Traditions

Recently my granddaughter Bekah graduated from the University of Georgia. A tradition at UGA says that if you walk through the arches pictured to the right before you graduate, you will never graduate. It was interesting how the graduates were lined up for photos as they graduated and took their first stroll through the forbidden arches. I had a brother-in-law who was dating and eventually married a woman whose tradition was to prepare or have prepared, I'm not sure which, a birthday cake where the interior was made of hay and horse poop. Our family was not impressed with this tradition. Food was never a joke with us. I wonder how many traditions we have in our lives that we honor. Today was Pentecost and the tradition is to wear red to symbolize the fire of the Holy Spirit. Like many traditions I wonder how many people follow the tradition without grasping the meaning of the tradition. I wonder how many wore red today that have nothing but questions about this mysterious person of the trinity. Like many things in life traditions can be lived without thought or reason, and sometimes we are the losers as a result. Some traditions are important you know. Pentecost is of immense value for those who live the experience and invite the presence of God's Spirit. Truly we can live as traditional Christians and have God always with us.