Tuesday Ramble

I act with bold courage -
Taking inspiration from the powerful vision of my future,
I boldly set sail with courage and intent.
I hold my course with focused attention and relentless commitment,
as I weather the storms of life.

Jonathan Lockwood Huie

It is an awesome morning.  Not as warm as it could be, but at least there is no snow and ice.  Since March arrived, the weather here in the city has made  one feel as if they are on a roller coaster ride.  Saturday was up in the 50's and by Sunday they were forecasting snow showers. It didn't snow yesterday, but boy, it sure was cold.  That's okay, though.  Spring will be here soon enough. Let's just hope that Winter gets the message.  I can remember a huge snowstorm on Easter Sunday way back when. Anyone remember that?

Boy, did we ever get fooled at the Center yesterday. People came from miles around thinking they would be serving corned beef and cabbage.  Ha!!!  Guess what they served?  Chili and rice.  Didn't bother me any.  I don't like corned beef, and it is really way too  high in sodium for me.  But I do love that cabbage and potatoes.  I could make a meal of them. Guess they heard that many of the Irish originally stemmed from Galacia. I didn't cook it here at home, either, but I had wanted to make some soda bread.  Got home and found out I was missing an ingredient and was just too lazy to go back out, though. 

I don't really celebrate St. Patrick's Day, anyway. Of course, I don't believe in all the drinking, and I dislike the food. But I don't believe that St. Patrick single-handed drove all the Pagans out of Ireland.  To me, that is simply an old  legend.  We must remember that Christianity back then was not what it is today, and most Pagans willingly accepted and treated the Christian God and the Christ just as they would any other Pagan deity. Patrick was a missionary spreading the religion he followed. The people he converted did so willingly. Christianity back in those days was not the Christianity we have today.  

 "Remember the people whom you come from." 

Old Gaelic Proverb

In fact, today's Celtic Christianity/Spirituality with its roots in the past and love of nature is beautiful and unique in today's world of dogmatic religions.  Two great books I highly recommend if you are interested in learning about the nature of Celtic Christianity are...

'Water from an Ancient Well: Celtic Spirituality for Modern Life' by Kenneth McIntosh and 'The Salmon in the Spring: The Ecology of Celtic Spirituality' by Jason Kirkey.

THE HERMIT'S SONG

I wish, O Son of the living God,
O ancient, eternal King,
For a hidden little hut in the wilderness
That it may be my dwelling.

An all-grey lithe little lark
To be by its side
A clear pool to wash away sins
Through the grace of the Holy Spirit.

Quite near, a beautiful wood,
Around it on every side,
To nurse many-voiced birds,
Hiding it with its shelter.

And facing the south for warmth;
A little brook across its floor,
A choice land with many gracious gifts
Such as be good for every plant.

A few men of sense --
We will tell their number --
Humble and obedient,
To pray to the King:

Four times three, three times four,
Fit for every need,
Twice six in the church,
Both north and south:

Six pairs
Besides myself,
Praying forever to the King
Who makes the sun shine.

A pleasant church and with the linen altar-cloth,
A dwelling for God from Heaven;
Then, shining candles
Above the pure white Scriptures.

One house for all to go to
For the care of the body,
Without ribaldry, without boasting,
Without thought of evil.

This is the husbandry I would take,
I would choose, and will not hide it:
Fragrant leek,
Hens, salmon, trout, bees.

Rainment and food enough for me
>From the King of fair fame,
And I to be sitting for a while
Praying God in every place.