Corn beef anyone? by SUSAN HARRIS

The simple wild three-leaf clover. Green. Corn beef and cabbage. Beer and cheer. These are but a few symbols associated with the Irish tradition, St Patrick’s Day , that is being celebrated today in honour of St. Patrick who died fifteen hundred and fifty-five years ago.  

Photo credit by Rattikankeawpun of Free Digital Photos

The boy Patrick (birth name Maewyn www.gpb.org/education/origins-of-st-patricks-day) was a British lad who was kidnapped at age 16 and brought to to Ireland, where among other things, he tended sheep in the rugged, chilly mountainside.  Eventually he escaped to France where he converted to Christianity, returning to Ireland as a missionary to share the good news with the people who had enslaved him. Patrick used a simple object lesson to explain the Trinity to a people who found it difficult to conceive “three in one”. The common three-leaf shamrock attached a single stem clearly  illustrated the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He attained the status of bishop while alive, and that of patron saint after his death. There is a lot more surrounding St. Patrick, myths and legends which may be challenged, an influence that is undisputed.

I couldn’t help but notice some parallels of St. Patrick’s and  what is found in the Bible. Like with David the shepherd boy who went on to be king and a man after God’s heart. The shamrock was as ordinary as the lily of the valley that Jesus referenced in being worry-free. The heart-shaped leaf that conveyed the Heart of the Father to the hearts of the people. Forgiveness and reconciliation to a people who could have seen as less than worthy. And how the celebrations extends beyond the Irish, embraced by the “gentiles” of anyone who wants to celebrate. Even if it’s just that one happens to like corn beef a lot.

 

SUSAN HARRIS  is an author, speaker and former teacher.  http://susanharris.ca

Convallaria Majalis (Peter A. Black)

On the May 2-4 holiday Monday (Victoria Day—to be posh and traditional about it!) I

ventured to enjoy a lunch on the patio with my Beloved. Ventured I say, since the weather had finally warmed-up sufficiently to overtake my distaste for chilly air.

That was when I noticed a series of dainty little heads demurely drooping, as though reluctant and shy at making a public appearance—at last.

I’d forgotten about the Convallaria Majalis that grows in a strip of sandy soil between the south side of our deck and the concrete patio. The plant’s ivory bells tolled a silent tune that winter was truly over, not just on the calendar, but also in reality.

Courtesy: WikiPedia

Now, I confess I couldn’t have bandied about that posh name, Convallaria Majalis, until minutes before I started typing this article. It is the botanical name of a common variety of the garden plant, lily of the valley. That information came courtesy of Wikipedia.

There I was reminded that Kate Middleton—now the Duchess of Cambridge—had a bridal bouquet of lily of the valley. The plant’s charming perfume has been considered an attractant for some—ahem—important male biological function or other. It is also highly poisonous, although several medications have been developed using trace amounts of certain chemicals extracted from it.

The term ‘lily of the valley’ is found in some versions of the Bible, in the Old Testament book called Song of Songs (or Song of Solomon). However, it’s believed to not be the same plant we use the term for nowadays. In the context of that love poem the Beloved describes herself as flowers that grow naturally in the valleys. “I am the rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys” (Song 2:1).

Various Christian preachers, poets and hymn-writers have turned that around, applying these terms as prophetic epithets of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the true Lover of our souls. And I’m OK with that. I love these terms; they’re dear to me, and that’s because all that Jesus Christ is and means to me is precious and winsome. The fragrance of His person brings out the best of what we can be as God’s gracious Spirit works in our lives.

Perhaps you’ve enthusiastically sung your heart out, belting out the old gospel standard, The Lily of the Valley. Or, maybe you’ve set your toes tapping to a country gospel artist or group’s rendition of it.

Charles W. Fry (1837-1882) wrote the words, and it is sung to an American folk tune attributed to William S. Hayes. The song is found in numerous hymnals. Here are the first verse and chorus:

I have found a friend in Jesus, He’s ev’rything to me,

            He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul;
            The Lily of the Valley, in Him alone I see
            All I need to cleanse and make me fully whole.
            In sorrow He’s my comfort, in trouble He’s my stay
            He tells me ev’ry care on Him to roll.
 
           He’s the Lily of the Valley, the bright and Morning Star,
           He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.*

Interesting for me was that in the instant my eyes alighted on those springtime joys I caught their delightful perfume. Had I been a moment later in seeing them, I would have smelled their distinctive fragrance, anyway. Some people have testified to catching the fragrance of Jesus' presence.

 

Although our lily of the valley plants are still in bloom their petals will soon fade and fall. May their inspiration live on in songs of love to our Lord Jesus, The Lily of the Valley!

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*Public Domain.

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Peter A. Black is a freelance writer in Southwestern Ontario, and is author of “Parables from the Pond” – a children's / family book (mildly educational, inspirational in orientation, character reinforcing). Finalist – Word Alive Press. ISBN: 1897373-21-X. The book has found a place in various settings with a readership ranging from kids to senior adults.

His inspirational column, P-Pep! appears weekly in The Guide-Advocate (of Southwestern Ontario). His articles have appeared in 50 Plus Contact and testimony, and several newspapers in Ontario. Peter’s current book project comprises a collection of 52 column articles, interspersed at points with brief inspirational statements of encouragement.

A collection of his articles are planned for publication later this year.
Raise Your Gaze
Family and Faith Matters 

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