Well, today is St. Patrick’s day. As you probably know, it is often associated with parades, celebrations of the Irish, the color green, leprechauns, four leaf clovers, and quite a bit of talk about good luck.
I suspect St. Patrick would have been a bit surprised…and probably a little confused by the holiday that bears his name. Yes, he was real man who lived in the 4th and 5th centuries and is believed to have died on March 17, in the year 461. He lived a hard life in which, by his own account, he “daily [expected] to be murdered or betrayed or reduced to slavery if the occasion arises.” “But,” he said, “I fear nothing,”— not because he carried around a four leaf clover or had a leprechaun for a best friend, but, as he wrote in his confessions, “because of the promises of Heaven.” St. Patrick understood more than most that it is not luck that sustains us, but rather the caring providence of God. He is credited with the well-known prayer:
“May the strength of God pilot us, may the wisdom of God instruct us, may the hand of God protect us, may the word of God direct us. Be always ours this day and for evermore.”
But, just because we can trust God for these things, doesn’t mean we don’t still have to exercise practical wisdom in our lives. Indeed, Patrick also is reported to have said: “Never trust a dog to watch your food.”
Even leprechauns know that. Happy St. Patrick’s day…and,
Have a wonderful day.