A Taste of Home...
Chinese New Year 2014
Chinese New Year is one of the most unique celebrations in Asia and the most important holiday in Taiwanese life and culture.
During this time of season, there is an almost primal urge to return home and be with your family. And for the most part, they do. From across the world, children and grandchildren, mothers and fathers make their way to the towns and villages where they grew up, descending on the eldest relatives home for a feast. They share stories, tell tales, and do all the things that families do.
In Chinese culture, it seems like there is significance to almost everything and food is no exception. There are certain foods you must eat at certain meals, much like many of us eat black-eyed peas on New Year's Day or Turkey on Thanksgiving. Many of these traditions go back thousands of years.
In every culture - family can be complicated, but there is something about being with your kinfolk. We had the special privilege of being invited to a couple of Chinese New Year family meals and getting a look inside.
Amidst all the celebrations and festivals, I was struck by something this year.
As much as we enjoy our family gatherings, long for them each year and hate saying goodbye, they are all ultimately flawed. Until we arrive at our true home in heaven, there won't be any family gathering that truly satisfies. Age spoils our youth, our family members move away, people disappoint us, the list could go on and on. But...a day is coming when we will be reunited with our true family! A family where every fault is forgiven, every blemish is covered, where every hurt and sickness is healed. And best of all, our Father will invite us home to live there forever in a place of eternal beauty where nothing is ever spoiled.
And the food! The feast we will share on that day will also be filled with significance, just like our holiday meals here. We will taste the new wine and eat delights heretofore unknown.
Here in Taichung, most of the special celebrations we have been able to see these past few days (I hope you will watch the video- CLICK HERE) are born out of the religious culture here. They dance and drum to honor their "gods" and bring blessings upon their family, friends and businesses. It is truly extravagant - with fireworks, displays of wealth and splendor, ceremony, pomp and circumstance.
It makes me think of the day when we will celebrate our true king. We will array ourselves in splendor and sing with all our might, we will bring the most glorious tribute we can bring to honor Jesus because He is worthy.
Living here in Taiwan makes me so glad and sad at the same time. Many things here point me to Christ, they remind me of Him in surprising ways. But so many of the people have yet to hear. They don't know. They serve lesser gods who have no power to save.
This is a great time to share the Gospel in Taiwan.
From Taichung,
Todd & Crista
Katelyn, Ashlyn & Andrew
|
