生不带来，死不带去

It is a beautiful and humbling thing to find a common thread of wisdom that spans across cultures. The Chinese proverb 【生不带来，死不带去】shēng bù dài lái, sǐ bù dài qù ("You can't bring anything with you when you're born, and you can't take anything with you when you die") is a profound philosophical truth that aligns perfectly with the first half of Job 1:21: "Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart." Both sayings teach us the universal truth that our material possessions are temporary and cannot define our ultimate worth.

However, while the proverb offers wisdom about how to live a life free from greed and attachment, Job's verse takes this truth one step further. He does not stop at the observation of impermanence. Instead, he reveals the source of his peace: "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." Job's words point to a foundational trust in a personal God.

This is the very essence of the Christian faith. While many people around the world can recognize the wisdom that material things are fleeting, it is through Jesus the Lord that Christians believe they can find the true and lasting treasure of a relationship with God. As Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." His life, death, and resurrection are believed to be the fulfillment of Job's unwavering faith, offering a bridge from the temporary nature of this world to the hope of eternal life in heaven.

Image from testifygod.org

Forgiven

 

Amen!

Farewell unhelpful Airbnb

After my most recent trip, I’ve decided to part ways with Airbnb for good. While I've had good luck with them in the past, my last experience was a harsh reminder that booking directly from a host, no matter how highly they rate themselves, is always a gamble.

During my month-long stay in Taiwan, I encountered a host who was unprofessional, difficult, and frankly, selfish. In one instance, a host tried to charge me for a "messy" home and even accused me of stealing furniture—items that were simply placed in a drawer. The same host, who saw her home as a precious treasure rather than a paid accommodation, even tried to charge me for using supplies that were provided for guests. The unprofessionalism was shocking, especially considering how much I had paid for the stay.

This experience stands in stark contrast to my stays in Tokyo. There, I kept the homes clean and tidy as a matter of respect, and the professional hosts would thank me for it. They never once complained about a few pieces of rubbish. It was a normal, professional interaction that I had come to expect from quality service.

The problems in Taiwan continued at the airport. I was hit with an unexpected charge for excess baggage. This was a stark contrast to my experience in Tokyo, where the airport staff, particularly a kind lady named Mayazaki at Haneda Airport, went out of her way to help me, even wrapping my extra luggage in bubble wrap. It was a genuine act of kindness that highlighted the vast difference in hospitality.

This trip was a hard lesson in what can go wrong when you're at the mercy of an unvetted host and a company that doesn’t back up its customers. From now on, I will be booking my stays with people who are paid to be professional, not those who treat their guests as a burden.

Taiwan: A Traveler's Perspective

I've just returned to Italy from a trip to Taiwan, unfortunately, a very difficult experience. While I had hoped to immerse myself in the local culture, my time there was marred by several bad encounters that have made me question if I’ll ever go back.

My biggest issues were with the Airbnb hosts. I stayed in two different places during this year and in 2023, and both hosts were incredibly unprofessional and difficult to deal with. What's frustrating is that the stays weren't even cheap; they were quite expensive.

The problems continued at the airport. I was hit with an unexpected charge for excess baggage. This was a stark contrast to my experience in Tokyo, where the airport staff, particularly a kind lady named Mayazaki at Haneda Airport, went out of their way to help me. She even helped me wrap my extra luggage in bubble wrap, which was a genuine act of kindness.

My difficulties weren't just with the people. I had been hoping to practice my Taiwanese, or Taiyu, but I found that almost no one could speak it. While the cost of living is still cheaper than in Singapore and Italy, prices are rising. And honestly, the food was not to my liking.

The only bright spot in my trip was a wonderful Christian shop I found in Taichung. The owner was incredibly kind and even gave me a card with a Christian prayer on it with each purchase. It was a beautiful reminder of God's grace during a challenging time.

While many may disagree, from a political point of view, I believe Taiwan belongs to China. The Republic of China (ROC) is a part of the People's Republic of China (PRC), and they must have a peace talk. If not, China will surely win.

---

"A wise man’s heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction." - Proverbs 16:23