The Spiritual Story of St Patrick
My friend is off to Ireland to spend St Patrick’s Day in its Motherland. I am at her home dog watching and contemplating the life of this saint.
His Story
Patrick was born in Britain and at age 15 was on vacation with his family when he was kidnapped and taken to Ireland where he became an enslaved sheep herder. He quickly took on praying for comfort. He prayed day and night. He prayed while herding sheep regardless of the intense weather, He prayed to begin and to end his day. He says in his book Confessions that it was his daily prayer practice that brought him close to God. Other slaves took to calling him “Holy Boy.” He was changing. After six years in captivity he had two dreams. The first was about his upcoming freedom, the second was guidance to go to the sea. He traveled 200 miles to the sea to board a ship. It would be two years before he would make it home to Britain by ship and land.
Sidenote
Now before going any further, I stop here to take in the energy of this. Throughout scripture there are stories of enslavement, bondage, dreams, and a long journey toward freedom. All of us have this story within us — it is a Soul story — and if we haven’t awoken to it yet, then we are somewhere in it without the awareness. These are stories of transformation and the rough times are necessary for the transformation to ensue. In Sacred stories, as in this one, I love the dreams that provide guidance and the following of them which demonstrates a willingness or obedience to follow an inner knowing.
Now Back to the Story
So, Patrick studies to become a priest and then a Bishop while back in his homeland of Britain. And he has another dream. One with a letter that read “The Voice of the Irish” and he saw his sheep herding buddies in his dream. He knew he was to return to Ireland.
Sidenote
Our logical mind says, Really??? Are you crazy??? You escaped. Return to where you were tortured? Come on now. And yet, the heroes story shares this arc. You leave a known place that is “small” for your Soul, venture out into the vast world, and return to share your gifts. Your new bigger visits your once smaller. And, the message came in a dream. God spoke. He had to.
Now Back to the Story
And if crazy wasn’t crazy the Druids were burning people in Ireland. It wasn’t safe. Yet, Patrick returns anyhow and spends time speaking the gospel to the man who enslaved him. In his book Confessions, Patrick wrote “As every day arrives, I expect either sudden death or deception, or being taken back as a slave or some such other misfortune. But I fear none of these, since I look to the promise of heaven and have flung myself into the hands of the all-powerful God.” I absolutely love the imagery of flinging myself into God. Of course, we realize God is everywhere Present and all there is so to me I read this as my personality flings itself Higher into the Kingdom. A fun verb in the context of loving the Divine Presence. St Patrick would die in Ireland.
Questions to Ponder
What if you prayed everyday no matter the time or the weather? What if your job felt like enslavement and yet you showed up as a “Holy Boy/Girl/One?” What if you followed the dreams that percolated up from your Soul? What if you flung yourself into what you Loved?
Over time clovers, leprechauns, the color green and drinking Irish drinks would all be wrapped into the celebration.
Today my heart is full to overflowing with a river of Green Love. Happy St. Paddy’s Day.
Blessings to you friend.
