April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
EASTER REFLECTION
Casey's and clovers
Seven years ago, Mike and I, along with 17 members of my extended family, traveled to Laba-sheeda, a rural town in County Clare on Ireland's Shannon River. My grandfather was born and raised there with his 14 siblings. The town consists of a post office, church, rectory, schoolhouse, general store and Casey's Pub. After our long flight, Mike and I unpacked and headed to Casey's.
The pub was dark inside and went suspiciously silent, with all eyes on the two strangers. We sat at the bar and Mike ordered two pints of Guinness.
I began wondering if we'd ever make it out of Casey's alive; it felt like we were in a movie about two clueless tourists wandering into a rural pub in Ireland. Needless to say, I kept my eyes down and my mouth shut.
It seemed like we waited forever for the Guinnesses to settle so the bartender could bring them to us. With the exception of a few murmurs from the corner of the pub, no one was speaking.
Finally serving the Guinness, the bartender asked, "So, what brings you here?"
Mike said, ""My wife's family is from Labasheeda and we came over for a visit."
The bartender looked at me and asked, "What's your name?" I assumed he meant my maiden name, so I lifted my chin and said, "Crehan." Tilting his head back, he shouted, "CREHAN?"
Reluctantly, I whispered, "Yes."
Suddenly, the pub erupted in expletive-laden laughter and chatter as people patted us on the back and offered to pay for our drinks. The bartender led me across the room to meet one of my cousins.
For the next nine days, the town embraced us simply because we were Crehans. They didn't care about our past, and we didn't have to earn their approval.
God loves us this way. We forget sometimes.
For many years, my husband has enjoyed searching for four-leaf clovers. On occasion, he finds one among the clusters. Pleased with his discovery, he presses out his treasure to clearly see all four leaves.
When we get home, he goes upstairs and adds the clover to his collection. I don't know where he keeps his collection, as he never talks about it. It's a personal treasure.
Lent is a beautiful season to search out the clusters of our life to discover areas in which we are called to repent and come up higher. We need to press out the areas to see them clearly.
Then, with smiles on our faces, we ought to go upstairs, slide our treasure into our personal collection of forgiveness and put it away in order to move forward.
Sometimes I imagine spending time with our Lord when He was on this side of eternity. In my darkness, I hesitantly approach Him and start to pour out my sinfulness. He smiles and, with a twinkle in His eye, offers me the stool next to Him.
I sit down and He puts His arm around me and says, "No need. I know your name."
(Bernadette Bonanno attends St. Mary's in Albany and can be reached at [email protected].)[[In-content Ad]]
250 X 250 AD
250 X 250 AD
Events
250 X 250 AD
Comments:
You must login to comment.