Sheala Vast-Binder's Blog, page 5

Why Serve Internationals?

Dear friends,

When people ask me what I do for a living, I typically say, “I befriend, serve, and mentor Internationals.” Sometimes they want more information so I tell them stories about how I connect with people and ways that I see God work in their lives. Most of the time, people think what I do is awesome. “Oh, that’s so needed” is a common response (which, of course, I love to hear).

However, with the recent terrorist attacks and debates over immigration and refugees, more and more people seem to question the wisdom of allowing foreigners into our country. Rather than debate the pros and cons of these issues, I’d like to tell you WHY I love to minister among internationals.

When I help a Saudi friend learn English, I do it because I want her to feel welcomed by an American. I want her to remember the good people she encountered in the U.S. But I don’t just do it so that she has a positive experience while she’s here; I am more than an American.

When I teach a Hindu woman to drive, I do it because I want her to experience the freedom that driving brings in the Midwest. I want her to feel empowered to assist at her daughter’s school, to go get a haircut, to visit a friend. But I don’t just do it to show solidarity with another woman; I am more than a woman.

When I write a new article or teach a cross-cultural workshop, I do it because I want people of different cultures to understand and appreciate one another. I want Internationals and Americans to build strong relationships that strengthen our communities. But I don’t just do it so that people of different races and economic levels are unified; I am more than a white, middle-class person.

White. Middle class. Woman. American. I am more than the labels that define me, and my purpose is rooted in something far deeper. I can faithfully represent the U.S., and I can be MORE. I can reveal what it means to be a healthy woman, and I can be MORE. I can live a generous middle-class life, and I can be MORE. I can reflect the best side of being white, and I can be MORE. In Jesus Christ, we are ALL called to be MORE!

What MORE does God call us to be? 1 Peter 2:9-12 tells us:

You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us (1 Peter 2:9-12, NIV).

That’s right! God calls us to be HIS people, HIS representatives, and HIS ambassadors. As people who once lived in darkness, we are called to shine God’s light in a dark world. As people who receive unearned favor, we are called to share God’s unending mercy with the world. As foreigners waiting for our forever home, we are called to love the immigrants living amongst us. God doesn’t call us to be less than what we already are; He calls us to be more! That MORE is what drives me to befriend, serve, and mentor the internationals God brings into my life.

During this holy season, I’d like to challenge you to think about the MORE God wants for you. What would it look like for you to be God’s ambassador in 2016? What would it look like for your family, your workplace, your community? I’d also like to encourage you to pray about making a special year-end gift to allow me to reach MORE people in 2016. You can do that HERE. (Click on “Quick Give” and select “Vast-Binder” from the “Choose Fund Below” drop-down menu.) Together we can change the world, starting right here in St. Louis!

However God leads you to live MORE, I pray that others “may see your good deeds and glorify God” both now and forever. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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Terrorism and Hope

As I ponder the recent terrorist attacks and contemplate the hope that Thanksgiving represents, I find myself thinking (again) about how we view ourselves, others, and our world. How do we break down the barriers that divide us and learn to really hear what others say, feel, believe, and think? How do we face the challenges that rock our world in a way that shines God’s light rather than blocks it? Where do we find hope in the midst of chaos and destruction?

Although those questions are BIG and impossible to answer in one blog, I’ve discovered some articles that I believe point us in the right direction. I pray these articles will spark your desire to step outside of your boundaries too. I pray that God will give us the creativity, passion, and compassion to build bridges instead of walls between us and others. That’s the only way our world can survive…thrive…and find hope.

A Love Letter About Beautiful People

“I was standing there in the line with passport in hand on a Friday afternoon in the busiest airport on the  entire planet, looking into weathered and young and searching eyes of a torrent of passing people, and I was falling head over broken heart in love all over again with teeming, beautiful humanity. That you can find beautiful people wherever you seek to see beauty. That I believed that we know the last line of this cosmic story and His beauty saves…

Then I stepped through security.

 And the world blew up.”

Fear, Faith, and Nationalism in the Era of Terrorism-Part 1

“Fear and dread are a ruthless duo. They take no prisoners. They respect no boundaries. They eat faith, hope, and love for lunch. They make us forget who we are, and more importantly, who God is. I remember what it was like to be under their spell when I went through a prolonged period of tribulation a little over a year ago. They engulfed me like a toxic fog for several days and threatened to suffocate me.

Entire populations can fall under their spell too. The attacks in Paris a few days ago have triggered our collective PTSD from 9/11.”

Why Paris Shows that ISIS Are Losing

“The Islamist extremist worldview says that we’re separate, different, hate each other and are eternal enemies. Wanna shatter the Islamist extremist worldview? Show them we aren’t separate or different and don’t hate each and can be eternal friends.”

Who Would Dare to Love Isis?

“As the world responds to the Islamic State with hatred and vengeance, there is one group that is responding differently. They are not allies with ISIS but enemies. And they have been slain by the thousands in the hands of ISIS. ISIS calls them The Nation of the Cross.”

As you ponder the discussions (and arguments) regarding immigration, refugees, and terrorism taking place these days, would you join me in praying this beautiful prayer written by Laurie Ann Kraus?

God of mercy, whose presence sustains us in every circumstance,

in the midst of unfolding violence and the aftermath of terror and loss,

we seek the grounding power of your love and compassion.

In these days of fearful danger and division, we need to believe somehow that your kingdom of peace in which all nations and tribes and languages dwell together in peace is still a possibility.

Give us hope and courage that we may not yield our humanity to fear..,

even in these endless days of dwelling in the valley of the shadow of death.

We pray for neighbors in Paris, in Beirut, in Baghdad, who, in the midst of the grace of ordinary life–while at work, or at play, have been violently assaulted, their lives cut off without mercy.

We are hostages of fear, caught in an escalating cycle of violence whose end can not be seen.

We open our hearts in anger, sorrow and hope: that those who have been spared as well as those whose lives are changed forever may find solace, sustenance, and strength in the days of recovery and reflection that come. We give thanks for strangers who comfort the wounded and who welcome stranded strangers,for first responders who run toward the sound of gunfire and into the smoke and fire of bombing sites.

Once again, Holy One, we cry, how long, O Lord? We seek forgiveness for the ways in which we have tolerated enmity and endured cultures of violence with weary resignation. We grieve the continued erosion of the fabric of our common life, the reality of fear that warps the common good. We pray in grief, remembering the lives that have been lost and maimed, in body or spirit.

We ask for sustaining courage for those who are suffering; wisdom and diligence among global and national agencies and individuals assessing threat and directing relief efforts; and for our anger and sorrow to unite in service to the establishment of a reign of peace, where the lion and the lamb may dwell together, and terror will not hold sway over our common life.

In these days of shock and sorrow, open our eyes, our hearts, and our hands to the movements of your Spirit, who flows in us like the river whose streams makes glad the city of God, and the hearts of all who dwell in it, and in You.

In the name of Christ, our healer and our Light, we pray, Amen.

Photo by PolSifter

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Why Do Americans Tip?

Tipping in the U.S. can be confusing if you come from a country where tipping is discouraged or where a set service charge is normal. Oh, who am I kidding? Tipping in the U.S. confuses us all!

Here are just a few examples of how crazy it is! I go to a restaurant that is buffet style (meaning that I get my own food from a counter). However, a waitress brings my drinks and cleans my table when I leave. Do I tip her?

Or, I go to a restaurant and receive mediocre service. When I was growing up, poor service meant no tip! Now, tips are almost mandated so I think to myself, “Do I tip the waiter 15% because that’s the standard? Do I tip 10% to let him know that the service wasn’t good, or do I tip 20% because I know he’s dependent upon this income and I want to be generous?” Decisions, decisions.

Or, what about the tip jar that has shown up  almost everywhere! You find them at coffeehouses, pet groomers, ice cream shops, and even fast food joints (although they’re often used as charitable donations there). Our tipping frenzy has gotten out of control!

I don’t know about you, but I walk away from many of these instances feeling: 1) guilty (because I “should” have given more); 2) self-righteous (because I gave more than “deserved”); or 3) downright cheated (because, after all, what am I paying the company for if it isn’t for the service). No matter what I do, the whole tipping thing never feels right! So, why do I do it? Why do Americans leave tips?!

Sadly, tipping is currently an integral part of our economic system. In fact, over 3% of our workforce is dependent (yes, dependent) on tips. Service workers often make less than minimum wage because their employers expect them to receive tips. Legally, an employer can pay a worker just $2.13/hour if the worker accepts tips. Although many consider this unethical, tipping will remain an expected part of receiving certain services as long as the law allows employers to underpay their employees.

So, to answer the question, Americans tip because we know that many of the people providing services NEED us to tip. The confusion comes in the wide variety of services we now receive plus our ignorance about who is underpaid and who isn’t. For instance, does the employer of the person scooping my ice cream REALLY expect me to tip them for doing their job?! I truly hope not because I haven’t succumbed to the social pressure to tip this person yet.

Now that you know why to tip, here’s an infographic from MintLife that tells you what to tip for specific services. Welcome to the wacky world of tipping in the U.S.! See you in the coffee line.

 

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Experiencing Indian Culture

This past Friday and Monday, I had the privilege of sharing about Indian culture at my son’s school. What made it especially joyful was that Radha, an Indian friend, joined me and made it much better than I ever could have done. We talked about some basic Indian facts, showed videos about Indian culture, and taught the students a few Bollywood dance steps. On Monday, we took Indian snack mixture for the students to enjoy, and Radha created henna tattoos (mendhi) for everyone who wanted one. We had so much fun, and, hopefully, the students learned a couple of things that they’ll retain!

To extend the experience, I’m sharing with you some of what the students (and I) learned. Feel free to break into some moves of your own when you watch the dance videos!

Did You Know?

Over 1.25 billion people live in India, making it the second largest country in the world.
India is made up of 29 states and 7 territories. The latest state, Telangana, just formed in 2014.
India has over 1600 languages and dialects. Although Hindi is the national language, India has 18 official languages.

A Taste of India

 This first video shows a family with 6 kids traveling in India. (Now, that’s what I call brave!) Although some of the tips are definitely influenced by the family’s American background, like the one about using essential oils, overall the video is extremely well done.

The following video is a humorous view from a new arrival! This young man was in India for 3 weeks when he made the video. It reveals the beginning stages of cultural appreciation, and shock, that probably many undergo when visiting India.

Dance to the Music

No discussion about Indian culture would be complete without mentioning Bollywood! Although I did not mention these facts to the students, it interested me to learn that Bollywood is as old as Hollywood, although people disagree about which came first. The name “Bollywood” stems from the 1970s and is, obviously, a play on “Hollywood,” combining it with the name of one of India’s great cities, Bombay (now known as Mumbai). Although Bollywood has a larger worldwide audience than Hollywood (would you have guessed that?) it doesn’t draw nearly as much revenue.

With all of that said, enjoy these great dance videos. The first is of a group of children dancing to the song Batameez Dil. The second shows some of the dance moves that we taught the students. The song is called Jai Ho and comes from the movie Slumdog Millionaire. Be careful though…Jai Ho is addictive!

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How Much Are You Willing to Risk?

Have you ever noticed that developing relationships with those from other cultures demands risk? It’s not easy to “save face” and also build a deep relationship. To allow others into your life, and encourage them to do the same, means that you take the chance of appearing silly, ignorant, and, sometimes, even crazy. Although this risk is part of any new relationship, cross-cultural relationships raise the bar to a whole new level.

Thankfully, the risks are normally minor. For instance, a couple of weeks ago I started playing cricket. Now, MY playing cricket is filled with embarrassment all by itself! However, I also wasn’t sure what to wear. I’ve never seen one of my Indian friends wear shorts or sweat pants, the normal things that I’d wear for a sports activity. So, I asked a friend if I should wear salwar kameez (a typical outfit for Indian women), and she gave me the oddest look. Then she assured me that sweats and a t-shirt would be fine. However, I got the distinct impression that salwar kameez would NOT have been the right thing to wear. (I think she was holding back a laugh as we talked!)

In another instance, an Indian male friend asked if I thought it was appropriate to have a photographer attend when he asked his white, American girlfriend to marry him.  The poor guy was already nervous; he did not want to be embarrassed by an unknown etiquette rule when he proposed. Although I didn’t think it would be a problem, I still asked other Americans before I gave an answer. After all, I might have missed an unspoken American rule along the way. (It happens to us all.)

Then there was that same friend’s wedding. Before I attended, I asked someone if I could wear red. An Indian friend had given me a gorgeous, red salwar kameez, but I thought that red was worn by brides in India. (In the U.S., the bride typically wears white so everyone else refrains from wearing it.) I would have been extremely embarrassed if I showed up in red when only the bride was suppose to wear it! Lucky for me, this bride wore white so I got to wear my red salwar kameez. Nevertheless, I would still ask before attending another cross-cultural wedding since traditions vary.

The great news is that often good intentions go a long way when building cross-cultural relationships! If you truly want to connect with people and are willing to humble yourself, it’s amazing how much grace they will show you.

Take my marriage-proposing friend, for instance. How upset would his girlfriend truly have been if his inviting a photographer had broken an etiquette rule? I think she still would have married him, don’t you?

Or, what if I had worn salwar kameez to my cricket match? I undoubtedly would have been embarrassed, but the other players were thrilled that I was willing to play this “non-American” sport. I doubt they would have sent me away just because of my clothes!

Now the wedding situation might have proven interesting if I’d shown up wearing the same color as the bride. Since people often take weddings very seriously, I’m glad that I didn’t cross that cultural boundary. However, I doubt that I would have been tossed out since I had a relationship with both the bride and the groom. Indeed, I’d like to think that even if I couldn’t “save face” for myself at the wedding, my friends would have shown grace to me.

In the end, I think grace is the solution to the risks that we all take when we build relationships. None of us can learn everything we need to know to avoid every faux pas. No matter how hard we try, we fail sometimes and are embarrassed, or worse. That’s why grace is important! If we are going to take the risks necessary to build good relationships, we need grace to make the relationships last.

Photo by Oregon DOT

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The Holocaust: We Must Remember

This Thursday, April 16,  is Holocaust Remembrance Day in the United States (it actually starts at sundown on the 15th). As the generation that lived through WWII and the Holocaust dies, I think it’s more important than ever that those of us who come after them stop and remember.

The problem is that neither I, nor most of those that I know, experienced that period of history. We have no personal stories to tell or loved ones to honor. Too easily, the struggles and horrors become abstract and unreal. Like a photo that has faded at the edges, that time becomes hard to remember much less comprehend.

Because of that, I’m grateful for those who have captured the stories of WWII and the Holocaust through writing, film, and audio. As humans, we need story to keep the past alive and to prevent us from repeating the travesties that have preceded us. Because space does not permit, I have provided a couple of links to stories and poems by Holocaust survivors. I share them to honor those who died and to thank the survivors for not letting us forget.

Poems of Survivors
Children’s Stories and Poems
Alexander Kimel’s Page
Short Stories of Survivors

Lastly, I share this poem by Alexander Kimel. Despite the horrors he faced, he wrote this poem of hope and faith. It inspires me!

I do believe, with all my heart,

In the natural Goodness of Man.

Despite the blood and destruction,

Brought by one man, trying to be God,

In the Goodness of Man, I do believe.

I do believe, with all my heart,

That God gave man the blessing and the curse.

Man can select the curse of envy, hatred and prejudices,

Or the blessing of love, harmony and beauty.

Despite the painful curses of the past,

In the blessing of the Creator, I do believe.

I do believe, with all my heart,

That God created a beautiful world,

The sun and the trees, the flowers and the bees.

And the best way to serve God, is

To enjoy the fruits of His labor of love.

Despite the painful memories from the past,

In the joyful celebration of life, I do believe.

I do believe with all my heart,

That God has created man in image of His own.

And killing of man, is like killing of God.

Despite the massacres in Rwanda, the cleansing in Bosnia,

The folly of Muslim fanatics, and the cruelty of Pot Pol.

In the love and compassion of the Creator, I do believe.

I believe with all my heart,

That the Messiah and the Kingdom of Heaven will come;

When man will conquer his destructive urge,

And learn how to live in harmony with nature and himself.

When all the preachers of hate will be silenced,

And man will become his brother’s keeper.

When man will stop killing man, in the name of God,

And nation will not lift weapons against nation.

When it will be, I do not know, but

Despite all the signs to the contrary.

In the dawn of a Better World, I do believe.

 Photo by Josh

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How Do You Define Friendliness?

A man that hath friends must show himself friendly (Proverbs 18:24)

I think that most of us would agree with that Scripture, right? In fact, I don’t know any culture where friendliness isn’t expected of friends! Not many people tolerate friends who are always unfriendly, rude, or abusive. I tell my son all the time that he has to treat his friends well if he wants to have friends! That seems like a given.

But what happens when your friends (or coworkers or family members) come from different cultures? All of a sudden, friendliness becomes more complicated because it doesn’t look the same everywhere. (You do know that, right? If not, let me be the first to tell you that people show friendliness in different ways!)

I was reading a really good blog by Gayle Cotton this week about Saudi Arabian culture (here’s the link if you’re interested). In the blog, Gayle points out how Saudi’s feel comfortable standing very close to one another. It reminded me of times when I have been around internationals who stood close to me and it felt TOO friendly! Then again, I feel comfortable asking my international friends about their family, including their wives or mothers. This same blog notes that it is unacceptable in Saudi Arabian culture to ask after the women of the family. So,  my friendly questions would actually be rude to them. This just goes to show that how we define friendliness matters, and understanding how other people define what it means to be friendly impacts how we connect with them.

With this in mind, I’ve put together some questions that are good conversation starters in American culture. They are written specifically for internationals who want to build or strengthen their American connections.

Family

Where did you grow up as a child?
How long have you lived here?
What is your best memory from growing up?
Where do your parents live? What do they do?
Do you have siblings? Tell me about them.

Work

What do you do for a living? What all is involved in that type of work?
What did you study in school? (If in school, “What are you studying in school?”)
What do you like the most about your work or school?

Favorite Things

What foods do you enjoy?
What are your hobbies?
What one new hobby would you enjoy learning?
Do you enjoy traveling? If so, where have you been?
If you could visit any place in the world, where would you go?

If you’d like more tips on developing American friendships, check out my blog, How Do I Make American Friends? Otherwise, go forth and “show yourself friendly,” but make sure the other person defines friendliness in the way that you are showing it!

Photo by Don LaVange

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Why Do Jews Celebrate Passover?

Passover is one of the most sacred holidays celebrated by the Jewish people, and with good reason! Because the holiday memorializes Israel’s freedom from slavery in Egypt, by its very nature it is a reminder that God cares about the oppressed! However, it is also a huge challenge to anyone with power or influence. Passover let’s us know that God calls people to account for their actions. We’d best treat others well if we don’t want to learn the lesson of Pharaoh!

Passover lasts for seven days (eight, if outside of Israel) and involves many traditions, including the removal of all leaven bread from the house. The first night of the holiday (or two nights, if outside of Israel) focuses on a special family meal called The Seder. The command to celebrate this meal comes from the Hebrew Scriptures in Exodus 12. Here is a short clip from the story:

 Remember this day and celebrate it each year as a festival in my honor. For seven days you must eat bread made without yeast. And on the first of these seven days, you must remove all yeast from your homes. If you eat anything made with yeast during this festival, you will no longer be part of Israel. Meet together for worship on the first and seventh days of the festival. The only work you are allowed to do on either of these two days is that of preparing the bread.

Celebrate this Festival of Thin Bread as a way of remembering the day that I brought your families and tribes out of Egypt. And do this each year. Begin on the evening of the fourteenth day of the first month by eating bread made without yeast. Then continue this celebration until the evening of the twenty-first day. During these seven days no yeast is allowed in anyone’s home, whether they are native Israelites or not. If you are caught eating anything made with yeast, you will no longer be part of Israel. Stay away from yeast, no matter where you live. No one is allowed to eat anything made with yeast!

Moses called the leaders of Israel together and said: Each family is to pick out a sheep and kill it for Passover. Make a brush from a few small branches of a hyssop plant and dip the brush in the bowl that has the blood of the animal in it. Then brush some of the blood above the door and on the posts at each side of the door of your house. After this, everyone is to stay inside. During that night the L-rd will go through the country of Egypt and kill the first-born son in every Egyptian family. He will see where you have put the blood, and he will not come into your house. His angel that brings death will pass over and not kill your first-born sons.

After you have entered the country promised to you by the L-rd, you and your children must continue to celebrate Passover each year. Your children will ask you, “What are we celebrating?” And you will answer, “The Passover animal is killed to honor the L-rd. We do these things because on that night long ago the L-rd passed over the homes of our people in Egypt. He killed the first-born sons of the Egyptians, but he saved our children from death.

Here’s an extremely fun look at the story of Passover.

For a deeper understanding of Passover, watch this History Channel video. (It’s extremely well done.)

Chag Kasher V’Sameach!
(Happy Passover)!

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Why Holy Week?

Holy Week, the week that leads up to and includes Easter, is the most solemn week of the Christian year. It memorializes five key moments–Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter–that occurred during the last week of Jesus’ life. This week has been set apart (made ‘holy’) by the Church since at least the third and fourth centuries.

These days, many in American churches prefer to jump straight to Easter and the joy that it offers. I confess that I also did not understand why people would focus on the betrayal and public shame that led up to Jesus’ crucifixion. After all, why highlight the negative when you can emphasize the positive? Easter celebrates God’s victory over death; isn’t that where our focus should be?

It wasn’t until the death of our daughter in January 2001 that I began to understand the wisdom of acknowledging the full breadth of Jesus’ experience. Our loss of Elizabeth cut so deep that only the somber atmosphere of a Good Friday service could speak God’s love and faithfulness to me. During that service in 2001, a quote from Ann Weems’ book, “Psalms of Lament,” was read that I still have today (kept in her book which I ordered almost immediately). It reads:

There are no dances for dark days.

There is no music to bellow the pain.

The best we can do is to remain still and silent and try to remember the face of God…

and how to kneel

and how to pray.

Strangely enough, honoring those final moments of Jesus’ life in the midst of my own pain brought me great comfort. First, it reminded me that Jesus understands what it means to live a life that is more than celebration, a regular human life. During that last week alone, Jesus experienced public praise and euphoria (Palm Sunday); familial love, disappointment, and betrayal (Maundy Thursday); shame, isolation, pain, and social injustice (Good Friday); death (Holy Saturday); and vindication and victory (Easter). Even in my worst times, I haven’t faced that many emotions in such a short period of time.

But that Good Friday worship service opened my eyes to something else that I really needed to see right then. Because I believe that God is a perfect community of three persons–Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit–I realized that God knew what it was like to lose a loved one! THE GOD OF THE UNIVERSE experienced the crushing, heart-breaking blow of losing one dearer than life itself.

I cannot begin to describe how that realization changed my reality. I do know that it was the first time in months that I sensed God’s presence. Although Easter tells us that God is victorious in the end, Good Friday (and the other days of Holy Week) tell us that God understands and is with us in the pain and horror. Sometimes, that’s the message that we really need to hear.

If you’ve never read about those last days of Jesus’ life, I invite you to read the story for yourself. I particularly hope you’ll read it if you’re facing a hard time. Although the story is found four different times in the Christian Scriptures, here’s one of my favorites: Mark 14-16. May it speak to you as it still does me!

 

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5 Unusual Saint Patrick’s Day Celebrations

As you may know, people around the world celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day on March 17. What you may not know is that Ireland’s Roman Catholics have observed the saint’s day for over 1,000 years, although in a very different form than it is celebrated now. Traditionally, the Irish believers spent the morning in prayer and celebrated with a feast in the afternoon.

These days, the holiday is observed by far more people than just the Irish, and wacky traditions abound! From green drinks to green food to green-lit buildings, green is the color of the day (even though blue was the original color associated with Saint Patrick). Here are some other crazy traditions that have been added over the years:

via KnowledgeSeeker

The city of Chicago started dyeing its river green in honor of Saint Patrick’s Day over 50 years ago. The first time it was done, way too much dye was used and the river stayed green for a week! (http://www.irishcentral.com/culture/travel/top-ten-weird-and-wonderful-facts-about-st-patricks-day-and-the-patron-saint-196474441-237570551.html#)

 

via IrishNetworkJapan

Japan offers a unique combination of Japanese and Irish cultures with its Saint Patrick’s Day parades and festivities. The parade in Ise is particularly unique since it starts at the Ise Shrines, the most sacred of the Shinto shrines. (https://www.pinterest.com/eiregems/all-japan-paddys-day/)

 

via ValoreBooks

If you want to see the world’s largest shamrock, head for O’Neill, Nebraska. And, if you really like to wear green, this is the place to live since they wear green on the 17th of every month. (http://news.discovery.com/adventure/travel/st-patricks-traditions-slideshow.htm)

 

via Meg Pickard

Celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day for a whole week in Montserrat with steel drums and creole food. Montserrat recognizes Saint Patrick’s Day as a national holiday because it also marks the date of a slave uprising which eventually led to the abolishment of slavery on the island. (http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/unusual-st-patricks-day-celebrations-58807069/?no-ist=&page=1)

 

via Cphpost.dk

Get your exercise and help raise money for local charities by participating in Copenhagen’s (Denmark) three-legged race. Just be careful that your green is green enough; the green police closely patrol the event! (http://cphpost.dk/news/leg-tied-leg-tired-and-legless-the-stuff-of-legends.4635.html)

However you decide to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day this year, may this old Irish blessing be yours:

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind always be at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

and rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

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