Every year during the Spring Festival or the Chinese New Year, the dust-covered, long-neglected cars parked in remote free parking spaces begin to dwindle. They appear in car washes. After half a day’s meticulous polishing and thorough cleaning, a “new” car emerges. These vehicles, commonly referred to as “two-tank-of-fuel” cars, finally get the privilege of being neglected and make their way onto the congested highways though are driven in a cautious manner by their owners. The owners only drive them during traditional holidays like the Spring Festival.
As people return to their home villages for the holiday, the “intelligence and evaluation teams” in villages will start to gossip around. They start to rate and comment on each returning worker:
“This guy has been away for a year and still hasn’t gotten himself a car!”
“He’s been working outside for years but hasn’t brought back a wife. He’s getting old and is still single!”
“Look at him. I hear he’s not doing great out there. Just look at his clothes, all worn out. He must be struggling!”
“Check this out! He came back in such a fancy car. So he must have made a lot of money this year. Who would’ve thought? He was so unremarkable as a kid, but now he’s successful!”
“Look at him! He went away for a year and brought back such a beautiful wife. Impressive, indeed!”
Every person returning home for the holiday is labeled by their relatives and neighbors. These labels don’t come from a genuine understanding or concern for their real-life situations but are instead based on the fleeting few seconds they take to walk past the village entrance. Therefore, these judgments are arbitrary and serve as entertainment, providing idle chatter for otherwise monotonous lives.
However, for those obsessed with vanity, these labels can be devastating. They mistakenly believe that these tags represent their true image in others’ eyes or even reflect their actual circumstances. They worry about how they are perceived and rack their brains to change them.
To make sure that, in the few seconds when they enter their village, they may be perceived as glorious to captivate the sharp-eyed gossipers, some people go to great lengths by buying luxury cars on credit beyond their means, or “hiring” a girlfriend for the holiday. It is all just for that fleeting moment of “face” as they pass through the village gate.
But what’s the real point of such appearances? Other than draining their wealth and adding to their troubles, such efforts bring no real benefits. Buying a luxury car or hiring a girlfriend may earn them a favorable label, but does it make their actual life any richer? Does it truly bring them financial stability or a real family? Clearly not. Others’ judgments are just judgments. They neither reflect reality nor change it. Instead of spending excessively on appearances and adding unnecessary burdens to their life, wouldn’t it be more practical to buy warm clothing for their family or a heater to keep their parents warm?
After working hard for a year, even if you haven’t bought a luxury car or dressed in designer clothes, if your life is fulfilling, if you’re healthy and happy, if your family is by your side, then that kind of situation is far more valuable than an empty vanity. Those who prioritize vanity may lack honor, but what they have is truly theirs, whereas “face” is merely for amusing others.
Of course, this doesn’t mean we should return home looking disheveled, deliberately dressing like beggars, or refusing to buy anything new. Of course not! We should maintain basic decency. After all, presenting ourselves well is a form of self-respect and respect for others. However, decency doesn’t mean over-boasting ourselves by exhausting our finances just to meet others’ superficial expectations. We should strive to meet our own standards, not theirs.
I remember a story about two pastors, which is quite interesting:
One pastor always bought air tickets for economy class when traveling to preach. When asked why, he replied, “Because there is no cheaper ticket than economy class.” The other pastor, however, always bought first-class tickets. When asked why, he also replied, “Because there is no ticket more expensive than first class.” Was it because the first pastor had no money and the second one cared about vanity? Of course not. The first pastor enjoyed talking to people, wanting to understand the lives of ordinary folks so he could tailor his sermons to their needs. The second pastor, on the other hand, needed a quiet and comfortable environment for theological reflection and writing.
Therefore, what truly matters is not outward appearances but inner spirituality, real needs, and self-sufficiency in life. If you are not swayed by others’ opinions or led by their expectations, and if you live a fulfilling life on your own terms, then it won’t matter whether you take a bus home for the Spring Festival or drive a luxury car. Other people’s judgments simply do not matter.
Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” Which is more important, the body or the clothing? I believe everyone has their own answer. Yet, when it is time to return home for the Spring Festival, many seem to forget about the body and focus only on the clothing.
The true meaning of going home for the Spring Festival is not to show off superficial appearances, nor to satisfy the gossip and chatters of the village. It is about family reunions and seeing the loved ones we have been apart from for a whole year.
(Originally published by the Christian Times, the article has been edited under permission.)
- Translated by Charlie Li
