STATUS CODE 302: The Master’s Gifts

For Shu, the end of his secondary life was the beginning of a new chapter of his life. The painful chapter of his life was now over and he tried to forget everything that made him feel the pain. The only thing that Shu remembers is not to commit the same mistakes again, the overriding faults. He became picky in the persons he met. He wanted to stay out of the shadows of mistreatment and discrimination. He asked his Master to give him the wisdom. He was semi-hopeless if time would still come for him to finally have the person(s) that he could call ‘friends’.

He was now ready to enter college and surprisingly, he was admitted in the premier state university in West Korea, the West Korean State University. Thanks to his Master.

Even though WKSU is very far from their home in Sanmatgeyo-nam, he opted to take the challenge of studying in the University. And after all those long processes, he was formally admitted as a Scientific Computing freshman student and on June 2004, the classes began.

The first semester was nothing but a big stage of adjustment for Shu. Actually, he was an islander, he did not know anyone but very few. He did not know any professors and most of the time, he was in his dormitory, waiting for nothing.

Now came the second semester. Shu had this strong feeling that this was a semester of blessings. There was one time that Shu said to his Master, “Master, give me someone that would guide me in my college life traversal, someone who would help me in times of trouble, someone who is true. Thank you.”

This was the semester where in he was taking SCOM 65, SCOM 77, SCOM 20, some of his major subjects. In SCOM 65, his professor was Professor Hannah Rice. There came a time when she told his students (including Shu) that to those who were interested in joining programming contests, see her afterwards. Actually, Shu was not that yet proficient in programming but it was still in the process. Now, Shu, together, with his Chinese classmate Rei, even without a big idea, never allowed the opportunity to be passed to others. Shu and Rei approached Ms. Rice and told her of their keen interest in programming. She told them that the following Monday, a general training was going to be held.

Now, the two East Asian classmates were very excited. And Monday came. For Shu, it was the day when his Master would start granting his petitions.

The general training started and at first, Shu and Rei were silent since Ms. Rice was not around. They attentively listened to the instructions of Professor Michelle Accord and training mates until a ’scary’ professor came. That professor, at first, seemed strict, emotionless, and nonetheless, inconsiderate. That was Professor Robby Takeshi, an American-Japanese instructor.

Then Shu said to himself, ‘please don’t talk to me’. Mr. Takeshi then approached Rei and introduced himself. Shu thought that he would not be seen by Prof. Takeshi and later, the seemingly scary professor introduced himself and asked basic information about Shu.

After the first training, there were several times that Shu and Mr. Takeshi met. It seemed that those were appointed times. Until something was revealed by his Master. Shu had this growing suspicion that Prof. Takeshi had the same master as Shu. And that is a fact. Remember that Shu will always respect and fear his Master Himself and His appointed authority? Guess what? Prof. Robby is one of Shu’s Master’s appointed authority over him. And this started the extraordinary care that Robby has for Shu and as they say, the rest was history. Shu’s request was also extraordinarily granted.

Robby and Shu became just like real brothers. Of course, Robby is older, the big brother. And this relationship is the root of a binary tree that would eventually lead to the finish of Shu’s search. You’re right! After a very long time, his Master finally blessed Him with true people of true character.

Professor Robby Takeshi, just like what he did to Shu, also met certain persons, as enumerated below:
(according to date of actual meet, hehe, maybe closeness, just kidding)

Sarang, an Indonesian; Sarang, with his different kind of energy can make you laugh and laugh. He is also a very good adviser to everyone, even to Shu. He is always smiling. At first, Shu was just adjusting to him but eventually they became very close friends of each other.

Kuoweschon, a Thai; Kuoweschon, at first, was a scary guy ready to pound anyone. And after he met Robby, he dramatically changed. But before Shu became close to him, there were many fights and quarrelings between them and the sole reason was Shu himself. He is now a very good person and friend to have.

Abdul-Revam, an Arabian; Abdul-Revam is a phlegmatic silent person. Since Shu is choleric, they easily got together with his each other. He is also talkative at times and funny in many things. There was also a gossip that he has a best friend named Kofi, a female. It’s just a joke. But beware! He has a huge amount of humorous energy.

Teasan, a Cantonese; Shu had always thought that Teasan was so silent and that he was younger than him. But in a glance, they became very good friends and they don’t know why. Maybe because of similar experiences and personalities. Teasan is also as old as Shu. They just do not know. Just like Abdul-Revam, he has also a gigantic amount of humorous energy.

Mayah, a Malaysian; Actually, Shu was aloof to him, at first. Shu just does not feel Mayah. But because of his Master’s working, Shu’s heart became soft and befriended him. Now, they are also good friends. They have a good common interest in programming. He has a huge amount of gaming energy.

Squatch, also a Malaysian; Just like Mayah, Shu was aloof to him. Shu does not feel Squatch. But because of his Master’s working, Shu’s heart softened and in turn, befriended him. He has also a huge amount of humorous and gaming energies.

Cloud, an Australian; The number one in the Scientific Computing Institute of WKSU, Cloud is like a cloud, flexible in many things.

It was just like a big rain shower for Shu. Aside from them, there were also other persons who were also given by his Master to him:

Rui, an Irish; A very close friend of Shu, he is the type of person whom Shu asks some help and advices.

Miles, a Vietnamese; This girl is quite different from other girls of her age. When Miles and Shu meet, she always greet him and teases him things.

Yarn, a Filipino;  and many others…

Shu knows that this is not yet the complete list of his Master’s gifts. Why? Actually, there are so many and it is hard to list them all. This just proves that his Master truly loves him and He really blessed him with such nice persons.

And this is the reason why Shu enjoys more his college than high school. Maybe, his Master planned of this.

His Master is just truly magnificent! He planned all these things to happen and now Shu was entrusted with these treasures. Not just one but so many. Even though they are of different nationalities and differences, this proves that those are not important, what is important is their faithfulness to the Master and that they would remain true to each other.  It is very joyful to have his wishes granted after you felt the deepest struggles in life. Truly, happiness is best felt after those several defeats and troubles.

“This is my desire to honour You.
All that I am, all that I have I lay them down before You
To serve You is my joy, make my eyes to see what You see
To love what You love, You’ve placed Your heart in me.

Holy, holy are You Lord, there is none like You
Beautiful Lord, Wonderful Saviour, who compares to You?
You are forever in my life,  You see me through the seasons

Who set the stars in their place?
You are truly magnificent, eternally wonderful and glorious.
My Comfort, my Shelter, Tower of refuge and strength
I believe in You, I believe in the power of Your Word that is true.

Lord I come to You, Lord unveil my eyes
Hide me now, under Your wings
Hold me close, let your love surround me
Bring me near, draw me to Your side

I sing to You Lord a hymn of love for Your faithfulness to me
I’m carried in Your everlasting arms You’ll never let me go through it all
Walk with me, talk with me, let me feel the power of Your grace
Take me, mold me, use me, fill me, I give my life to the Potter’s hand

Mountains bow down and the seas will roar
Kingdoms may rise, kingdoms may fall
All the heavens shout Your praise
I belong to You, Jesus my first love Your everything I’m living for.

When the oceans rise and thunders roar, I will sing of Your love forever.”

- Shu (more…)

STATUS CODE 417: The Pains of a Former Life

Let me tell you a story about a young man named Shu. For him, college is more precious than his secondary years.

At present, Shu is thankful to his Creator for his current state that he is enjoying. He is a bonafide college student of the most pretigious university in West Korea. He is now pursuing a degree in the field of Scientific Computing and is excelling in programming. And most especially he now possesses these special treasures that his Master gave him. But before Shu reached his current state, he experienced troubles, hardships, and pains through times that made him tougher and more mature and more faithful and thankful to his Master.

In West Korea, secondary school has four levels.

Shu entered the secondary school in Sakitnamdo College, where many non-Korean foreigners also studied. He was admitted as a freshman. As a freshman, even though he did not qualified for the star section, he proved that he was ready to barge in to the first section. In his freshman years, he was consistent top one in their infamous section. He was happy regarding the fact and was thankful to his Master. But something was killing him. Something struck his heart. He had no friends there. His classmates were apathetic and had no right attitude. Yes, he had friends but guess what how many? 1 or 2? Why? His classmates believed that Shu was so proud of his good academic performance, that Shu was so selfish, and that Shu was someone who should not be a friend. Yes, Shu absorbed all those things said in his heart. He had a very heavy burden in his back that he could not almost carry. All these times, Shu had shown kindness to them. He hypothesized that envy was the reason.

After that non-sense freshman year, he still decided not to transfer to the star section even though Shu was now eligible. (Eligibility rules say that a student who averaged 88 and above is qualified to enter the star section). Some hope was felt by Shu since he would not see the faces of his apathetic classmates anymore and that a new start was at stake. He was admitted as a sophomore in an average section. Just like his freshman year, he was consistent top one. He thought that he had many friends there. He thought that everything was alright. He had shown kindness to all of his classmates. But the facts were: almost everyone repeatedly stabbed him at his back, almost everyone put on their mask when they were in front of Shu, and almost everyone dislikes him. This experience was even more painful than his freshman year. It became harder for him now to trust anyone, to make friends with anyone. He had no friends at all but one. This was a very disgusting experience for him that he cried in front of his Master. Why? Why? The answer was envy. Yes, that was the sole reason he could think of. To prove that, a recognition time happened in their section. From top ten to two, his classmates gave a round of applause to those who achieved such, but when the top one was called, no one clapped but five or even four or even three.

Such a terrible experience. Before the academic year ended, his classmates asked for Shu’s forgiveness and Shu forgave them. There were shaking hands and hugs and he thanked his Master for what happened. Yes, Shu forgave them but the stigma left scars in his heart.

He was still looking for the right person(s) who he can call ‘friends’. Yes his Master is his friend but he asked Him to give him human friends that he can lean on.

Now, he decided to finally transfer to the star section junior year. He thought that he can finally find his friends.

In his junior years, at first he thought that he could please everyone. He joined a certain group of his classmates. He thought that everything seemed fine. But chance came that a certain classmate of his approached him and warned him to be careful of the people he called friends. After that he kept thinking of what his classmates meant and he had these instincts that history was again repeated and much worse than before. Almost all of his classmates discriminated him, Shu unknowingly. Shu had been kind to them and again, why? Why? What went wrong? His classmates gave these reasons: tactless, very childish, proud, harmful, KSP. Honestly, he was unaware of these facts but the discrimination did not went that too long. After 3 months, an open forum was held and he was told of everything, everything he did wrong. Of course, Shu cannot speak against, maybe some were true, and he later asked for apology to his classmates. After the forum, slowly but surely, his classmates became kinder to him and vice versa.

He learnt that he should be careful in everything he does to avoid hurting people’s feelings. Yes, the discrimination was over but the discrimination left scars in his heart that would stay forever. Take for instance, when Shu sees someone murmuring or whispering, he thinks that he is the one being talked about.

Almost everyone in the class, he calls ‘friends’ but not that deep.

Shu thanked his Master for the things happened since he learnt many things. He thanked that the discrimination period was over. But this was just the beginning of something that would eventually hurt him very much.

Let us hide this man in the name of ‘Am’. Am, a German with Nazi descent befriended Shu and vice versa. At first, Shu thought that he was the ideal friend that his Master may give him. Just like friends, during recess time, they, at the same time, ate their snacks and went home also at the same time. But Shu committed an overriding fault. He overrode his Master’s will. As a proof, Am became everyone’s worst nightmare in the class. Remember before, that Shu was discriminated because of such attitudes. Now, Am possesses those, even worse and more integrated. Eventually, Shu left Am since Am was mistreating Shu and no more conversations were heard between them.

Now, Shu joined a group of so-called true friends. There were five of them and Lynx was the leader of the group of five. Lynx, also with Nazi descent, comes from Niger. For so long, Shu considered Lynx as the ideal friend that his Master may give him. They eat, they go home, they go to a mall once, at the same time. Even though simple shortcomings happened, Shu called him a ‘friend’. Like this: “’friend’, what are you doing?”, among others. Time came when Shu thanked his Master for giving him Lynx since his expectations for a friend were ‘met’. But before they became ‘eventual friends’, many quarrelings happened between them and Am was even involved.

Then the senior year came and he stayed in the star section. Shu was in the group of six that Lynx led.

Every favor that Lynx asked, Shu granted. In short, because of the best friendship he felt for Lynx, he followed everything that Lynx requested (should we say ‘commanded’?). Lynx was just that powerful, he held many positions in the Sakitnamdo College. And Shu was just a leech swerving and swerving at the back of Lynx. Shu was not even holding a presidency or vice-presidency position in any club. He was not that strong. He had no stand. Until he realized that Lynx was not the right friend that his Master may give him.

For emphasis, this paragraph was separated. As a proof, here is the checklist on why Shu was so weak:

1. Everyone (might) looked down on him. Since he had no high position, he was a zero gravity creature.

2. Lynx’s attitudes gradually changed. Remember Sensui in Ghostfighter? He claimed that he had different personalities and these were effects of a curse. (Would these be true? Shu’s Master says that these are things that ‘He does not know’)

3. A time came that Lynx shouted Shu. Shu just nodded and remained hopeless in one corner. He was just an ordinary melancholic man. How pitiful!

4. It cannot be denied that Shu was just another victim of Lynx’s growing interest in power. (Similar to Philippine politics)

5. Lynx was his worst nightmare. A true gossip was spread that he was making a revenge against his former bestfriend and this can be made possible through a setup. Lynx was also selfish, not caring for others’ feelings. (If those would be stated in detail, those would take too many space.) Almost everyone knew that.

Eventually, as graduation was fast approaching, everything seemed alright. Differences were set aside. Things were forgotten. But guess what? Mistreatment of people to Shu left deeper scars in his heart. Now, he had this trauma.

Shu was so sad of everything. This was worse than his past experiences. Many people mistreated him especially Lynx. So, he just kept praying and trusting his Master. From first year to fourth year, Shu experienced continuous mistreatment and the search for the true friend was always failing.

In the hands of his high school classmates, especially in the hands of Am and Lynx, he experienced the pains of the most painful experiences that anyone could hardly imagine. Events were against him and troubled his silent heart. The spirit of revenge was fast conceiving in his heart.

He talked to his Master and realized that past experiences were making him more tough and more faithful to Him. He learnt many things because of this and even though history repeats itself again, it would be easier for him to carry such heavy loads. How grateful he is to his Master! Because of this, he also realized that He has a special plan for him, that he allows events so that Shu will be stronger, and nearer to his Creator. The spirit of revenge, in the process, is being replaced by the spirit of faithfulness, love, and maturity.

Shu finished his secondary education in the Sakitnamdo College with flying colors. He was thankful to his Master for that achievement. He already forgave the people who hurt him but it cannot be denied that high school life was so painful. Scars of stigma, discrimination, and mistreatment would forever remain in Shu’s heart. A rough estimate: 80% of his secondary life was painful, status code 417 and 20% was just status code 200.

Now, his search was still not yet over. He became hopeless that he could not still find one.

Shu also realized that he needs to be stronger and if opportunity asks, he should know how to defend himself against the enemies of the state, both in actions and words. Even though he struggles to contain the spirit of revenge, he is learning to balance his choleric personality. And one thing: No one could separate him from the love of his Master as circumstances are against him.

Shu would not be afraid of anything anymore except his Master and his Master’s appointed authority. Again, Shu thanked his Master for everything.

<to be continued; synopsis of next chapter entitled, “STATUS CODE 302: THE MASTER’S GIFTS!”; the young Korean Shu met Robby Takeshi (not Williams), an American-Japanese instructor who has also the same Master as Shu; Sarang, an Indonesian; Kuoweschon, a Thai; Rei, a Chinese; Abdul-Revam, an Arabian; Cloud, an Australian; Mayah, a Malaysian; etc. - his institute classmates; and other university mates; the search was finally over>

The long wait is over

Finally, this blog is going to be launched real soon. Just give me some more time to setup everything but I tell you, this will be a very good blog.

 Come back tomorrow and the next day.

 Thank you very much. See you around.