YOKE and the Kingdom of Heaven

So I wasn’t able to get up that early and get ready fast enough to get to the meeting on time. I think that I’ve lost interest in the organization. I know that’s really bad to say, especially in public, but I want to be honest with you and with myself. There’s just something about it that doesn’t appeal to me anymore and that is part of the reason why I was getting ready so slowly. The other part of course was that I was tired as hell.

The YOKE meeting wasn’t too bad, since I only was there for an hour. They didn’t talk about anything that I found too interesting or productive at that matter. Perhaps this might be one of those rare moments when I’m not being as optimistic as usual. I don’t know why I’m losing interest in the program. I’m not really focused on what good things could come from it and I’m just allowing things to just run their course. I know that I could be able to influence to be a powerhouse organization and they just seem stuck in some rut. They need to be able to take care of it on their own, but are having difficulty with naming the organization. I’m not sure they know what is really going on too.

After the meeting, the guys went to get some tea at the usual place near Sakuragicho subway station.

Then we all broke off and Me and EK went to go watch a movie. We saw the Kingdome of Heaven. It’s actually a great movie. I really enjoyed it and I thought it was worth the 1,800 yen that it cost me to go see it. I haven’t seen a movie in a long while so I was happy to get to see a movie, even though we sat in the first row and in the corner. I wasn’t able to get the full effect that movie theaters allow, but the story was enough to keep me interested. It’s a bit of a long movie, but you really can’t tell. There were a couple of good things that really stick with me. I don’t know the words verbatim, but here’s just the jist of it. What’s the purpose of man than to make the world a better place? The kingdom of heaven is the peace between all men on the Earth of all religions and to live in harmony. It takes a noble man to make the decisions that will affect the outcome of his destiny. When you are being judged you can’t hide behind the fact that you were ordered to commit a sin, it’s between you and God and it’s your decision.

I was able to find the quote online and here is a section of the place I found it from. "It seems I've lost my religion," he tells a companion, a member of an order of fighting monks called the Hospitallers who serves as his spiritual guide. "I put no stock in religion," the Hospitaller replies. "In the word 'religion' I've seen the lunacy of fanatics of every denomination before the will of God." Holiness, he explains, is to be found "in right action and courage on behalf of those who cannot defend themselves." From the quotes was taken from the movie and by Orlando Bloom’s character Balian and the person who wrote this article is Hollywood on Crusade
With His Historical Epic, Ridley Scott Hurtles Into Vexing, Volatile Territory
By Bob Thompson Washington Post May 1, 2005
(Excerpt)

Afterwards we went to get some dinner. We went to a Chinese restaurant at the Cross Gate center near Sakuragicho station. It was ok, and a bit on the expensive side, so then we finished dinner at Bamiyan. I really love that place, but today I didn’t really feel like eating there. I had sweet and sour pork with Fried Rice.

EK and I engaged in a lengthy conversation about many things. I was still stuck on a topic that has been bothering me for a bit of time. So I was looking at it in many angles to see if I could see something I didn’t see before and how I could approach it. I want to make a good decision so I need to be able to see both sides and I’m not allowing any feelings to get in the way, otherwise I would have already chosen. So I’m waiting it out for a bit to let my brain do it’s magic and work something out for me. I also gave a little lecture to EK about his gf situation. He’s got to be a man and do something about it, but he’s being a dick and not doing anything at all. It’s making matters worse and it’s becoming something I don’t want it to be. Its been a nuisance for me for quite a bit of time, and I’m beginning to lose my short patience. As we were leaving, I even gave a warning that things and people could disappear if the situation doesn’t improve. I would take myself out of the picture and leave the problem for him to face alone.