Tet Message

. . . of Faith, Hope, and Charity

A year back, a friend of mine gifted me a magnet that reads "Faith, Hope, and Charity" which I placed on the front of the file cabinet here at work - so it comes to view whenever I sit down at my workstation.

Faith, Hope, and Charity Photo by Mei

For the past year, various personal life events and experiences gave rise to opportunities allowing me to stop, pause and reflect on those simple, yet profound words.

Faith - Đức Tin
One would become bankrupted in the darkness time of life, it is only to see the light of faith guiding the way.

Hope - Niềm Hy Vọng
Hope is to believe, trust is the plan, and that in hope there is love.

Charity - Từ Thiện Bác Ái
Love is unbound.
To give with a cheerful and truly loving heart is limitless in thanksgiving.

On the occasion of Vietnamese "Tết" New Year, I would like to pass on those words as message to share with friends and family. May we all find faith as pathway to living in light and in darkness and become the bearers of hope in love and charity!

Spring Flowers

Đào đâm chồi nẩy lộc
Mai nở đón Xuân sang.

Literal English Translation version:
Budding peach tree branches
Golden flowering plum blossoms signal the coming of Spring.

Writer’s Notes
Familiar imagery of budding peach tree branches (cành đào) and golden flowering plum blossoms (hoa mai) is the sign of Tet.

And that the simplicity of this year’s Vietnamese "Tết" New Year couplet is meant to highlight the essence of life itself.