More thoughts on St. Patrick's Day

This whole article started off with a simple thought. “St. Patrick’s day is coming, and wouldn’t it be fun to find an Irish flag to fly off the patio?” Now you have to understand a few things: One, I do have some Irish roots, and I have proven that to the Irish Government’s satisfaction. A Certificate of Irish Heritage hangs on my office wall to prove it. I’ve already mentioned my trip to Cill Airne agus Corcaigh (Killarney and Cork) in 1997, and the three things we learned about Lá Fhéile Pádraig-St. Patrick’s day-while there. (You can read about that here.) I’ve found that-besides all the obvious silly green paraphernalia-there’s not a small enough flag available locally to fly off our patio. The only one I could find was a 3’ x 5’ job, which might have doubled as a bedspread were I so inclined. The search for this has given me pause, however. (Hence this blog article.) 

One other thought comes to mind on how Americans celebrate St. Patrick’s day: it’s smack in the middle of Lent, which means consuming copious amounts of booze is generally frowned upon by the Church as there are some who gave up booze for Lent. I was pleased to find a sober St.Patrick’s Day party in New York; one could only hope that concept takes root elsewhere. (Check out the webpage for it here...after you’re done reading the rest of the blog, if you don’t mind.)

Back to my thought: If this one day is theoretically celebrating all things Irish, you’d think I’d find Irish flags all over the place. Granted, this year there’s a lot more push to market Easter-which is another blog for another time. This year, Easter is early. (Thought: is it proper to consume a chocolate cross at Easter? Should such things even be sold?) In North America, the day certainly doesn’t seem to be much about a sainted Christian, one who has been credited with bringing the Christian faith to Ireland. And after going back through my pictures and digitizing 42 of them to get a feel for that trip once again, I can’t say that I saw too many Irish Princess tiaras, shirts telling people about how much beer they planned to drink, or even men pinching women’s hindquarters if they weren’t wearing green. (And I pity the idiot who tried pinching a woman wearing orange, as there are a few Protestants living outside Northern Ireland. That chap would likely get slugged into the next county.) It’s no longer even a celebration of Irishness, it seems. It appears to be more and more focused on a stereotype the Irish are really starting to fight: the drunk. In fact, I suspect Patrick would be somewhat appalled at how Americans celebrate a day which was meant to honor him, his legacy-and his Christian faith.  

So...celebrate as you will, but keep in mind some of what I’ve said. Yes, I’ll be wearing something green that day; what that is will be depending on the weather. As for the flag that I’ve been looking for, the item that inspired all this writing tonight...I found one online, and even with shipping it’s ten bucks. It’s a nice looking cotton job with brass grommets, 12” by 18”. I’ll probably order it before the first of the month. The saddest part is the pole and bracket I’m going to have to get to fly it properly-as well as an American flag when those days to fly Old Glory come-will cost more than the flag will. 

Now that’s wrong in and of itself. 

Enough for now.

Easter is more than chocolate bunnies…

Easter is almost here. This is one of the primary holidays for those of us who are Christian—the joy of knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ rose from the dead is enough to fill us with great joy and hope.

Or at least, it should.

Too often, we get caught up in chocolate bunnies, pretty eggs, new clothes, and brunches or dinners. We forget that, while this is a celebration of new life and family, it is also a reminder that Jesus died for the sins of all humanity. He left His Family--The Father and the Holy Spirit--then, in the singular event that separates Christianity from every other religion, Jesus rose from the dead.

I can already hear some of you: The audacity of bringing Jesus into Easter!

Hang with me for a bit.

Just for a moment, consider this: None of the other major religious figures have ever claimed to return to life. Only Jesus did. That alone should say something. It may be disturbing, it may be fantastic…but it is very real. If one considers the Bible to be the Word of God, then it must be true, for God cannot lie.

I think C.S. Lewis said it best, in his book Mere Christianity: “A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic – on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg – or else he would be the devil of hell. You must take your choice. Either this was, and is, the Son of God; or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool...or you can fall at His feet and call him Lord God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us.”

Think this over, while you enjoy your Easter. It is the most important thing you’ll ever mull over, because it will determine your eternity.

Enough for now.

(posted 3/13/08)