Something Old - Something New

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" - “let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that so easily holds us back; - - - "Something New" - "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.