“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
Isaiah 43:18-19
A Message From Your Director
Spring is one of my favorite seasons because it brings the promise of new beginnings, new life, and fresh starts. The snow melts and uncovers green grass, buds start to grow on the trees, and baby birds can be heard chirping outside my window. This is also the time of year where I indulge in a little “spring cleaning.” Out with the old and in with the new! This is the same thing that God requires of us. In 2 Corinthians 5:17 it says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” What do we have currently in our lives that may need to be cleaned out? Are we still holding onto something from our old life that is hindering us from the new life that God promises us? As spring approaches, pray and ask God to show you anything in your life that may need a little spring cleaning and embrace the full measure of His grace!
Let’s do this!
xoxo
Emily Webb
Director, The Ordinary Women
(540) 903-0425
[email protected]
Just A Regular Joe
By Kristi Dodson
St. Patrick is typically the one we associate with March, but the reverent celebrations of old now take a worldly turn. During the couple of years my husband and I lived near New Orleans, we had the pleasure of also celebrating St. Joseph two days later on the 19th of the month. We’re not Catholic but living in “the land of Saints” makes one curious. Louisianans seem to celebrate everything, and on a grand scale, at that. We had seen signs in front of some of the parishes advertising their St. Joseph’s tables and feasts…so…we picked one and went. If you’ve never seen a feast table honoring the earthly father of Jesus, words do little to describe the grandeur. Depending upon the parish, the elaborateness of displays varies, but the elements of inclusion are consistent and purposeful. Lavish displays of meatless dishes, citrus fruits, cakes, cookies, and breads (because the crumbs symbolize sawdust of the carpenter) adorn tables of various heights, with a statue of Jesus on the uppermost level.
In the Gospels we see only a glimpse into the life of Joseph, primarily because the focus of scripture is Jesus himself. But take a moment to consider what it might have been like to be Joseph…the man hand-picked by God, to wed a woman who became with child in a divinely miraculous manner, chosen to be the earthly father of Jesus. Joseph was not a man of great means—he was a carpenter, a worker by trade—a “regular Joe.” God knew Jesus would need a father-figure who exhibited incomparable integrity and strength of character, a man who was capable of shielding his Divine family from the scorn directed at them within the community. God chose Joseph because He knew Joseph could rise to the challenge of being a strong spiritual leader for his family. He knew Joseph was deliberate enough to stay focused on his role in God’s plan for humanity.
It is thought Joseph died during Jesus’ teen years but he was present for the God-child’s formative life, making an impact and guiding Jesus on his spiritual path to be well-equipped to fulfill his destiny as Savior. Let it not be lost that Joseph had a choice. When God asked him to step up, he could have said “no.” But Joseph was obedient. He boldly accepted the honor with which God was bestowing upon him. When I recall the Feast of St. Joseph we attended, I am reminded that it takes an unwavering walk of faith when we are called by God to accept His challenge for our growth—growth within ourselves and for His kingdom.
Joseph is a shining example of an ordinary person called by God to fulfill an inconceivably extraordinary role in our faith story. We are so blessed he said “yes.”
