Read an Excerpt

Yesterday's Reflections

A Repository of Memories

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By Albert F. Schmid

iUniverse, Inc.

Copyright © 2013 Albert F. Schmid
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4759-7377-8

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CHAPTER 1

HOLIDAY ALMANAC

A holiday is little more than an epithet of persons, places or events. Reflecting on the holiday, it is interesting to know the history, purpose and nature of the celebration and why it has been declared a national holiday. Holidays occur at a time that most people anticipate. It is a time that families wait for and make plans to observe. Travel plans and vacations often include the holiday that provides the time away from work or studies. Whether a child or an adult, public holidays hold a special place in our hearts. They signify a break from the routine and mundane ways of life.

Take a look at the listing of public holidays; check the month and dates of each and read the accompanying devotional thoughts for relevance. For example, considering all of the holidays for the year, in the United States, only two holidays honor a private person. Columbus Day which honors Christopher Columbus, the explorer, who discovered America and the Caribbean Islands in 1492, and Martin Luther King, Jr. who led the civil rights crusade in the late '60s. Of course, we recognize former U.S. Presidents, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln and honor them by declaring President's Day in February, close to their actual birthdays.

Many holidays have a religious connotation. They include: Shrove Tuesday (start of Mari Gras.) Ash Wednesday (beginning of Lent); Passover; Palm Sunday; Good Friday; Easter; Ramadan; Yon Kippur; Rosh Hashanah; Hanukkah, and Christmas.

Other holidays that are celebrated include; St. Patrick's Day; Valentine's Day: Labor Day; Memorial Day; Independence Day (4th of July); Flag Day; Patriots Day, Election Day; Halloween; Thanksgiving; Black Friday and Pearl Harbor. Also, don't forget the seasonal days, Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. Be sure to adjust your clocks when Day Light Savings rolls around. Rule of thumb: Spring forward, Fall back.

When reading the list you will probably wonder how so many holidays came about. Many of the holidays were sponsored and encouraged by the Labor Unions so that workers would have additional time off from their work with pay.

CHAPTER 2

NEW YEAR'S DAY

January 1st

New Year's Day is observed on January 1st, the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar, as well as the Julian calendar used in ancient Rome. With most countries using the Gregorian calendar as their primary calendar, New Year's Day is the closest thing to being the world's only truly global public holiday. The New Year is often celebrated with fireworks at the stroke of midnight as the New Year starts January 1st.

The Romans dedicated the day to Janus, the God of gates, doors, and beginnings. After Julius Caesar reformed the calendar in 46 BC and was subsequently murdered, the Roman Senate voted to make a god of him and honor him on the first January in 42 BC to celebrate his life and his rationalized new calendar. The month originally owes its name to Janus, who had two faces, one looking forward and the other looking back. This suggests in some ways that the New Year's celebrations are founded on pagan traditions.

January 1st becomes a time for a fresh start in a new year after looking back at yesterday's reflections. The act of remembering the events of the passing year may help to alight in hope that the smoke emitted from the flames will bring new life to the world. New Year's Day is traditionally a feast, but since the turn of the century it has become an occasion to celebrate the evening before on New Year's Eve. There are fireworks at midnight after watching the ball on the clock in Times Square drop. Joyous parties and festivities are held. It is a new year with new hope for the future.

HAVE A HAPPY AND JOYOUS NEW YEAR!

CHAPTER 3

BLUE MONDAY

The Third Monday in January

The New Year's parties are over. The bells and the whistles are silent. A few New Year's resolutions have been made and that many have been broken. The weather is cold and nasty and the world is off to making the new year another historic time.

The third Monday of the month is known as the Bluest Day of the year. A psychologist from Cambridge University in England, declared that the third Monday in January is the worst time for depression and he refers to it as Blue Monday.

Depression is a state of being depressed, dispirited, or melancholy. It is also defined as, "The time when we do without the things our parents never had."

The third Monday in January was chosen because:

1. The Christmas Holidays and New Year's partying is over. Time to get back to normal.

2. The weather is often at its worst. Cold, with snow and ice. Plain nasty.

3. The bills that we charged on our credit cards have arrived. They need to be paid.

4. And we have very likely broken all of our New Year's resolutions.

As a culture, we do not celebrate January 1st from some Judean-Christian obligation or custom. Instead, we wave-off the pagan cloud that hangs over New Year's Eve and we pause to thank God for another year of life and another year of promises. We look forward with high expectation. The practice of making New Year's resolutions goes back over 3000 years to the ancient Babylonians. There is something about the start of the New Year that gives us the feeling of a fresh-start and a new-beginning. In reality, there is nothing sacred about December 31st, midnight or January 1, the first day of the new year. Nothing mystical occurs at midnight. So, what is wrong with making a New Year's resolution at any time, even on the 21st? As a Christian, if we decide to make a resolution then we should go ahead and do it. The question is how should it be done?

More common resolutions may include:

Lose weight.

Exercise regularly.

Eat healthier.

These are noble goals and are all good to set. However, I Timothy 4:8 gives us some other instructions. Timothy says to keep exercise in perspective.

"Bodily exercise is all right, but spiritual exercise is far more important and is a tonic for all that you do." I Timothy 4:8 NIV

The Jewish prophet, Micah rallies us in the direction of renewed character. Micah asks:

"What does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God."

The following inscription is chiseled in the gateway at the United States Naval Academy, at Annapolis, Maryland: "The Measure of a Man Is the Depth Of His Convictions, The Breadth Of His Interests and The Height of His Ideals." And so it is with any person, a family, or even our nation.

Philippians 4:13 says: "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength."

John 15:5 declares: "I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit"

If God is centered in our resolutions we have a good chance for success, depending on our commitment. If it is God's will for something to be fulfilled it will happen. If that resolution is not God honoring or is not in agreement with God's word we will not receive God's help.

If we are going to Look Up in this year we need to focus on our walk with God, not keeping up with the Joneses.

If we are going to Look Down in let us not see our cup half empty, but consider those who live on less than $2 per day and have much less than we have.

If we are going to Look Out we need to remember the words of Mother Teresa who said, "We cannot do great things ... only small things with great Love."

Then what sort of resolution should we make?

1. Pray to the Lord for wisdom in regards to what we should resolve.

2. Pray for wisdom as to how to fulfill the goals that God gives us.

3. Rely on God's strength to help us.

4. Find an accountability partner who will help us and encourage us.

5. Don't be proud or vain. Give God the glory.

"Commit your ways to the LORD, trust also in Him."

CHAPTER 4

MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a United States federal holiday. It is observed on the third Monday of January. It is a floating holiday observed on a Monday rather than his birthday in accordance with the Uniform Monday Holiday Act passed by Congress.

The idea of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a holiday was promoted by the labor unions in contract negotiations. After King was assassinated in 1968 Representatives and Senators from Michigan and Massachusetts introduced a bill in Congress to make King's birthday a National Holiday. The bill came to a vote in 1979 but fell short of the numbers required for passage. Two main arguments against the bill were: (1) a paid holiday for federal employees would be too expensive, and (2) a holiday to honor a private citizen would be contrary to a long standing tradition. Only two persons have National Holidays honoring them. Christopher Columbus, the explorer whose voyages led to the discovery of America and the Caribbean Islands in 1492 and General George Washington who eventually became the first President of our country. There is now a special holiday in February named President's day which recognizes both Washington and Lincoln who have birthdays in February.

In 1980 musician Stevie Wonder spearheaded a campaign to recognize King by releasing a single record, "Happy Birthday," which popularized the endeavor. More than six million signatures were collected for a petition to Congress to enact the law. The petition, an effort in favor of the issue, was thought to be the largest is U.S. history.

President Ronald Reagan reluctantly signed the bill in November 1983, knowing that there were enough votes in Congress that his veto would be overturned. A holiday to honor King was established and was first observed on January 20, 1986. Since that time there have been a series of incidents voicing reluctance to observe the holiday.

• Senator Helms from North Carolina lobbied against the bill. He claimed that King was against the Vietnam War and that he was espousing "Action-oriented Marxism."

• President Reagan opposed the bill because of federal labor costs.

• Senator John McCain opposed the holiday because Arizona's Governor Evan Mecham refused to honor it.

• In 1989 Arizona replaced Columbus Day with Martin Luther King Day.

• New Hampshire created a "Civil Rights Day" in 1991 then changed it to Martin Luther King Day in 1999. They were the last State to name the holiday after Dr. King.

• Overall, by 2007 33 percent of all employers gave their employees the day off as a holiday.

• There are still arguments about the holiday:

(a) the holiday occurs about two weeks after the Christmas, New Year holiday and

(b) many school schedules are disrupted because the children are just returning from long year-end vacation time.

The King Holiday and Service Act, co-authored by Pennsylvania Senator Harris and Georgia Congressman Lewis, challenged all Americans to transform the King Holiday into a day of citizen action with volunteer service in honor of Dr. King. Since 1996 the annual Greater Philadelphia King Day of Service has been the largest event in the nation honoring Dr. King.

Honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

CHAPTER 5

SHROVE TUESDAY

Tuesday February

Shrove Tuesday is known by several other names; Pancake Day, Pancake Tuesday, Mardi Gras, and Fat Tuesday. It is the day preceding Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Shrove Tuesday is observed mainly in English speaking counties but is also observed in the Philippines and Germany. Shrove Tuesday is linked to Easter, so the date changes each year. ShroveTuesday is always the day before Ash Wednesday which begins a period of fasting and a time of repentance.

The word shrove is past tense of the English verb shrive, which means to obtain absolution for one's sins through confession and doing penance. Shrove Tuesday gets its name from the shriving that English Christians were expected to do in preparation for Lent. They expected to receive absolution before Lent began. Shrove Tuesday is the last day of "shrovetide" and is somewhat analogous to a Carnival tradition that developed in countries of Latin America and Europe. For example Marti Gras. The term "Shrove Tuesday" is seldom used in the USA outside of liturgical traditions. It may be better known as Pancake Day, Margi Gras, or Fat Tuesday.

In most societies, the day is better known for the custom of eating pancakes before the start of Lent. Pancakes are chosen to be eaten because they are made from ingredients consisting of sugar, fat, milk, flour and eggs. Consumption of these rich foodstuffs was inconsistent with the traditionally restricted diets during the ritual fasting associated with Lent. The liturgical fasting dictated eating plainer foods and refraining from eating foods that would give pleasure. In many cultures this means no meat, no dairy products and no eggs. The fasting season lasted 40 days, from Ash Wednesday till Easter.

Many churches take advantage of Pancake Day and host fund-raising suppers consisting of pancakes, ham and sausages. Usually these dinners are well attended and are very successful but the purpose of making money exceeds the intent of Christians preparing to fast during Lent.

CHAPTER 6

ASH WEDNESDAY

Wednesday February

Ash Wednesday is the day that Lent begins. Ash Wednesday is not a holy day of obligation, but many people would not think of letting Ash Wednesday go by without a trip to church to be marked with an ashen cross on their foreheads. Even people who seldom go to church at other times of the year may make a concerted effort to come for the ashes.

The official name of Ash Wednesday is the "The Day of Ashes". The reason the day became known as Ash Wednesday is that it is forty days before Good Friday, and will always be on a Wednesday. The Bible does not mention either Lent or Ash Wednesday, but, the Bible does tell of the acts of repentance and supplication that were made by God fearing people.

The period of Lent is intended to be a time when sinful activities and habits are forsaken. Ash Wednesday is the "commencement" of this period of repentance. Perhaps you can remember some acts of repentance that you did. You may have given up eating ice cream or having a smoke, or drinking a beer, giving up going to the popular Friday Night movie, or eating that favorite dessert. And you were very compliant. Forty days is a long time.

The Bible contains numerous accounts of people using "dust and ashes" as a symbol of repentance and/or mourning. One example is Daniel, God's prophet who said:

"Then I turned to the Lord God and prayed and asked Him for help. I did not eat any food. To show my sadness I put on rough cloth and sat in ashes. I prayed to the Lord my God and told him about all of my sins." Daniel 9:3

At the beginning of the 11th century it became a custom for all of the faithful to take part in a ceremony on the Wednesday before Lent that included the imposition of ashes. The tradition is that the sign of the cross is made in ashes on a person's forehead as a symbol of that person's identification with Jesus Christ.

Ash Wednesday, along with Lent is observed by most Roman Catholics, most Orthodox denominations and a number of Protestant denominations. Since the Bible does not command or condemn the procedure, a Christian is at liberty to prayerfully decide whether to observe Ash Wednesday or not. If you feel led to the Lord to observe Ash Wednesday and/or Lent the important thing is to have a Biblical perspective. It is good to repent of sinful activities. It is good to clearly identify yourself as a Christian. But we should not believe that God will automatically bless us in response to the observing of a ritual.

God is interested in our hearts, not in our doing rituals.

Remember that God loves us because of who God is, not because of anything we did or did not do.

Three things in Life that, once they are gone never come back:

1. Time

2. Words

3. Opportunity.

Three things in life that are never certain are:

1. Fortune

2. Success

3. Dreams

Three things that make a person significant are:

1. Commitment

2. Sincerity

3. Hard work

Three things that are truly "Constant"

FATHER,—SON—HOLY SPIRIT.

"I ask the Lord to bless you, as I prayed for you today, To guide you and protect you, as you go along your way. God's love is always with you, God's promises are true, And when you give God all your cares, You know that God will see you through."
(Continues...)

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Excerpted from Yesterday's Reflections by Albert F. Schmid. Copyright © 2013 Albert F. Schmid. Excerpted by permission of iUniverse, Inc..
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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