The Clover

St. Patricks Day was only a few days ago.  Though I do not party on St. Patricks Day like some do,  it is a day this 10^th generation son of Ireland enjoys.   I am proud of my Irish heritage.   I had the priviledge to visit Ireland over 30 years ago… to walk the streets of towns like Galway, Waterford, and Dublin… and to visit sites like Blarney Castle and St. Patricks Cathedral.  St. Patrick is considered the patron saint of Ireland.   While he is highly respected in Ireland,  he was not a native of Ireland but came there as a missionary from what is now known as England.    One of the ways that St. Patrick shared his faith was by taking a clover and using it as a teaching tool.   St. Patrick taught the people that as the clover has three leaves, so God is known as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Through the clover,  St. Patrick helped the people of the Emerald Isle understand the concept of the Holy Trinity.

As the leaves of the clover were a reminder to St. Patrick of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit,  so it occurs to me that there are reminders of God around us all the time. Sometimes, God speaks loudly but more times than not God speaks in the daily course of  life in gentle whispers.   In the blooming flower and bush in these early days of Spring… in the loving smile of a friend or a loved one… in the laughter or frolic of a child… and in millions of other ways,  God speaks and whispers his message.   John 5:17 declares,  “In his defense Jesus said to them, ‘My Father is always at work to this very day, and I too am working.’”   Oh, for eyes to see Him and for a heart to hear Him this day and everyday.   Have a joy-filled week.-  Pastor Randy Wall

Prayer:    O God,  I  thank you for St.  Patrick and all those who have shared the gospel in the past and present.  Give me a heart that looks for you in the world around me;  through Christ our Lord.  Amen.