I’m speaking of Ireland, here... this is the closest thing I have to the beauty of the Emerald Isle. That may change soon, though the issue here has significance of its own... it is Saint Patrick’s Day today. If you’re one of those who find this day only one of which to use as an excuse to “paint the town green”, so to speak, you need to pick up a book on Irish history. If not for the likes of Patrick and his contemporaries, such as Scotland’s John Knox, there is the likelihood that Christianity would have stifled, and the world as we know it today would be quite different. If you believe that would a good thing, imagine a world without moral absolutes... if you can.
I know there are those out there who feel they have no religious proclivity, but they’re no doubt wrong... even Atheists are religionists, just not toward God. It is impossible to define “good” outside of a transcendent source. Everyone seems to have their own understanding of this, though just listing a number of good things isn’t a definition... and likely, even where you live, there are places you can go where others believe that knocking you in the head and taking what you have is a good thing. God says no. As Christians, we don’t turn to God merely because He is good... God is the only One in existence whose reason for existence is in and of Himself... what does that say for our existence? We turn to Him because He is the very essence of goodness... otherwise how could we say that anything is evil?
The following is a prayer known as the Breastplate of Saint Patrick. I ask you, how is this a bad thing?
As I arise today, may the strength of God pilot me, the power of God uphold me, the wisdom of God guide me. May the eye of God look before me, the ear of God hear me, the word of God speak for me. May the hand of God protect me, the way of God lie before me, the shield of God defend me, the host of God save me. May Christ shield me today. Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit, Christ when I stand, Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me. Amen
Happy Saint Patrick’s Day, first for my uncommonly beautiful Irish contacts, and then for all you other uncommonly beautiful contacts.
Tá mé ag caitheamh an glas lá atá inniu ann ... conas mar gheall tú?
This image is of night settling over Round Bald. The flowering shrub is a flame azalea enjoying the perfect environment of the Roan Highlands. A short hike up this path takes you to Engine Gap, where flame azalea exist most prodigiously!
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