Fiction tests those rules and shakes those structures, and begs the question. It allows us to dare the future, and Fantasy allows us to explain what we would prefer our reality to be.

The cold hard truth is that what we want is hardly ever what we get, and that the only real necessity is to think on what we can do to improve, change, and ultimately stride into the future, with faith and trust that what is past is past, and what matters is what we do today, what we can do tomorrow, and what we will do eventually. Consequences are the result of actions that happen now, felt later. Guilt and regret is the result of conscience, realized after we see or experience the consequences. The only thing that can be done is understand that the past cannot be altered, and one of the greatest Science Fiction stories has perpetuated this, A Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury, for the effect of even the smallest of change in an event that has already happened, could have any number of consequence on the future. So don't live in the past wondering what life would be like if something hadn't happened, because you might not like the result.

Army Life

To be perfectly honest, the Army is great, though some things can get on the nerves. I can accomplish so much, and yet, I feel I am still lacking. Physically, mentally, and spiritually, there is more for me to develop. There has been so much focus on me, I know it's time to change that focus. The barracks are irritating because it doesn't feel like home, even though the policy letter says it is supposed to. More than anything, I need to know someone who doesn't want to change me adversely. I met one of the Chaplians, and wouldn't mind hearing a sermon or two, and as an interesting side note we recieved a Jewish Chaplain earlier this year.

Don't get me wrong, I know some good people here, but they are even quieter than me. Nice guys finish last they say, and I can believe it when being around nice guys, they don't say anything. Sometimes I can see why people want to change me, at least I know I can be louder, I can be confident. There are still some things that should never change, and those are my faith, my respect, and my dignity. I believe in God regardless of what someone tells me, because there is no other answer. No one can tell me that bacteria travelling on the backs of crystals through space caused life makes more sense than an omnipresent God.

Still, I need to pray more, attend church, and puruse relationships that will aide in my faith and not detract. If it is one thing I've learned, it is to do all things as though God was watching, and I need to show appreciation for His vigilant watch.