Today is one of my favorite days - the day before St. Patrick's Day. I love this holiday which celebrates Patrick's idealistic fervor in chasing snakes out of the beautiful Irish grasses. Fact or fiction? I have little doubt but we all like to hope for the best. If only the saints of this earth would take up Patrick's banner and chase all the snakes out of the grasses of the world. Someday the snake will be gone and the children will be safe.
Oh...and this is one of my favorite days because fifty-five years ago I was born. The funny thing is I was born before my time. I was scheduled for St. Pat's day. I was supposed to have the Irish spelling - Micheal - instead of Michael. Since I love Irish music so much, and since I have some Irish roots, wouldn't it be cool to celebrate an Irish birthday with an Irish name?
Well, close enough. I have long ago settled with "Michael" (one who is like God.ha!) and being born before my time (on Sunday instead of Monday). I can't complain about the 55 years God has blessed me with. It has been a good life. In Russia, I think I heard that the average life expectancy is about 57. I am feeling pretty good about now, because my life has been rich. There have been a few bumps in the road, but...
When I was a kid I would get these mischievous ideas and lead myself and my brothers into a whole wad of trouble. When I was in high school I would announce to my youth group (as their beloved president) that we were going downtown to witness to the hippies, and in college I would forego my studies (silly me) and lead friends down to a really bad part of town to share good news. Then as a minister I foolishly instigated a near riot by suggesting we sing worship songs on the screen instead of hymns. Some just weren't ready for that yet. It sent shudders to their comfort zones. I was ahead of my time is what some said. Others said I was a trouble maker and I should be careful not to step on the snakes. A few years latter the same church was way into this type of worship and lots of other stuff I foolishly tried to promote.
For a long time I would get uncomfortable when a strange idea popped into my little brain. What will "people" think? What if it doesn't work? Where would I get the resources? All that kinda stuff. And then one day I saw a sweet young girl - living in a dark sewer on the other side of the earth. What could I do? And then I remembered.
He keeps telling me, "Everywhere you put your foot I will give you the land." So, one more time, in my later days, in the spirit of St. Patrick, I took one step into the grass and...
Fifty-five years. Wow! What next? Can we drive the snake out of the grass? I really don't know, but for today, let's just put on some good Irish folk and celebrate life as we know it - in His time.
Kiev Time
