A Call To Recklessness
This year I’m using the Celtic Daily Prayer book as my devotional guide. It calls for prayer three times a day. A challenge I’m up for. As I’m looking at the house blessings in the book (since Epiphany is a great time for house blessings), I come across information about Brigid of Kildare (c. 450-523). What a woman! Few facts but many legends surround her. The section in the book that lists some of the legends is entitled: "A call to recklessness". I thought I was reckless today when a man in my parking lot asked for a dollar to take a bus. I gave him what I had. Now listen to someone who was truly reckless - a saint to emulate!
“As a young woman, Brigid was in the habit of giving freely of her father’s possessions and food to the poor and needy. Her father became so frustrated that he decided to sell her to the king and bundled her into his chariot. He left her at the castle gate while he consulted with the king, and Brigid was approached by a beggar asking for alms. She gave him her father’s sword. Brigid’s father and the king were amazed, and the king said he could not buy her from her father: 'She is too good for me - I could never win her obedience.’”
What a woman!
Another woman that I read about today surprised me as well. The morning readings led me to 1 Samuel 1: 12 - 17 from The Message:
“It so happened that as she continued in prayer before God, Eli was watching her closely. Hannah was praying in her heart, silently. Her lips moved, but no sound was heard. Eli jumped to the conclusion that she was drunk. He approached her and said, ‘You’re drunk! How long do you plan to keep this up? Sober up, woman!’
Hannah said, 'Oh no, sir—please! I’m a woman hard used. I haven’t been drinking. Not a drop of wine or beer. The only thing I’ve been pouring out is my heart, pouring it out to God. Don’t for a minute think I’m a bad woman. It’s because I’m so desperately unhappy and in such pain that I’ve stayed here so long.’
Eli answered her, 'Go in peace. And may the God of Israel give you what you have asked of him.'”
What a woman!
