Turn it Green!

Oh yes! St. Patrick's Day! As a man of Irish heritage, I always get excited about this annual celebration. However, my soul is saddened at the mockery our country (and others) have made out of such a meaningful man and his true legacy, which should give us all reason to celebrate.

This past Sunday, I asked the 5th and 6th graders at our church to tell me what they knew about St. Patrick's Day. Keeping with culture, they rattled off the things that have become so closely associated with this March holiday. Wearing green, getting pinched, clovers, and leprechauns. And before we chuckle too loudly, my guess is that most adults would be able to add parades, corned beef, and green beer to the list. What has been lost is the major impact that this one man had on a nation.

Born in Britain around 400 A.D., Patrick was raised in a wealthy family. Tragically, he was kidnapped and shipped off to Ireland where he was a slave for over seven years. After being rescued and returned to Britain, Patrick became a Christian. He then felt led by God to spend the rest of his days as a missionary to Ireland--a land which at the time had little Christian influence. He spent the majority of his adult life loving the very people he was once enslaved to, and telling them about the great love of Jesus. (Does that story sound at all familiar?)

As someone who comes from a long lineage of Christians, I am very grateful for the faithfulness of St. Patrick and his unending commitment to share and live out the gospel with the people of Ireland. So this year, as you don your green, watch your parade, pinch your friend, or toss back your Guinness, be sure to do it with an understanding of the true greatness of St. Patrick.