Happy Australia Day for today for those Down Under.

Happy MLK day last Monday for those in the US.

Happy Chinese New Year yesterday for those in the land of the panda.

My calendar tells me that yesterday was Burns Night in Scotland… I don’t really know what that is, but there’s yet another celebration that is tied to a particular country.

This week I’ve decided to view The Bible from HNAC Alison’s perspective, seeming that I know she’d be a very patriotic person and would want the best for her country.

Recently I’ve been reading Proverbs in the Old Testament of The Bible. It’s part of the ‘wisdom literature’ section and it has many wise sayings, many of them written by King Solomon. He was King David’s son (the guy who killed the giant, Goliath) and Solomon reigned during the height of Israel’s economic power.

This meant that instead of being off fighting battles like the two kings before him, he had time to be an experience junkie and explore all that life had to offer. He also had the luxury of wealth to allow him to sit down and write a bit about what his experiences had taught him.

This week I’ve come across some proverbs that I think HNAC Alison would be quite in favour of, regardless of the source. Here’s a few:

The Lord abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight.

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.

A kind-hearted woman gains respect but ruthless men gain only wealth

For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisors make victory sure

I think HNAC Alison would particularly like the first and last one in that list.

No one likes a scammer; someone who rips you off. Who fiddles with the dial on scale so you think you’re paying for a kilo but you’re really only getting three-quarters. God is angry when people rip you off. He delights in honesty.

The last one is particularly pertinent today on Australia Day. If we want our nation – any nation – to prosper, then there needs to be wise counsel. We need to always be listening to each other and not just some select groups or people.

All voices are to be heard. That brings unity, wisdom, harmony and strong strategy.

For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisors make victory sure

Happy Australia Day

Yours in patriotism,

Alison

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