By Fr. Bel San Luis, SVD   Check out the Forbes magazine’s list of the richest men in the world. If your name is not listed there, go back to work immediately. Happy days are over. In this world, no matter how deliriously happy our celebrations may be, sadly they will end. * * * Remember the lyrics of that lively, popular Filipino Christmas song? “Bagong taon ay magbagong buhay…Tayo’y magsikap upang makamtan ang kasaganaan” (With New Year, let’s turn a new life…Let’s work hard so we can attain prosperity). Let’s get rid of our laziness, disunity, dishonesty, vices, and other unproductive traits. * * * On the eve of New Year, people hang round fruits like grapes, lanzones in their houses; they also wear clothes with polka-dots symbolizing the round coin. What should be hung, some skeptics say, are rectangular-shaped objects which symbolize paper bills or checks. * * * But there’s a caveat, they add. “On New Year’s Eve, don’t jump up and down otherwise, they will turn out to be bouncing checks” (talbog na tseke). Regarding that custom, cynics comment, “That’s a lot of superstition. Do you think those practices will help if you are lazy, irresponsible, extravagant, and not resourceful enough?” There’s a lot of truth there. * * * The author of many inspirational books, Robert Schuller, relates about his experience of their old, heavy, fireproof safe. One day he wanted something from the safe, but could not find the key. The last resort was the locksmith. So he put the safe in the trunk of his car and drove off. * * * The locksmith looked at it and said, “I think I can find a key for that.” He returned with some keys, but none of them fit the lock. He said lamely, “I really don’t know much about this business. I am only temporary here today. The owner will be back tomorrow…if you could bring it back.” * * * And as he said that, he lifted the safe. He grabbed the edge underneath the lid and the lid opened up. It had been unlocked all the time! And under the lid was the key! * * * MORAL: The key to a new you is inside you. It’s there all the time. But, in the long run, it’s up to you to use the key, that is, your God-given potentials, your good traits and judgments. The New Year is an opportune time to do just that. Make yourself a productive and better person. People around you will be happy…and, of course, God, too. * * * THE LIGHTER SIDE. There’s an apocryphal story which relates that originally there were 6 kings and not 3. Only 3 reached Bethlehem. The other 3 got lost. One went to the USA; that’s BURGER KING. And 1 found his way to China, that’s CHOWKING. And the third went to the Philippines who became known as TAPA KING. * * * START THE NEW YEAR RIGHT. Let’s reach out to our less fortunate brethren. I am appealing on behalf of some indigent sick we are helping like a cancer patient, Stage 3, Dante Cabansag and Fr. Ruben Mamuad who are undergoing hemodialysis thrice weekly, and others afflicted with asthma and TB. * * * GOD BLESS — the following charitable people who responded to my appeal: DON GREGGY LICAROS, WILLY-LINA ONG, GERRY “MR. FREEZE” SANTOS, ANA SANTOS. * * * Others who wish to help may e-mail me at: [email protected]