Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Kung Hee Fat Choy

What2Say2Day? Yesterday was the The beginning of a new year on the Chinese calendar. It was interesting to hear a few of the traditions one should observe to be sure you have a year filled with happiness, health and prosperity. Here are a few of them along with the reasons why they are observed. Keep in mind that it's believed what happens to you on the first day of the year will set the tone for the rest of it.
  • Do not wash your hair. Washing your hair will clean off any good things your body has absorbed that day (good health)
  • Do not clean your house. This will remove anything good which has happened within your home (happy home)
  • Do not loan money. This will allow the accumulation of wealth to continue (prosperity)
This list made me wonder how I should live my life in the new year, Chines or otherwise. I agree with the idea that how we live our lives on a daily basis sets the tone for what will become our way of life. I also believe that if we take care of ourselves, provide for our families as best we can, and be careful we don't wastefully spend our money our year, and our life, will be filled with happiness, health and prosperity.

The bible also holds similar requests for us. We can find the many of the same "rules" throughout the Old and New Testament; too many to list here. Of course, if we listen to what is being said by all those rules we can see a pattern evolve. The pattern of putting God first in every decision we make, supporting and providing for our family, encourage friends and strangers to do their best, and to take care of ourselves.

In my discussions with people from all over the world I have learned many things. I will say, though, the one thing I've discovered is no matter the race, religion, sexual orientation, or abilities of human kind we are all the same. We all want peace, to be treated justly, and to live a joyous life lived with basic human freedoms. The things that divide us can be easily overcome by the embracing of our differences.

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