Punch-Drunk

No, not from celebrating St.Patrick's Day ..


Punch drunk refers to how I am feeling this weekend. My understanding of what this phrase means, is about that state of mind and body a pugilist feels after a long, hard boxing match. In my case, I think the stress and strain of the past few months taking care of my mum finally caught up with me. So, I feel a bit green but not due to any libations. It has been quite a journey and it is not complete. Mom is now in a different nursing home. At least this one is near her apartment in Los Angeles, which will make my visits a bit easier.

I am wearing a lot of green--are you? We Irish begin wearing green before, during and after March 17th. I do have a stable of cyber-leprechauns on Paddy Patrol to find ya if you're not and you might be feeling a pinch but I cannot say where. I can't seem to get our cat, Belle to wear the green ribbon, she merely wants to play with it. And nowadays, people don't threaten to pinch the un-green for fear of sexual harrassment. Argh. So it was especially heartening to see so many people wearing green today. You wouldn't normally pay attention to the color of people's wardrobe, but when you see person after person walk by you do begin to notice a common color theme.

Even for those of you who are not of Celtic descent, you might agree that there is something magical and mystical about the Irish. Something happens to me when I hear the strains of the Irish penny whistle and the Boudrain (drums).

Tonight, as I prepare my talk for the service at Light of Life, we are listening to KPBS's "Celtic Woman." How appropriate and inspirational. It's hard to keep still.

Not able to officially 'party' tonight (the occupational hazards of being a minister and a holiday falling on Saturday night) I still celebrate in my heart and soul. And our neighbor behind us is having her St. Patrick's Party, so I can vicariously party and tomorrow, if I don't get a full nights sleep from their festivities, it will be just as if I had partied.

I shall close with a prayer from St. Patrick that I will read tomorrow at Sunday service:

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun, Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning, Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea, Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the rock.

I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me;
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's hosts to save me
Afar and anear,
Alone or in a mulitude.

Christ shield me today
Against wounding
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 down,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.

I arise today. Through the mighty strength.

And so it is!