The new wine in the old wineskinThe fermenting of new wine builds up pressure in its container which can burst old skins (you’ll notice this when you open a corked wine bottle).

1. new wine + old wineskin = old wineskin will burst and wine will be spilled, value negative
2. old wine + new wineskin = it will spoil the taste of the wine, value negative
3. new wine + new wineskin = fermentation begins, value adding

Personal Application

Anyone who wish to change a habit, attitude or add new skills, it is important to ensure that his environment and relationships are conducive to achieving the goal. For example, in the Philippines, even non Chinese Filipinos enroll their kids to a Chinese school with the intent to introduce a 3rd or 4th language, i.e. fukien or mandarin. Though introducing a new language can be easy, to be proficient may not be possible if no one else in the clan and friends outside the school understands and speaks the language to help the kids integrate these to their “daily” conversation.

You may want to read the work life application at Sonnie’s Porch