The Red Thread of Fate

The Red Thread of Fate

By some kharmic magic I felt connected to the young Asian girl, all those years ago. Somehow I was attracted to Asian martial arts which ultimately drew me to the raven haired Chinese girl.

More than one person has speculated "Howard must be nuts." While surely I am deeply wounded as any person might ever be, by much more than my lifetime share of betrayals, I am not irrational. Rather, I am a person of certain deep, deep feelings and beliefs. Beliefs and stances which I will never relinquish, no matter the consequence to me. 

This is both a strength and a weakness because those consequences are no longer either speculative or theoretical. My incredulity and outrage of the reality of these betrayals may at times cause me to appear "nuts." I could not care less. I am simply beyond outraged. Call this state of mind whatever makes you feel good about yourself.

There is an old Chinese belief known as the Red Thread of Fate. According to Wikipedia it may be applied to the spiritual connection between either parents and children or that between spouses. There is Jewish mythology as well which is remarkably similar, reinforcing the spiritual credibility I tend to allow on this topic, see history below.

Forty five years ago, twenty years before she was born, I needed more than anything to be a father. To pour out all of it, not part of it. I needed to be the raven-haired girl's father. I knew it then and I still know it now. The thread may stretch or tangle, but it will never break. These are my beliefs.

Regardless.

THE RED THREAD OF FATE

FROM CHINESE LEGEND
The Red Thread of Fate (simplified Chinese: 姻缘红线; traditional Chinese: 姻緣紅線; pinyin: Yīnyuán hóngxiàn), also referred to as the Red Thread of Marriage, and other variants, is an East Asian belief originating from Chinese mythology. It is commonly thought of as an invisible red cord around the finger of those that are destined to meet one another in a certain situation as they are "their true love". According to Chinese legend, the deity in charge of "the red thread" is believed to be Yuè Xià Lǎorén (月下老人), often abbreviated to Yuè Lǎo (月老), the old lunar matchmaker god, who is in charge of marriages. In the original Chinese myth, it's tied around both parties' ankles, while in Japanese it's bound from a male's thumb to a female's little finger, and in Korean culture, the red thread is thought to be tied around the little finger of both parties.

FROM JEWISH THEOLOGICAL REFERENCES
A scarlet thread, tied about the wrist, is mentioned in Genesis 38. Tamar becomes pregnant by her father-in-law, Judah, and gives birth to twin boys. The following verses about this event are taken from the King James Bible:

Genesis, chapter 38:
27 - And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.
28 - And it came to pass, when she travailed, that the one put out his hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first.
29 - And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, How hast thou broken forth? this breach be upon thee: therefore his name was called Perez.
30 - And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.