Patricius was just a 16-year-old boy when raiding Irish warriors took him from his native England.  He was sold to an Irish chieftain who, then, sent him to shepherd his flocks.  There in the hills, alone, he thought of the Christian God his parents believed in, and there he began to pray for strength to endure isolation, hunger, cold for six long years.  One night he was awakened by a voice which told him that he was going home and that his ship was ready.  He took it as God’s direction and set out for the sea and after walking for 200 miles, he found a ship bound for England.  He settled down till one night he heard the voice of Jesus, telling him to return to Ireland.  He entered seminary and returned to Ireland as a missionary.  He was called Patrick.  Because of his ministry, the Irish put away their pagan worship and by the early 600 AD, 700 monastic communities had been established in Scotland alone. Thanks to the work of these Irish missionaries, out of these monasteries, universities sprang up across Europe.  All began with one man, one former slave.

One man made a difference in the lives of many, and it began with pain and isolation he suffered as a slave.  It began with a prayer for help and strength; more importantly, it began with an obedience to follow the Lord’s direction.  Going back to Ireland was unthinkable, it would bring back all the pain, but he obeyed.  Did Patrick know how God would use him to bring about changes that would not only sweep through Ireland but also Europe and the world?  No, he did not.  But that’s the way God works, isn’t it?  One person at a time.

Through one person, Jesus, the world has become a different place.  From Him we learn to love and forgive; we learn to think of others and give to others.  We learn to let go and trust God, to wait and not push our will.  Because He came, the world has become a better place.  May the world become a better place because we came.

Pastor Paul