But, after watching the Japanese rendition, I have to admit that it's loads better than the Taiwanese one. The acting, the music, the plot and character development. Even though Domyouji may not be as good looking as Dao Ming Shi, his charisma grows on you. No one can ever ever replace Jerry.. but the series as a whole is so much better. And I actually like Makino here! Shan Cai was totally annoying.. and so not pitiful. 

Anyhow, this isn't the point of this post. 

What got me thinking was what a speaker said during last friday's combine cell. He said (or something to this extent), 

He went on to elaborate about various relationships, friendship in general. And what I inferred was.. how many different events can lead to a friendship. 

Most of the time, we form friendships because we were thrown together due to different circumstances. Yes, we can say that most friends we have are friends of convenience. We just happen to need each other so that we feel part of a social group. But then, as we get to know one another better, we discover common interests, mindset or even backgrounds. Somehow, we grow more comfortable with one another and are 'magnetized' towards these individuals. Subconsciously, we start working on a bridge, linking ourselves to others. All because there's some sort of chemistry and we want to develop an even deeper relationship. 

Other times, as we get to know someone better, we aren't compelled to reach out. It may be due to peer pressure, social statues/norms, past disappointments or just purely selfish reasons. Whatever the cause, we unknowingly erect a wall either around ourselves or just between someone. 

Like what the picture above depicts. We connect with others through telecommunications and what-nots. But only with people we want to connect with. Others that we can't be bothered with, we simply slot ourselves into separate cubicles so that we won't have to deal with them. I think I'm not making much sense here, with the picture, but you get my drift. (By the way.. National Geographic Photography has like awesome pictures. And I especially love their landscape gallery)

And when he was talking about all the encounters he had with other people and how it is our ultimate goal to be genuine, a good testimony, and to reach out.. It's like I got a revelation of some sort. Well.. not as powerful as a prophecy.. it's more like.. an epiphany. Like, before cell, some issues came up as I was talking to some friends. Not issues with the people I was talking to.. more like.. others. And I was thinking, what would I do in such a circumstance? Would it be completely unreasonable to just stop interacting? Or would it be better to tolerate and carry on as if things are still the same? 

And his message was like an answer right in my face! How could I even consider erecting a wall, if I was in that position? Would that be how I want myself to be remembered as a person? As a friend? 

Things can be tough.. relationships can turn sour, but we'd only be "passing through this valley" as Pastor Patrick said on saturday.. (Yup, God is definitely trying to tell me something if he speaks to me two days in a row about the same issue) And if we apply the right attitude and actions in difficult times, we'll only emerge stronger. Like what Kanye West attest,"... that don't kill me, can only make me stronger..."

Heh. 

But that's tough, in'it? To love unconditionally and without motives. 

Ah well. 

That's why we're only humans.