Howie Ju – Art Book

Back in the last seasons of college, I got an image of tetris blocks at my house of prayer meeting in my spirit. I saw various tetris blocks fall down. I prayed and described the image to the others. I didn’t know what it meant, but as soon as I asked God what it was He told me the interpretation. Here’s the translation:

“There are different type blocks in the game of tetris. Some blocks are less liked than others. We all like the long stick because that can give us instant boost of points, whereas the “S” and “Z” shaped blocks can be a pain sometimes and not as satisfying. Just like people, there are some people who are easier to love and get along with,while some people are more difficult to get along with. But just because the shape isn’t as easy to use, it does not mean it isn’t important. If you play tetris long enough, you’ll know how to use the shapes you don’t typically like. It might not be your favorite, but you’ll learn to appreciate it.”

My best friend’s name is Tim and this is an abstract art of our relationship. We’ve been best friends since we were 5 years old and we have had many common interests since we were young. Some of our common childhood interests were gathering a lot of snails into one spot from the back of church and crushing it by stomping on it. In junior high, we were obsessed with collecting Dragonball cards. We both had an organized folder of cards and we would trade every time we saw each other. In high school, we played in the same worship band so music was what brought us together. But starting in high school, we started to have a lot of disagreements because of our opposite personalities.

Tim was very structured while I was very free spirited, and that caused a lot of frictions. I thought I was always a good friend but always listening to all his crap, but I got fed up but didn’t know how to verbalize it. Tim was always the talker and I was the listener. After a long time, my identity became a listener, and I felt like that I got locked into a box. There were a lot of conflicted feelings that built up from life that got bottled up with it.

But after high school, we departed from each other. I went to college and Tim went to the army. While we were apart, I had my chance to search, realize, and develop my own character. My whole life, I thought that Tim was normal. I thought that everyone is a talker and had a strong personality like him. My world view for people was that everyone must be like Tim. I realized that that was not true. I realized that Tim is a very special case. So in my own mind, I thought that everyone was like Tim. I went to college, met thousands of people and came to a truth that not everyone is like Tim. Out of thousands people that I met, only one other reminded me of Tim.

It was in college when I started to really miss Tim in my life and really appreciated him. I drew this piece when I was in Seattle visiting Tim when he was stationed at Fort Lewis for his Army while studying his undergrad at UW. I’m super grateful for Tim because he was always committed to our friendship even when I felt like giving it up back in high school. Over the course of college, I became more structured and Tim became more free spirited. We kinda flip flopped. We learned to balance and adjust ourselves to adapt to whatever environment we get tossed into. His friendship formed the foundation of my life on how I make friends now. Currently we live separate lives but yet very parallel, that functions with a deep mutual respect for one another in true love that compliments deliciously in the spirit realm. O_O

Some people overcome their burdens and troubles with all their strength while keeping their mouth silent. The abstract creature lifts up the large boulder over its shoulder. During the difficult times, it is important to watch the words that flow out of our mouths. Be very aware with the words you use with others. There’s a time to speak and not to speak. Under the boulder, there’s a tiny flower which symbolizes that there is hope during the difficult phase in life. Hope starts with hearing and declaring that there is always a way even when there seems to be no way. (Prov.29:11)

Both ancient people and today’s people look above the clouds to seek something beyond this world. They poke their heads beyond the clouds and see the future and the past, they notice that it’s not as extravagant as they imagined. Seeing the past and future is more normal and chill than they assumed.

It’s not to over think and get lost in our own minds because if can become a vicious cycle. Getting lost in your own mind will lead to isolation. And isolation will lead to social dysfunctions, which leads to insecurity when in the presence of people. We call this vicious cycle the Spiral Abyss. We need an outside force to intercept the vicious cycle of getting lost in our own mind. New roots will gradually grow out when the outside force inflicts life to a withering life force.

Sometimes we think that a person is weak and defenseless based on their appearance. The flower represents gentleness, which is a stereotype because obviously this flower has some weapons like drill guns, butcher knives, and a tazer gun to fight back against the strange octopus arms with a giant scissor. A person may look weak, but you never know how strong they really are, so be aware!

If we go back to the source of all things, God is the source of all things. He created flowers, clouds, and human civilization, and etc… He made all things intended for the good, but He also allowed much freedom. God didn’t create bad things, but he definitely allowed his creation to choose. His creations have the choice to do whatever they want. Everything that is good comes from him. Technology was developed over the course of human history was an inspiration after another inspiration. Wars that uses rockets and tanks were developed by humans which were all allowed. God allows the people he created to build civilizations like the Tower of Babel from Genesis. God is merciful but also is a God of justice. One day in His timing, justice will be served.