🍀 Wisdom: Christ Beside Me

Year of Breath: In Our Lent Era (and a Prayer for St. Patrick's Day)

(You may have seen that this edition accidentally landed in your inbox a couple of weeks early — I was working ahead to spend undistracted time with my family, and instead of schedule, I hit publish. Sheesh. Thanks for your grace! I don’t take space in your inbox lightly at all. Here we go again!)

Wisdom is like a hand-knit, hand-me-down sweater — its wool fibers worn and softened with age, protecting generations from the elements.

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t want to grow in wisdom. But if you’re like me, you often self-sabotage. You gravitate toward growing in knowledge, or success, or popularity.

But wisdom?

Like a wool sweater, wisdom makes us itchy.

• Because wisdom doesn’t bring fame or fortune.

• Being wise doesn’t mean being lucky.

• Seeking wisdom doesn’t equate to acquiring knowledge.

Like a wool sweater, wisdom isn’t always comfortable.

And yet — there’s something within us that aches for deep wisdom.

We want to know where to turn, how to move forward, what to say, which way to go.

We want Christ to direct our path. We want to make choices that honor God, ourselves, and our neighbors. We want to live in community, to live in a manner worthy of the calling.

We want Wisdom to show us the way — in our relationships, our work, our families.

We want to guide our kids toward goodness, mercy, and healing in everything we say and do.

But how?

As we reflect on wisdom this week, maybe there’s more to glean from St. Patrick's life than lucky shamrocks and green beer.

Come on in.

Knock, and the door will be opened, the Wisest among us once said.

I have a few sweaters you can borrow if you get cold.

A Prayer for St. Patrick’s Day

Christ, walk with our children.

Be present in every step and stumble.

Christ, go before our children.

Show them the way to follow in truth.

Christ, walk behind our children.

Guide them and protect them.

Christ, linger in the heart of everyone who thinks of our children.

May our children radiate love and compassion.

Christ, be on the lips of everyone who speaks of our children.

May our children’s hearts beat with mercy, compassion, and truth.

Christ, be reflected in every eye that sees our children.

May our children show love to all they meet.

Christ, be in every ear that hears our children.

May our children sing anthems of hope forevermore.

from To Light Their Way: A Collection of Prayers and Liturgies for Parents

This Week

Like every week, we have intentional breath prayers, a playlist, Scripture, reflection prompts, and a phone wallpaper. Let’s go.