Happy "Day After New Year's Day!"

-
New Zealanders have a really cool name for today, which in some countries (like Scotland) observe as a “bank holiday.” Today is “Day After New Year’s Day!” The day is so cool I wonder why I'm not wearing a bow-tie, or a fez. Might start a new tradition here . . . hmmmm.

There are many ideas out there as to how this day came about, many of which include the word “hangover.” I trust you don’t have one, though it is a fact that hangovers are the result of sleeplessness more than alcohol.

Regardless, those of us who live on smaller islands off the coast of New Zealand are back to work today. You remember work don’t you?

New Zealanders may have something for us, though. Today is the next day. We are not promised a “next day,” but here it is. We should be thankful to our Creator for this day. He made it, so rejoice in it! 

 Now, where's my bow-tie?

Popular posts from this blog

The Smooth-flowing Life

-
Image
Legend has it that the astronomer Ptolemy (1st century A.D.) suggested that falling stars were caused by the gods moving in the heavens, thus knocking stars out of their places. Somehow people reasoned that that if the gods were moving, they must be getting close to earth so they would lift their "prayers" or "wishes" (literally, "desires") whenever they saw the stars falling in hopes the gods would notice and grant a favorable answer. But how does one wish on falling star? Once you see it, it's gone before the wish or prayer can be made! The answer is simple: meteor shower. That's how to get your wish. Mrs. Ann Hodges had a wish fall right into her lap. Sort of. In 1954 Mrs. Hodges was sleeping on the couch when a 8 1/2 pound meteorite fell through her house and into her living room where it bounced off the radio and struck her left hip leaving her with a bruise. Not sure what she was wishing, but that's not how to do it. Epictetus hel
Read more

A Reflection in Plato’s “Republic” Book 2

-
Image
Early in Book 2 of Plato’s “Republic,” the discussion turns into the story of a man named Gyges who finds a ring that makes him invisible. Using the powers of the ring, he reports to the court of his king, seduces the queen “and with her help conspired against the king and slew him, and took the kingdom.” What would happen if there were two rings, one worn by an unjust man and the other by a just man? The story attempts to make the case that a just man will act unjustly if given the opportunity to think he is doing right, if only by himself. But what if he doesn’t? What if there was no ring, and what if there was a perfectly unjust man and a perfectly just man and both had everything they needed in life? The unjust man must cover his steps in order to be distinguished and succeed. In the eyes of others, he appears to be just. But what about the just man, who appears to be unjust?    “They will tell you that the just man who is thought unjust will be scourged, racked, bound-will have hi
Read more