655, Monday March 17th 2014

Monday March 17, many will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. While the day has become recognized more for wearing green and drinking beer, it’s meant to celebrate the testimony of an incredible servant of Christ.

Much of what is known about St Patrick comes from the Declaration, which was allegedly written by Patrick himself. It is believed that he was born in Roman Britain in the 4th century, into a wealthy Romano-British family. His father was a deacon and his grandfather was a priest in the Christian church. According to the Declaration, at the age of sixteen, he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and taken as a slave. It says that he spent 6 years there working as a shepherd and that during this time he "found God". The Declaration says that God told Patrick to flee to the coast, where a ship would be waiting to take him home. After making his way home, Patrick went on to become a priest. After escaping from slavery and studying to become a priest, Patrick returned to the land of his captivity with a purpose: to set them free and preach the gospel as a missionary. Over the following centuries, many legends grew up around Patrick and he became Ireland's foremost saint.

Using the now-famous 3-leaf clover to explain the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), Patrick was credited with introducing Jesus and the Trinity to the Irish. The green of the clover inspired the tradition of wearing green that is still celebrated today.

Patrick died on March 17, hence the day set aside to honor him. Like most holidays, it has lost much of its original purpose. Be challenged by the inspirational example of a teenage boy who learned to forgive and used his forgiveness to reach out to his captors.  If anything, today we celebrate a story about forgiveness. 

Lift:  Back Squat 3x3

WOD: Here goes the best attempt at a St. Patty's day WOD :)

20 Minute AMRAP of:

Run 400 (4th century)

6 Back Lunges (the yoke of 6 years in slavery) - S 45/65, Rx 85/115, C 105/ 155

And every round complete 3 Sets (3 leaf clover) of the following:  3 K2E, 3 T2B and 3 Ring Pushups.  (it will make sense when you come in).