This year the Lenten Spring begins a day before the Chinese Spring Festival (aka Chinese New Year). This is a welcome coincidence for me personally as the traditional austerity and reflectiveness of the Lenten season; while apparently stands diametrically opposed to the indulgences common during CNY, actually challenges me to grapple with these tensions of my conflicting desires and hold things in a balance.
Tomorrow Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the 40 days of Lent for Christians in anticipation of Easter and Chinese families gather together in reunion after a year away from each other while preparing to celebrate the coming of a new Lunar year. These supposedly contradictory raison d'etre for the festivals have for some reason converged pretty well and I extend these greetings to all ..
Surely in the brow’s sweat we seek the good,To all those that are travelling, stay safe and enjoy your time with your families.
a jewel desired but in harm’s setting placed.
Gained at a risk, our lives on danger based,
a chasm ’twixt what’s done and what we should;Hurt and help are in the single circumstance
and evil taints the hope, the goal contaminates.
So Providence submits to bitter fate -
the cross; its partner in redemption’s dance.Good comes by increments; so slow its speed!
Humanity rebuffs the pure, God’s Self!
Gives up! The good is placed back on the shelf
Two steps ahead, two back, progress indeed !Try again! Smudge the tiny ash of grace;新年進步, 萬事如意, 主裏蒙恩
God helps you make the world a better place!
Xin Nian Jin Bu, Wan Shi Ru Yi, Zhu Li Meng En
May the New Year Bring Advancement
May Everything Work Out Well
And May God's Grace Be With All
If you liked this post, consider buying me some coffee. Suggested price is $1.00 for a cup and $10.00 for a 1 lbs bag (personally I am a big fan of Ethiopian Yirgacheffe).
Categories: Faith, Life
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