revising beliefs

Recently I once again realised that I'm invariably getting older... - ok nothing new, and I admit I don't really mind (- yet?)
But there was one characteristic of a growing up person which keeps striking me as I observe it on some people around me:

They start becoming serious. Not in the 'no fun' way of mentality. But rather in a very fascinating way: they start to link their actions to their beliefs and convictions.

Maybe at first this seems trivial - they probably were doing this all the time one might think. But in fact this doesn't seem to be the case. Somehow very often people - especially when they are still young - have very strong (sometimes unreflected) opinions and expectations on many things and other people; without, however, living up to the standards they set. So when growing up, some of them start to revise these standards, to shape and correct their childhood beliefs, and to follow them themselves.

This process seriously intrigues me, as all of a sudden people take on the responsibility for their lifes and themselves; they are no longer just a passive product of what others imposed on them. Instead, they become active and face a challenging task, as if they were woken up from sleep, ready to change the world.

24th December

The Birth of Jesus

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
[Luke 2:1-14]



A joyful and blessed christmas to all of you! I wish you to be able to leave all the social stress behind and arrive in your heart at what you are actually celebrating: God becoming human, to save every single one of us.

23rd December

Prepare for tomorrow:

Tyli naktis, šventa naktis!
Viskas miega, tik dar vis.
Motinėlė ten budi viena.
Kūdikis su meilia šypsena
Ilsisi, miega ramiai,
Ilsisi, miega ramiai.

Tyli naktis, šventa naktis!
Pildos dieviška mintis:
Viešpats, tapęs mažu vaikeliu,
Žada sieloms malonių gausių
Savo šventu gimimu
Savo šventu gimimu

Tyli naktis, šventa naktis!
Vyksta meilės paslaptis.
Angelų giesmė skamba nakčia,
nešdama piemenims žinią šią:
Jau Išganytojas čia!
Jau Išganytojas čia!

also possible:

Klusa nakts, svēta nakts!
Visi dus. Nomodā
Vēl ir Jāzeps un Marija
Kūtī, Dāvida pilsētā.
Jēzus silītē dus,
Jēzus silītē dus.

Klusa nakts, svēta nakts!
Ganiem Dievs novēl Pats
Dzirdēt eņģeļus slavējam,
Tuvu, tālu skandinām:
Kristus - Glābējs ir klāt!
Kristus - Glābējs ir klāt!

Klusa nakts, svēta nakts!
Dieva Dēls, Tava acs
Mirdz mums dievišķā skaidrībā.
Nu ir dvēsele pestīta,
Jo Tu dzimis par mums!
Jo Tu dzimis par mums!


or if you are a conservative person, stick to the original:

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht!
Alles schläft, einsam wacht
Nur das traute hochheilige Paar,
Holder Knabe mit lockigem Haar,
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh,
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh.

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht!
Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht
Lieb’ aus deinem holdseligen Mund,
Da uns schlägt die rettende Stund’,
Christ, in deiner Geburt,
Christ, in deiner Geburt!

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht!
Hirten erst kund gemacht;
Durch der Engel Halleluja
Tönt es laut von fern und nah’;
Christ der Retter ist da,
Christ der Retter ist da!

either way, oil your voices so you can fully join in tomorrow night! :)

22nd December

back.

it was a wonderful time at my former home - so many nice moments with people that have grown on me and that i missed :)

spending time with you was like a christmas gift: something wished for for a long time, somehow uncertain, and then a lovely surprise!

and i learned something: the most beautiful thing of performing music is to make people happy. of course it can be enjoyable to play for oneself, but it is nothing compared to looking into the shiny eyes of people whose hearts are joyful because you played for them, and the music opened up their heart to the beauty of the world.
it does not always happen, but when it does it's a miracle!

21st December

a rather interesting way to produce sql injections... ;)

20th December

Life can be so beautiful, once one jumps out of some routine which keeps one so busy that no clear thought comes to one's mind. But once that is gone, you look around and realise how beautiful this world is, how many good things there are, and feel full of love for this world and its inhabitants - Life itself then becomes such joy :)

The thing that makes me hopeful is that this beauty is so varied and everywhere, so one can find it wherever one is. It is 'just' the mindset needed for finding it - which might be a bit more difficult to keep during our selfmade stress of everyday routines; but I do believe it is possible.

19th December

As I'm currently kinda traveling I am afraid that this calendar will lack some entries.. however, i got something funny and geeky in the mail which is too funny to not share.. enjoy the spirit :)

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16th December

What a beautiful feeling if someone is showing appreciation towards one. Maybe it is not always an easy thing to do, and people often tend to say 'oh, he/she knows very well how much I appreciate them'.
However, I am not so sure of this, and there is nothing we loose when opening up our hearts and telling someone about the joy they are bringing into our lives just by being there. Maybe it takes some courage to overcome our pride, admitting that our life would be less beautiful without them, but what better gift can you give to a person than telling them that you are grateful to know them?

15th December

Two interesting observations: it is scary how quickly anger and frustration can come back, even after a good achievment. and it is as astonishing how good it can do to then let things be and do something else. it is a real relief then to find that people also see other abilities in oneself and even choose to rely on them and one can give them a hand to do something amazing.

14th December

inauguration of my personal skiing season! :) it was great fun, nice snow, nice company, and will be nice muscle pain by tomorrow morning. again there were many nice thoughts in my head, but now i'm too tired to put them down... maybe some other day :)