Posted by
peripheral on Saturday, August 30, 2008 6:08:35 AM
From My Perspective - - -
It’s an old tradition that is
quoted by many when a Bride is about to be married: “Something Old, Something
New; Something Borrowed, Something Blue, And a silver sixpence in her shoe.” The idea is that this
combination as part of the Bride’s attire will assure happiness, success, and
good luck in her marriage.
The History of this tradition
states: “Each
item in this poem represents a good-luck token for the bride. If she carries
all of them on her wedding day, her marriage will be happy. "Something
old" symbolizes continuity with the bride's family and the past.
"Something new" means optimism and hope for the bride's new life
ahead. "Something borrowed" is usually an item from a happily married
friend or family member, whose good fortune in marriage is supposed to carry
over to the new bride. The borrowed item also reminds the bride that she can depend
on her friends and family…In ancient Rome, brides wore blue to
symbolize love, modesty, and fidelity…Before the late 19th century, blue was a
popular color for wedding gowns…a
silver sixpence in the bride's shoe represents wealth and financial security…For
optimum fortune, the sixpence should be in the left shoe…In modern times, a
dime or a copper penny is sometimes substituted…”
As we take note of the
political current events, we find now “Something Old” (McCain, aged 72 [R] and
Biden, aged 66 [D] – both with years in the US Senate) and “Something New”
(Obama, aged 46 [D] and Palin, aged 44 [R] both with relatively little
executive and administrative background). This is Balancing A Ticket run amuck
(In or into a jumbled or confused state). Most of those entrenched in
Government certainly know the meaning of “Something Borrowed” inasmuch as uncontrolled
spending has this nation with huge deficits. It is borrowing against the
future! The idea of “Something Blue” doesn’t apply because the appropriate
color – based on the financial condition of the nation is “Red”! One
interesting thought that comes from the Political ambition of some of these
aspirants for office is their desire to increase the tax rate for the “rich”
and to give tax relief to the “poor”! One never hears the Political Aspirant
acknowledge that nearly one-third of our population (over 100 million people)
pay no taxes at all. An Analyst stated it this way: “…the bottom 50% of income
earners in this country pay only about 3% of all individual income taxes
collected by the federal government. When you get to the bottom 40% that
percentage figures drops to zero…”
The greater concern is for
the individual. God created a human being with a body, soul and spirit; and
with a mind, emotions and a will. The “Something Old” is the fact of original
sin – “all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3).
The possibility for “Something New” is “except a man/woman be born again,
he/she cannot enter the Kingdom
of God” (John 3). Once
this spiritual resolve is reached, the challenge and opportunity for an
individual is summed up in these words: “walk in newness of life…” (Romans 6). And
then in Galatians 5:1 [The Message]: “Christ
has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone
put a harness of slavery on you….” More than 50 years ago, a popular Christian
Camp Chorus was: “Get the New Look, From the Old Book; Get the New Look from
the Bible…The inward look, the outward look, the upward look, from the Old, Old
Book; Get the New Look…from God’s Word!”
Consider
these things with me - - - "Something Old" - “and let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that
so easily holds us back; - - - "Something New" - "and let us run with patience the race set before us;
Looking unto Jesus…” (Hebrews 12). This
is an important “change” that should be sought and pursued.