Kia Ora-

Note: This post is dealing with a subject some find very disturbing and I wanted to warn anyone who is fearful of discussing the possibility of a total global destruction (ie. Armageddon, etc.) not to read on. I just feel compelled to write this and it may be a bit winding and a bit of stream of consciousness, but I need to just write. You have been warned.

Just suppose...

You know, when you talk to someone about the End Times and the impending eventual Apocalypse you usually expect that they are a stark raving looney walking the streets and spewing their philosophies to empty milk cartons. Or that they run websites with these facts about Armageddeon along side their favourite Pokemon character's bio. Or as many of you can attest, you expect them to be a 6'2" Samoan with 12 earrings and a cat named Phydeaux. In every case, these Latter Day Prophets of imminent doom are cut from strange cloths.

I have been a adrent student of Eschatology (or the study of the Last Things) since I was in high school. I am quite familiar with the 2012-across-the-board prophecies (the end of the Mayan calendar, the Maori Elder's 'falling of the curtain', the end of the Age of Kali, etc.). I have studied over the books of Revelations and Daniel many times. To me, Nostradamus is light reading. As a Christian and as a student of Eschatology, I truly believe in the coming End Times. And though I don't neccessarily believe that it will happen in our generation, I wouldn't be one bit surprised if it does.

So why the inspiration to post this all here and now? We were on our way to the mall this evening and V (who is a very spiritual being but shuns the most of the conventions of her Catholic upbringing) turned to me and predicted World War III will commence in one form or another within the next 2 years. This was a bit of a shock as she usually doesn't like to discuss this type of thing, but for some reason she just blurted it out. (Of course, right after she said that we passed by one of the new 98 Rock billboards with the 15' dominatrix and I thought to myself, 'Yeah, we are a doomed generation.') We talked a bit about it. I posed to her the Christian belief of a period of Tribulation (traditionally held at approximately 7 years) and that the date of 2005 would fit in the scheme of things that the world would end in 2012 (or at least the end of life as we know it).

We got pretty complex in our descriptions. We speculated the technical aspects of what could build, starting with a more intense version of the Cold War. We agreed that China will take a role and conflict will be spearheaded by three powers. They are those under the Coalition, that is the US, the UK, Spain, part of Africa, South America, India, Canada, Japan, Australia, and other smaller factions; those under the Chinese rule, that is an annexed China, Korea, Viet Nam, and Russia; those calling for Gihad, that is all the Islamic countries, Indonesia, part of Africa, Pakistan (and who could also possibly ally themselves with the Chinese). Most of the warfare would not be fought by soliders but by air. To what end...

Now this whole discussion of End Times may be a bit extreme and totally off base, but it is something that could be. I don't claim to see the future or anything even like that, but the with all the 'Wars and rumors of wars' (Matthew 24:7), it's hard to not sort of try and make 2 + 2 = 4. Nothing I said here is hardcore fact or full on dogma that I believe in or endorse whole-heartedly, other than the possibility of possibility. And this train of thought is not all consuming nor should it have any negtive impact on trying to live a normal life day by day. It's no reason to stop laughing or joking or watching football or strumming your guitar. If anything, it's more a reason to continue to live a normal life and live life to the fullest extent you can. Take a risk, tell someone your feelings, be good and kind, hug a kitten.

The bottom line: You never know how long of a time we have here. It could all end tomorrow. Just do the best you can, be the best friend, husband, wife, sister, brother, daughter, son, whatever you can be. Take your time to share your love with each other and don't let those you love forget that you do. Every second of life is a gift and a blessing and make each moment count.

I love you all.

God bless us all.

Now more than ever, keep the faith.

-N.