Steel Accord

There’s a time to let it all out. For what it’s worth, I’ll pray for you and your grandpa. God loves you.

The “bad is the absence of God?” No that’s just a minor theological truism that thermodynamics happily match up to and just seemed apt for your situation. We can sort of get lost in our own heads without an outlet of what we’re thinking and feeling. That goes two ways though. It can happen when we don’t let God in. When we stew in our own fear and resentment. When we can’t see how what’s ahead can be anything but a terrible experience and therefore, don’t invite God to join us on the road ahead to whatever angsty undertaking it is. Keep in mind, I’m terrible at following this advice. Learn from my mistakes!

You have all the reason in the world to. Especially when you don’t feel like you can share your pain with your own family, at least not fully. Just know that God is always willing to listen. And again, I know from experience that He can be frustratingly vague and slow to respond. He isn’t silent though. Think of it logically. Cold doesn’t exist. Cold is the absence of heat. God is good. Therefore “the good parts” are Him, and the bad parts are where He’s rejected. So instead of thinking of the good parts like they’re the smaller part of a larger bad experience. Think of your sister and grandpa as the main events and anything else as a minor inconvenience.

No I got that such was bothering you. Just trying to empathize on that particular subject matter because I can’t do the same on the Dad front. Obviously you can’t totally avoid him but you don’t need to engage with him either. Be there for your grandfather and pray for him. Moreover let him know you’ll be praying for him. Let him go to God knowing his granddaughter loves God as well as him. If you’re afraid I don’t blame you. It’s a terrible situation. And I won’t offer you a platitude that God is with you. Even if He is, it doesn’t magically make things easier. It does mean though that keeping Him in mind means you might walk through the bad situation better than if you tried to brave it alone.

For what it’s worth, I know how you feel. I just got back from the wedding of a dear friend of mine. The woman he married though is a hardline atheist. Yet they both insisted on being wed in the traditional fashion, rings, vows, an officiator who just also happened to be a Pastor (her brother.) The whole thing just felt so disingenuous. Not that I doubt their love for one another, just that they seemed to want all the trappings of marriage, a union before and within God, while explicitly voiding His involvement. The ceremony was without gravitas, very fluffy and casual. It’s a wedding. It shouldn’t be somber, but it should emphasize the weight of the commitment as well as the joy. So for what it’s worth, attending a “celebration of life” without acknowledging why life has any meaning beyond the fleeting pleasures of this temporary world? Yeah, I can get why that would be frustrating. They want all the benefit, with none of the responsibility.

Could be better honestly. Then again, that’s why I’m working to make it better. Thank you for asking. What about yourself?

“Oh Pendrew.” Immanuel said to himself. “The Combs,” Jeeg said. “The other Rangers,” Phi said as the two held hands. “Lock it up!” Grid ordered. “This is exactly what we trained for. The Rangers will retreat to the fallback positions and wait for further orders.” He turned back to the Jedi. “It’s the clanker I’m worried about.” “Agreed. Regardless of how strong Torah’s will is, a droid’s mind can be easily reached. Worse is he’s . . .” Senotho took stock of his company, especially the captain and seemed to become more guarded with his words. “Torah must be freed from the Excursion lest what he has fall into the hands of our true enemies.” He turned back to the Captain. “For now Captain, I suggest we resupply with haste. All the better to return you all home more quickly.” When the starship could at least see Arrgaw, it was a planet orbited by massive rings. Only these rings were not of rock and ice, but metal. The rings orbiting the trade planet was where the major business transactions take place, while the surface was dedicated to industry.

The Minister sighed and was about to speak again. "Minister. What are you doing at the console?" The Stormtrooper from behind asked. Layton panicked and fired his blaster behind him but missed wildly. His cover blown, he blasted the console so they couldn't trace the signal to the Righteous Indignation. The signal terminated violently, leaving the Minister's fate in question. It was only a second later that Master Senotho came in with his entire Rangers crew in close following although they had the decency to wait outside the office aside from Grid, loyally at the Jedi's side. "You wanted to see me Captain?"

I had considered it but a couple of things stopped me. A ) someone else’s OC already has it. B ) That would imply White Belt is particularly Taoist in thinking and that’s not inaccurate but he’s not Lao Tzu either. He’s just as much a deliverer of Buddhist philosophy and Bushido.

Huh. Don’t know how you got a shade of blue that specific but it works. Thank you.

An OC for my planned fanfiction has a white coat. His name is White Belt so it's kind of a Pinkie Pie, name/color scheme match. However I'm trying to think of a mane color that's better than just black yet not totally eye searing in contrast. Could use some help, especially if a specific shade of white would go better with a specific mane color. Secondly, I have an idea for a cutie-mark but I'd like to hear other suggestions. As you might tell from the name, White Belt's thing is the martial arts. Although he's not particularly violent. Rather his special talent is that he's basically a walking introduction to the concept of the martial arts as spiritual and physical self-improvement. That training to fight and looking for a fight aren't the same thing. He's always looking for other great masters or lost techniques to learn them. So his cutie-mark is a spear crossed with a scroll. Any better ideas of what he could have or is that good?

“Captain! I can’t speak for long. They’re watching me.” Layton took a moment, looking behind him to make sure he wasn’t being observed. “The Antarian Rangers were attacked. Their base was raided. Master Senotho’s droid companion was taken to the Excursion, they’re going to get information out of him to find him and you.”

Just as he spoke an communication was coming through, from Antar 4. “This is Pendrew Layton attempting to contact the Righteous Indignation. Master Jedi, Captain Jellico, anyone, come in!” > > > > > > > > That same vision. The one from the Catacombs. The twin archers. One ornate and robed the other armored and stern. Their arrows meeting. He saw this same vision but its meaning still alluded him. He saw himself. His body in relaxed meditation. Floating in the void. It was warped and hard to decipher though. Around him the Force warped and bended as it shouldn’t. The warp drive! He sat there, as space was wounded around him, but the vessel . . . wasn’t there. It doesn’t exist in the Force. Or . . . they removed themselves from it! Senotho’s mind came crashing back into him, it felt like he was dropped a great distance. The previously floating items likewise dropped to the floor. To be so hyper aware and then snap back to the limited senses was always jarring. Now though, the previously comfortable and luxurious surroundings seemed sterile and decedent. He pulled a small metal tube from his tunic. “Rangers,” he spoke into it. “Drop what you’re doing and converge on my position.”

Understood. Just wanted to make things clear. Thanks for your contribution buddy.

We’ve talked before. You know I’m devout. At the same time, I did make it a point that understanding and respecting Buddhism, Taoism, etc. is not the same thing as worship. And I said the “possessed by tiger demons!” thing as a joke about histrionic people who think any practice or hobby outside of Church is Satanic. I would also like to note that Buddhism and Taoism are hardly of the occult. At least depending on how you define it. Funny because I did that just last night. I needed to pray but I was angry. Praying in anger wouldn’t be right so I needed to calm myself. Using the mediation I’ve been practicing as part of my Kung Fu, I was able to calm myself and push the anger from my mind while I prayed.

Hey friends. Got a little discussion topic for you. As some of you might know of me, I love to practice the martial arts. Specifically in the Chinese disciplines of Kung Fu. And the reasons people do such are many. I’m not looking for self-defense or mere entertainment, although both are nice bonuses. No for me, it’s a spiritual pursuit. I compare it to video games. Video games are something I love but they require nothing of me. No commitment or sacrifice. Kung Fu, by its literal definition of “skill through hard work” requires much of me. As someone who once hated working out, it stood out as strange that one of my favorite hobbies was so physically strenuous. Although I later figured out that was part of the point. God wants sacrifice on our part. To put our faith into practice. God calls me to the martial arts in the same way He calls me to Mass each Sunday. It’s always worth it even if it’s not always fun and requires something of me. Now, I’ve heard religious arguments as sensible as “it’s okay as long as you don’t accept the spiritual stuff” to as far afield as “you’ll be possessed by tiger demons!” And I disagree with both. Certainly it doesn’t hurt to learn, know, and understand the underlying Buddhist or Taoist principals behind Shaolin Fist style versus Tai Chi. Indeed it’s why I prefer these schools to modern MMA or even my base style of Kenpo Karate. Both utterly divorced from ANY spiritual precepts. Without which, they’re just efficient methods of combat. Which is not what I’m looking for. However, I would like to know your guys’ thoughts on a question I have. Given that I am a Christian, and Catholic specifically, how exactly can I fit the traditional martial arts into theological perspective? Not in the sense of protecting myself or others from violence, how would (theoretically) the pursuit of Kung Fu, training to fight without looking to fight, bring me close to God? Or is the path God wants me to walk?

Jeeg didn’t nod as it wasn’t exactly that. He explained it as best he could. “For most, it takes a lifetime.” He looked at Senotho’s back in sadness. “There once were many like Master Senotho. Trained since childhood in the ways of the Force. They were the Jedi Knights, guardians of peace and justice, servants of the Republic. More than protectors of people’s lives and homes, they were our connection to something . . . beyond ourselves.” Jeeg was trying to convey something to Shantra. Something that even those against the Empire mocked and dismissed, even hated and feared. Meanwhile . . . The Thirteenth Sister sat in her almost pitch black chambers in deep meditation. Or at least that’s what it looked like. In truth her mind was a storm that wouldn’t calm. A cylinder of carbonite slowly began to rise in front of her. She began to grimace, her teeth grinding. The cylinder shook and dipped before collapsing back to the ground as her eyes shot open. She growled and kicked the cylinder away, getting to her feet and pacing in frustration. Her door opened. There stood Moff Caprid. “I requested seclusion.” She said. Her back to the Moff. “A privilege your superior can ignore if they so choose.” She drew her lightsaber on him, the blade extending right up to his chin. The Moff was unmoved and unintimidated. “I answer to Lord Vader.” “As do I, at the Emperor’s discretion. Whom we all serve. While I do not fully trust your methods, I’ve exhausted all other avenues of finding that vessel. Something we both want.” The Inquisitor glared but didn’t protest as he was correct in their mutual interest. “Thus, I’ve brought you something that might aid you.” He stepped aside as three stormtroopers entered. One had a blaster aimed at a prisoner’s back, two carried said prisoner by the arms. Torah. Master Senotho’s droid companion. He was dropped to his metallic knees on the floor. He looked up at the Inquisitor, her helmet opened with her face exposed. “Yral Tel.” He said. She ignited the other end of her lightsaber and held it above his head. “Silence droid!” She looked to the Moff. “This droid. He . . .” “Is the personal droid of the Jedi. His confidante. Who knows his secrets.” The Inquisitor smiled at the Moff. “I accept this gift.”

“You misunderstand,” Jeeg said shaking his head. “What you’re seeing isn’t a gift of his kind, although his people are known to be quite connected to the Force. The Force is beyond any of us. A Jedi as trained as Master Senotho has unparalleled wisdom and skill because he can commune with it as few can.” As Jeeg spoke Senotho’s consciousness floated away from the crude matter he inhabited. The Force was beyond such material. Next went his mind, the person who’s desires kept one from true wisdom. He felt the Force take him into itself like a leaf falling into a mighty river, taking him wherever he was meant to go.

“It’s not the gravity,” Jeeg said. “. . . It’s the Force.” Jeeg was one of the Antarian Rangers’ biggest proselytizers. With the Empire actively quashing the reputation of the Jedi as anything but traitors, it had become likewise easier for people to forget or be “made” to forget any knowledge of the Force. So Jeeg made it his job to pass on what Master Senotho had taught him. “The Force is everything created and uncreated. It’s life, the laws of nature, it is wisdom, and compassion. Those who truly understand it, train to join with it,” his head turned back towards the lounge and then back to her. “Can perform works with it.”

As this conversation was going on, Jeeg walked by the lounge and saw Shantra and his master in deep meditation. “No problem with the gravity here Lt. Commander. I can assure you of that.” Jeeg walked over and tried to silently urge the engineer away. “Jeeg. Glad to know you’re enjoying yourself.” He spoke, knowing Jeeg’s emotional state. “Apologies for the intrusion Master Senotho.” “It’s no intrusion. We’re all Star Fleet’s guests in their home as they are guests in ours. Though your respect for my concentration is appreciated. Commander, with all due respect, Jeeg will have to provide with the answers to your questions of what you’re seeing. I must concentrate.”

“Commander Shantra.” Senotho spoke. His concentration unbroken. “I hope you’re well. I’m not in the way of anything am I?” His tone was even and polite even as he remained sitting, eyes closed. Clearly an advanced meditator if he was able to keep his trance without being distracted by conversation. Not to mention knowing it was Shantra just by the low tone of her voice. If that’s how he knew.

Jedi Master Immanuel Senotho nodded. Most of what the Captain said seemed logical and in good spirit. Yet there was something he couldn’t quite place that was off about Star Fleet. “Thank you very much for the tour Captain. With your permission, I’d like to take my leave. It’s been an . . . interesting day and I could use some rest.” When the Jedi was alone, he explores the starship. The captain certainly was correct when he said the vessel was their home for their venture. As much as he could see people working, he saw just as much at play or leisure, children included. In truth, he was looking for something but even he couldn’t say what. The Force told him that something was missing from the Righteous Indignation. Not in the sense that it “spoke” to him in words but more that it communicated an absence in his locality but Senotho couldn’t tell what exactly that absence was. It vexed him so. He entered a kind of lounge area. No one was present in it though, at least not yet. He needed a place that was quiet. He sat on the floor, cross legged and took a deep breath while closing his eyes. As he felt himself fade away, the Force flowed into his emptied mind. The river of knowledge and wisdom filled him like a cup. Around his body, tablets, tricorders, even chairs and other furnishings gently rose from the floor. Senotho would normally sense those approaching but he was searching for something else at the moment so his focused senses wouldn’t notice others enter.