Just to share my thoughts

At last this Lunar New Year of the rabbit holiday season has come to an end, it is one of the longest stretch of holidays that is within memory. I just reflected on how ingenious we humans are to devise a calendar by which to measure time, and having marked the passage of 365 days we commemorate it with festivities and a long rest from the drudgery of our routine.
In order to look forward to a better year ahead we wish everybody a happy new year, and as Chinese we wish each other "fa cai" assuming that prosperity encompasses happiness. Hence we greet every one good fortune or happiness for the next 365 days.
Without sounding cynical I often wonder whether the greetor consciously and seriously intends such wishes for his greetee as he utters those words. Or are they mere cliche meaning nothing even to the recipient to whom they are addressed?
No matter how well-intended the greetors are no amount of wishes in any word form or substance can confer any good fortune, much less happiness, on anybody. So we confine those trite utterances as nothing more than mere greetings.
However, for the love of all members of Paul Cell and their families, and even to those who read this blog, let me consciously and genuinely wish them a happy and prosperous new year. We Chinese traditionally go to the temple on the first day of new year to pray for good fortune but as a Christian I prayed that all my friends in or outside church will for the new year be abundantly blessed to the full measure of God's grace in Jesus' name.
The festive season is the time for family and friends to get together to renew and refresh our bond. As time passes it behoves on us that we will not see many more getherings. It is time that we should spare a thought for those less fortunate, those who have no family or relatives for the reunion. Just reflect, isn't it more meaningful if we can organize a gethering to which all members of the church are invited like a church "open house"? Perhaps not only for new year but for other Chinese festivals as well. This will go well to dispell any misconception that Christianity is not compatible with Chinese custom, a misconception that turns away many from our faith.