In my last blog I mentioned a handwritten poem my father-in-law gave me when our first child was born.  Grandpa Dahlgren has long since passed away but here’s a picture of him with our youngest child Matthew who is not so young anymore – he’s 32.  I’ve had so many requests to have the poem printed in its entirety that I decided to go ahead and put it in this blog.  Like I mentioned before I don’t know who wrote it because my copy indicated the author was Anonymous.  Anonymous has written so many clever things through the years that I would love to meet him or her one day to give credit where credit is due.  Until then I’ll just enjoy the fruits of their labor.

The Best of All

Some have bonds and some have gold

But you have a child in your arms to hold

Some have power and some have land

But you have the touch of a little hand

Some have riches and some have pride

But you have a kiss at eventide

Some have fame but you have more

The patter of feet on the bedroom floor

A dear goodnight in the darkness there

And the tender words of a little prayer

A tousled head on the bed to lay

At the ragged end of a happy day

And the light of the stars on a little face

And a darling smile that the moonbeams trace

What matter then if gold we miss

For what is gold compared to this

Priceless Treasures

When we had our first child my father-in-law gave me a poem which he lovingly hand wrote as a keepsake.  It was by that famous author, Anonymous.  I memorized the first two lines.

“Some have silver and some have gold,

But you have a child in your arms to hold.”

Each stanza describes those who have land, power, riches, pride, or fame.  But how can those things compare to a child’s smile, embrace, footsteps, first words, or kiss?  That poem has provided me with an inner compass.  When our other two children were born I would reread it just to keep perspective of what is most important in life.

Who hasn’t longed for a wealth and riches?  Who hasn’t longed to be able to afford expensive works of art?  Having traveled a bit, I’ve been dazzled by Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, Van Gogh’s Starry Night, Monet’s Water Lilies, and Whistler’s Portrait of the Painter’s Mother.  I’ve marveled at Michelangelo’s Statue of David, the Greek Venus de Milo, and Rodin’s The Thinker.  I’ve been a guest in homes so lavish and pristine you were afraid to breathe, much less sit down.  And I can say without hesitation that none of these can compare to my own assortment of priceless treasures which have taken me years to accumulate.

My cherished collection includes but is not limited to the following:

•  Carnations made out of pink Kleenex tissues
• A hanging wall letter holder made from paper plates
• Popsicle framed pictures
• A teabag taped to a picture of a teapot
• A jewelry box made from macaroni glued to a cigar box and spray painted gold
• Abstract (and I do mean abstract) works of art
• Family collages of pictures pasted on construction paper
• Handmade greeting cards with original poems beginning with “Roses are red and  violets are blue”
• Seedlings planted in small paper cups
• Awards with “World’s Greatest Mom” written in crayon
• Colorful potholders made from material scraps
• A cutting board made in shop class
• Jewelry made from pipe cleaners
• Message holders made from clothespins
• Paper weights made from painted rocks
• Plaster of Paris foot prints
• Coupons that say, “I will take out the trash” or “I will clean my room.”
• Card board place mats
• A child’s hand print accompanied by a poem about children leaving fingerprints everywhere in a home

It’s taken years to acquire these works of art.  And more priceless yet were the three treasures who presented them to me – because as the last stanza of my poem explains…

“What matter then if wealth we miss?

For what is gold compared to this?”

Here are my three priceless treasures all grown up…

Christ says that we will be witnesses for him. “You shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, and all of Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).” Some of us balk at the idea of being witnesses for Christ. Perhaps it’s because we have a false concept about what being a witness really means.

The word “witness” conjures up negative images of Christ being on trial in a court of law and we must testify that he is innocent. But Christ does not need us to defend him. However, He does want us to attest to what He has done in our lives if someone asks. The Bible says to be ready to give an answer – to those who ask (1 Peter 3:15). It doesn’t say to go out and cram the gospel down everyone’s throat. And, yes, people do that.

Many think this passage in Acts commands us to go out and witness for Christ. But not every scripture written in the Bible is a command. Some state facts. Let’s reread Acts 1:8. “You shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, and all of Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.” Could it be that Jesus is stating a fact here? The gospel will spread to the ends of the earth and as it does Christians will be witnesses for Christ – not by trying to persuade skeptics to follow Him, but by showing how the fruits of God’s spirit can be manifest in our lives so others will want to follow Him.

If we call ourselves Christians then our lives are a witness for God. Our lives are either good witnesses or bad witnesses – but they are witnesses just the same. Hopefully our lives are a living testimony for God’s goodness, so others might say something like, “WOW! That person has a peace that passes all understanding. I’d like to have that kind of peace in my life.”

Being a witness for Christ is not as difficult as we may think. We don’t have to convince others to follow Christ. Christ does that. We don’t even have to go out looking for people to “witness” to. God will do that. God will make sure we come in contact with the people he wants us to know. He will put it in their hearts to ask us questions about Him that we can answer.

The early church knew this. They continued steadfastly doing what they had been taught. They met together, ate together, worshipped together, and prayed together. They were happy and got along with all the people (Acts 2:42-47). “And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” The early church members devoted themselves to living a Christian life. That’s how they witnessed for Christ. They didn’t talk people into becoming Christians. They didn’t “lead” people to Christ. They allowed the Holy Spirit to transform them into what Christ would have them be and then…God added to the church.

With this kind of witnessing God gets all the glory. You see, it’s all about Him – not about us. That’s what witnessing for Christ is all about.

Jesus told the early church that they would be witnesses. “You shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, and all of Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).” A witness is one who attests to the truth. So this implies that people would be telling others about God’s truth by sharing their first hand experiences.

Witnesses is biblical times were very important. Most of the people were poor and many were illiterate. The average person couldn’t read or write so many things weren’t written down or recorded. Therefore sharing what you had seen, heard or experienced with others was important. The teachings of Jesus had to be passed on word of mouth.

The Bible is filled with examples of those who witnessed for Christ in their own way. There was no specific way presented for people to share the gospel. People led by God’s spirit don’t all witness in the same way. God created us with various personalities. We all have different occupations, strengths and weaknesses. As unique members of the body of Christ people use what they have to witness in their own ways (2 Corinthians 12). This is true today as it was in biblical times. Here are some examples…

The Blind Man
This man had been blind from birth and Jesus healed him. The Pharisees did not like this. In fact they tried to say that Jesus could not be from God because Jesus healed him on the Sabbath. Now the blind man didn’t have much education and didn’t wax eloquent in front of the Pharisees. He merely stated that he didn’t know who Jesus was, but he did know one thing. “I was blind and now I see (John 9:25).”

Peter
Peter was a tent maker. He was a bit impetuous and made his mistakes, yet his love for Christ and enthusiasm for the gospel was almost contagious. He walked on water. Christ seemed to spend a little extra time with Peter (Matthew 16:15-23). Peter gave the sermon on the day of Pentecost when Jesus’ followers were together in Jerusalem (Acts 2). He could attest to the miracles, wonders, and signs Jesus performed. He said, “God has raised Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of that fact (Acts 2:32).”

Dorcas
Dorcas was a woman ahead of her time. She was a business owner and philanthropist. A dedicated follower of Christ she witnessed through her good works and living the Christian life (Acts 9:36). She put her faith into action by serving the poor and making clothes for the widows. Many mourned when she died in the prime of life. Believers sent for Peter who prayed and she was brought back to life.

Matthew
Matthew was a Christian tax collector which is almost an oxymoron. He left everything to follow Jesus (Luke 5:27-31). He witnessed through his hospitality. He threw a banquet for Jesus and invited all his tax collector friends. The Pharisees didn’t like this, but Jesus did.

Paul
Paul was more of an intellectual and knew the arts, philosophy, and the law. He used his logic and reasoning to become all things to all people (1 Corinthians 9:19-23). He once persecuted Christians but then he became one. His changed life was part of his witness, but he was also a persuasive orator. He spoke comfortably in Athens, the center of philosophy (Acts 17) and defended himself in court so adeptly that he almost persuaded King Agrippa to become a Christian (Acts 26:28).

The Samaritan Woman
The Samaritan woman had three strikes against her. First, she was a Samaritan. Jews did not speak to Samaritans because they considered them religiously impure. Second, she was a woman. In those days women were to be seen and not heard. Her third strike was living in adultery. Yet Jesus chose to speak to this “three strikes and you’re out” loser in the world’s eyes and share the gospel (John4). She couldn’t contain her happiness, so she told all her neighbors, family, and friends. She didn’t try to convert anyone, yet many believed (John 4:39-43). She witnessed by sharing her joy!

All followers of Christ witness in one way or another, whether they want to or not. We are all God’s witnesses. In matters not what our strengths or weaknesses are. We share the gospel with those we come in contact with by the lives we lead. Our lives are our testimony. How we live is our witness. How we live declares the truth about God’s influence in our lives. God can use that for His glory.

God admonishes us not to harden our hearts like the children of Israel did (Psalm 95:8; Hebrews 3:7-11). Time and time again they saw the miracles God performed yet they seemed determined not to appreciate all God did for them. Because they hardened their hearts one too many times, they did not believe. An unbelieving heart turns away from God and cannot enter into his rest (Hebrews 3:12; 3:19). So the children of Israel were not allowed to go into the Promised Land.

The Greek word for “hardened” is being stubborn, bullheaded, head strong, self willed, inflexible, stiff-necked, dry, hard, or tough. We all struggle with these proclivities at one time or another. The trick is not to let these characteristics overtake and consume us. The Bible tells us that a person who remains stiff-necked is headed for disaster (Proverbs 29:1). Hearts that become calloused do not want to see or hear God (Matthew 13:14, 15). Hardened hearts lose their spiritual vitality. They go through the motions of being Christians, but their hearts are not in it. They may honor God with their lips, but their hearts are from Him (Mark 7:6, 7).

A hardened heart does not appear overnight. It’s a process and may happen so gradually we don’t even know it. Perhaps it starts with grumbling, complaining, griping, or blaming others. Then we make a habit of not doing what we know we should do, or doing what we know we shouldn’t do. God’s Word slips away (Hebrews 2:1). We segue into refusing to acknowledge God’s greatness or what he has done for us. We are unappreciative. Communication with God falters. We stop praising, worshipping, and praying. We start to rely on ourselves instead of God and enter into self deception. Then it’s just one short step into being unwilling to trust God. The heart becomes hardened.

If we recognize we are in the process of hardening our hearts we need to get back to the basics: prayer, Bible study, and meditation. However, believe it or not, we could do all those basic things and still have a hardened heart. The basics must be coupled with asking God to create a clean heart and renew a right spirit within us (Psalm 51:10). Only God can replace our stony hearts with new ones – hearts that will yield to Him (Ezekiel 36:26).

Many think once they accept Jesus as their Savior that it’s smooth sailing into the Kingdom of God.  Not true.  Scriptures indicate that all people have trials – the just and the unjust.  Sometimes we bring trials upon ourselves.  Sometimes we do everything we are supposed to do and trials come anyway.

James 1:1-3 tells us we will have trials.  It goes so far as to say we should consider it joy because trials test our faith and help us develop perseverance.  Now I must admit I have not reached the plateau of spiritual growth where I’ve come to consider my trials a joy.  However I think it helps to focus on something other than our circumstances.  It helps to focus on Jesus.  As the old song goes:

Turn your eyes on Jesus. 

Look full in his wonderful face. 

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of his glory and grace. 

One of the best ways to focus on Jesus is through prayer.  So my system of dealing with trials is to “pray through them.”  Here’s how…

Tell God How We Feel

We can be totally honest with God about how we feel.  He doesn’t mind if we dump our anger, frustration, disappointment, and grief on him.  However, this can’t be our only communication with God.  No one likes one continuous pity party – not even God.

Ask for Specifics

There’s nothing wrong with pleading for deliverance, but let’s not forget some other specifics such as asking for strength, guidance, wisdom and peace or even that we learn what we need to learn from a situation quickly.  However, our ultimate goal is to align our will to God’s, not talk him into giving us what we want.

Praise God

No matter what our circumstance we should praise God (Psalm 97:1-7).  We may be having a difficult time but God is still our creator, sustainer, redeemer, comforter, friend, and ruler.  He is loving, kind, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy.  As we focus on how great God is our problems become smaller.

Give Thanks

We can always find something to be grateful for.  Like the old adage, “I complained because I had no shoes then I met a man who had no feet.”   Focus on what we have, not what we lack, and be thankful for it.  We can thank God for his creation, family, friends, food, life, music, sight, hearing, health, peace, understanding, laughter, home – the list goes on and on and on.

Remember God

In the midst of severe trials it’s difficult to remember all the wonderful things God has done for us in the past.  Sometimes we have to ask God to bring those to mind.  Remembering the many answered prayers and God’s faithfulness gives us perspective.  One major problem with the Israelites was they continually forgot how God delivered them to freedom and brought them through the wilderness (Deuteronomy 5:15; 8:2).  The minute things didn’t go their way they chose to grumble instead of remembering all God had done for them.

Pray for Others 

A difficult concept to grasp is that we are not the center of the universe.  Other people are going through hardships too.  We need to pray for them.

Pray for God’s Will to Be Done

Through all our trials we must want God’s will to be done, not ours.  God’s will might not be our will.  Can we live with that and love God anyway?  It’s not wrong to make our wishes known but our lives are in God’s loving hands.  Do we trust him to do what’s best even though it might not be what we want?  As we grow in our relationship with God we learn more fully that he truly loves us.  When we realize God is compassionate, loving, and kind, we actually want to surrender our will to his, even though it may hurt.  Jesus asked, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me,” but surrendered His will to God’s.  “Yet not as I will, but as you will (Matthew 26:39).”

God never promised us a problem free existence.  Sometimes God takes away a trial and sometimes he doesn’t.  Paul prayed for his thorn in the flesh to be removed but God didn’t remove it (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).  Was it difficult for Paul?  Yes, but Paul conceded that God’s greatness and power was made perfect in his weakness.  So Paul was willing to delight in his hardships so God could be glorified.  That’s almost as difficult for me to grasp as counting my trials as joy.

However, ultimately any trial is really more about God’s greatness being manifest than our discomfort being assuaged.   That’s why we pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17) – especially when we are going through a trial!

I recently read an article about a woman who wanted her husband to put his dirty clothes in the laundry hamper instead of dropping them on the floor. The author went to great length explaining that there was probably some sort of underlying, psychological reason why the man didn’t want to put the dirty clothes in the hamper. I’m not singling out men here. Some women have the same problem. The author felt that if they could get to the core of the reason behind the action, the problem would be solved. Honestly???? Give me a break.

I am so tired of people trying to explain away their bad habits and blame them on how they were potty trained. I don’t doubt we could solve the world’s problems by getting to the psychological reasons of why we do what we do, but that doesn’t mean we stop our bad habits. Bad habits are, after all, bad habits that we have allowed to become an ingrained part of our lives. To understand why we do something is marvelous; to stop doing it is something else entirely.

Now it might be a little different if this couple were not living in a shared space. If a person had a room of his/her own and wanted to leave clothes all over the place, then so be it. Or if this couple could afford a cleaning lady to come in daily, so be it. More power to them! Problem solved. But if other arrangements can’t be reached then agreements must be made. After discussion there may come a time when one might have to lovingly say, “Just stop it! Stop putting your dirty clothes on the floor!” Then together they come up with a consequence to accompany unacceptable behavior and stick to it. Follow through. This is not a threat. It’s a plan of action. This procedure can be applied to just about any domestic, family, or workforce situation.

Picking up dirty clothes is fairly small in comparison to other areas of our lives. However, it could be a metaphor for just about any behavior. People have to learn to function in society. Jobs must be done or people get fired. Bills must be paid on time or fines and penalties occur. Good grooming might be necessary if one wants friends.

We all have excuses for why we do what we do or don’t do, and while they may be valid, they might not help us lead happier lives co-existing with others. As the Bible says, something might be lawful but not expedient or it might be permissible but not beneficial (1 Corinthians 6:12). In other words, just because we can self justify what we do, doesn’t mean it’s the best course of action to do it.

People don’t care if we are having a bad hair day, eaten too much sugar, have a chemical imbalance, were poor as children, had parents who paid more attention to our siblings than us, were potty trained too early or late, have a temper because we’re Irish, are lazy because we never had to go out and get a job, or are slobs because our mothers picked up after us. And while all these may be valid reasons for the bad habits we’ve acquired through the years, at some point we have to stop making excuses for ourselves and just do what we should do. Get up. Pick up. Clean up. Grow up.

Does that mean we are unsympathetic because some people have to struggle with certain issues more than others? No! It means just because we understand why people do certain things, it doesn’t give them license to do it. Just because we have an excuse for what we do, doesn’t mean we should continue doing it.

Sometimes we can hire someone to do what we don’t want to do. Believe it or not, if we can afford it, I’m all for that. That’s one way of accepting responsibility. But sometimes we have to stop making excuses and change our unacceptable behavior.

The Bible says it’s better for a man to meet a bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly (Proverbs 17:12).  Yet we are a little foolish at times.  Maybe that’s why the Welsh Proverb says, “If every fool wore a crown, we should all be kings.”   At no time is that more evident than on April Fool’s Day (April 1^st).  It seems to bring out the “folly” in everyone.  In addition to people trying to outdo themselves with tricks and jokes, around that time people will believe just about anything.

The origin of April Fool’s Day is hazy at best.  Lots of ancient festivals such as the Roman Saturnalia, the Indian Holi, the Festus Fatuorum (Feast of Fools), and a Celtic festival honoring Lud, the god of humor, involved games, tricks, and jokes.  The most popular theory about April Fool’s Day links back to France and the Gregorian Calendar.

The New Year used to be an eight day celebration culminating on April 1^st.  The papacy adopted the Gregorian Calendar in 1582 which moved New Year’s Day to January 1st.  News traveled slowly in those days, so some continued to celebrate the New Year on April 1^st.  Still others refused to accept this new calendar and were considered “fools” by everyone else.  They were made the brunt of jokes like having paper fish stuck to their backs without their knowledge called Poisson d’Avril (April Fish) and sent on “fool’s” errands.

Not to be outdone by France, these prank playing traditions spread to England, Scotland and America.  In Scotland they call it “Taily Day” and it is devoted strictly to pranks for the posterior of the body.  Thus we can trace the “kick-me” sign back to this origin.  No foolin’!  I’m not making this up.

In modern times we celebrate by using fake vomit, fake dog-poo, whoopee cushions, exploding pens, and since we love to carry on traditions…putting “kick-me” signs on unsuspecting bystanders.   We are a foolish bunch, aren’t we?

April Fool’s Day is also the perfect time for hoaxes.  It’s difficult to tell truth from fiction these days so here are some classic April Fool’s jokes played on the public.  For more, check out the Museum of Hoaxes website.

In 1980 the BBC announced that Big Ben would become digital to keep up with the times.  It received a huge protest from listeners.

In 1994 an alcoholic beverage company reported it had invented a new kind of candy…the chewy Vodka Bar.  These delicacies were designed to compete with Snickers and Mars Bars.  They came in three flavors:  coconut, lemon, and salted cucumber.  They were also working on the vodka instant tea bag.

In 1996, Taco Bell announced that it bought the Liberty Bell and it would be renamed the Taco Liberty Bell.  Outraged citizens called Philadelphia in protest.  Taco Bell admitted it was a joke a few hours later.  Mike McCurry, White House press secretary, was asked about the incident and he said the Lincoln Memorial had been sold also, but to a different company.  It would now be called the Ford Lincoln Mercury Memorial.

In 1998 Burger King placed a full page ad in USA today introducing the “Left-Handed Whopper.”  It would have the same ingredients as a regular Whopper but condiments would be rotated a bit for the benefit of the left handed eater.  It was a hoax but many showed up at local Burger Kings for the new Whopper and others requested the “Right-Handed” version.

In 2000, a newspaper ran an article stating Florida researchers had come up with a Viagra type pill for sexually frustrated pets.  It sounds believable to me.  After all, people pay good money to take their dog to a psychiatrist.

Hey, we’ve all fallen for jokes now and then.  Just look at our politicians.  Like Will Rogers said, “The trouble with practical jokes is that very often they get elected.”

I guess the real lesson of April Fool’s Day is to practice not believing anything we hear or read and only half of what we see – that and not getting close enough to anyone who can put a “kick-me” sign on your back.

And with that I will say, “Happy April!”

BTW…your shoe is untied.  Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!

As Easter fast approaches people anticipate putting on their “Easter bonnets,” (metaphorically speaking, of course) and heading for their annual church meeting to celebrate the risen Christ.  I use the word “annual” because for many Easter is the only day of the year they make the effort to attend church.  Even if they don’t want to acknowledge Christ’s existence the rest of the year, deep in their hearts they do believe Christ died, was resurrected, and He is alive.

Then another group stays away from church on this day because they believe Easter has a pagan origin and no self respecting Christian would celebrate it.  This is nothing new.  A scholarly debate over Easter’s origin has been going on for millennia.  For thousands of years both Christians and pagans have celebrated death and resurrection themes following the Spring Equinox.  Some say the name Easter came from the German word “ostern” which means sunrise.  Some think it refers to some ancient Northern European Saxon goddess of fertility.  Her name was derived from the ancient word for spring, which was “eastre.”

Actually a pretty good case can be made for Christian and pagan explanations.  But to shy away from something just because it has a pagan origin when that is no longer the intent or meaning of what is taking place can be quite limiting – especially since many of our everyday customs can be traced back to paganism.  This would include things such as wedding rings, cross symbols, holidays, wedding ceremonies, handshakes, covering your mouth when you yawn and so on.  Even the word Sunday is derived from a pagan deity, as are the other days of the week.

Then yet another group stays home because they simply do not believe Jesus Christ existed.  Or if they do believe he existed, they don’t believe he died for our sins.  Or if they do believe he lived and died, they don’t believe he was resurrected.  Many chose to believe this because intellectually speaking it isn’t logical that it happened.  Even Thomas, one of the disciples who lived with and followed Christ succumbed to this deceptive thought process.  Where do you think the phrase “doubting Thomas” came from?

John 20:24-31 tells us that Thomas wasn’t with the rest of the disciples when Jesus first showed himself to them after he was resurrected.  Thomas said, “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.”   Eight days later Jesus came to the disciples again and this time Thomas was with them.  Jesus did not rebuke Thomas but lovingly said, “Reach hither your finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither your hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believe.”   Thomas conceded that indeed this was the risen Jesus Christ, “My Lord and my God!”

Some intellectuals say they won’t believe anything they can’t see.  But relying on just what we see can be deceiving as well.  Do we really believe a master magician produces a tiger out of thin air?  We don’t know how it’s done, but there’s the tiger, just the same.  With spiritual matters we might think we have to see to believe but sometimes it’s better to believe, then God allows us to see.  Jesus told Thomas, “Thomas, because you have seen me, you have believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”

I think that’s one of the messages of Easter.  God asks us to believe the unbelievable.  Jesus lived.  Jesus died.  Jesus rose from the dead.  Jesus lives.

Top of the mornin’ to you (or afternoon, or evening, or night or whatever)! Let’s get into that St. Patrick’s Day spirit. It’s not really one of the more prominent holidays in our area, probably because we don’t have that many Irish in Silicon Valley or we don’t get a day off from work but hey, who wouldn’t like to find a leprechaun and snag that pot of gold? And many will wear a shamrock or at least a little something green on March 17.

All right, maybe St. Patty didn’t literally drive all the snakes out of Ireland because snakes aren’t really native to Ireland anyway. This legend must have some metaphoric meaning. And whether he did or didn’t use a shamrock to explain the Trinity is debatable. He’s still a pretty fascinating fellow.

Histories of saints tend to be a little fuzzy but St. Patrick’s story goes something like this. Patrick, now considered the patron saint of Ireland, was actually born in Roman Britain around 380 AD. As a teen he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and sold into slavery. This experience brought him close to God. After six years he escaped and studied for the priesthood with the thought of one day returning as a missionary to Ireland – which he did, although accounts of when he actually returned are hazy. However no one denies the tremendous influence St. Patrick played in converting the Irish to Christianity.

Thomas Cahill, author of How the Irish Saved Civilization, makes the point that during the Dark Ages a candle of Christianity was lit by Patrick and burned in Ireland. It seems that Patrick brought a new kind of Christianity to the pagan Irish. Ireland was not bound by the Greco-Roman sociopolitical climates that surrounded Christianity at that time. Therefore, Cahill states, “”The early Irish Christianity planted in Ireland by Patrick is much more joyful and celebratory [than its Roman predecessor] in the way it approaches the natural world. It is really not a theology of sin but of the goodness of creation.” No wonder those Irish always have such a good time!

Can one person make a difference? Evidently Patrick did. His experiences in slavery made him the first to speak out against it in the 5th Century. It took the Church until the 19th Century to take a stand on that issue. Also Patrick, following the lead of Christ, respected women as individuals, an attitude not shared by religious hierarchy at the time or some today I might add. In fact Patrick seemed to respect all mankind, even the disadvantaged, the poor, the sinner.

To go back to a country that had enslaved you and preach Christ boggles my mind, but that’s what Patrick did. Even after 30 years of missionary work in Ireland, Patrick still considered it a scary place to live. Yet by the time Patrick died through his influence the Irish had stopped slave trading and human sacrifice altogether. It also appears that he achieved part of the commission given to the apostles by Christ, to bring the gospel to the ends of the earth.

It sounds pretty impressive to me. Who knows? I might wear a little green myself this year, even though I’m not Irish. And as Patrick might say if he were here:

May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
And rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand
And never close His fist too tight!