June 5, 2011 - Pink Paper Umbrellas

Good Morning, this glorious Sunday of June 5, 2011. It's so nice to be back from vacation and back with all of you. Truly, I've missed you all. I had a much needed time of relaxation and reflection, and I also learned a lot about enticement and temptation. For example, the prettier a drink is, the more dangerous is becomes.

I think that applies to a lot of things in life. Think about it. Even in nature the Lord has made some creatures absolutely irresistible in their beauty to attract the unwary. The songs of some are designed to lure the unwise. Let's talk about appearances and personalities. Appearances attract, but personalities will keep. We are enticed by the packaging but often disappointed by the contents.

The song of the Sirens lured sailors to their deaths in Ancient Greece. According to legend, Ulysses wanted so much to hear the Sirens song that he had all of his crew stuff their ears with wax and bind him to the mast of their ship. As they sailed by, the Sirens called to Ulysses in song but his crew followed their orders and kept right on sailing as they bound Ulysses even tighter to the mast. Legend has it that if even one ship were to pass the Sirens successfully without crashing into the rocks, then all three of the sisters would die, and according to legend, they did.

The Venus Fly-Trap lets out a sweet scent to attract insects and then, when two sensors are touched within 20 seconds, the leaf closes and the plant digests it's catch, to provide energy for the carnivorous plant to repeat it's procedure.

We walk into a Casino and we're immediately dazzled by the lights and the sounds of the bells and whistles of the jackpots. We sit at a slot machine and become almost addicted to the sensory rewards even more than a possible cash payout. We become bedazzled...and we're lulled into semi-hypnotic state as we feed coin after coin into these one-armed bandits. We're allowed a small win every so often, but ultimately the house takes our money and we walk away dazed and defeated and poorer than we were when we walked in.

Back to drinks with little umbrellas in them, my sweet parishioners. I remember so very little about my vacation in the Bahamas other than dancing in a Conga line with Julio (pronounced "Who-LEE-oh") and waking up in a palm tree with a prickly coconut. I was enticed to taste the sweetness of the tropics and I paid for it with a very bad hangover and a flight home on a bumpy cargo plane that I swear was simultaneously dusting crops as we winged back to the States. I was lured by the beauty of the Islands much as Pinocchio was lured by the Coachman to go to Pleasure Island (and he was almost turned into a donkey, while I merely made an ass of myself).

We learn to resist temptation. Yes....Temptation! That's what happens when we
see or hear or taste something wonderfully attractive and our conscience is drowned out by our desire. Jiminy Cricket was Pinocchio's "conscience", and he was explaining all about temptation to Pinocchio one day. This is what he said:

Jiminy Cricket:
Now, you see, the world is full of temptations.

Pinocchio:
Temptations?

Jiminy Cricket: Yep, temptations. They're the wrong things that seem right at the time... but... uh... even though the right things may seem wrong sometimes, or
sometimes the wrong things, [chuckles] may be right at the wrong time, or visa
versa. Understand?

Temptation is what we ask God to lead us not into, and we ask the Lord to remind us to take our time before we make decisions based on impulse. Perhaps counting to three slowly and saying a quiet prayer to ask for guidance in making our decision. Ask Is this what I really want? Can I afford it? Will my family and I be safe from harm? And if I choose not to follow this temptation, will any harm come from that?

Now.....I've talked enough about pink paper umbrellas. It's time to ask you all to turn to each other, grasp paws or talons or webbed-feet or....goodness, whatever you have will do, and wish peace upon your neighbors.

We have a table set up with coconut meat in the main lobby. I brought some home from my trip to share with you all. I've had lots of compliments on my shiny coat and I attribute all to coconut. We don't recommend eating the shells, though, so be careful.

Thank you to Neeko and AbbeyMia for filling in for me while I've been on vacation. I've heard glowing reports from the parishioners and I know they'll be wanting to hear from you again. Next week we will be hearing from Gizzie, an absolutely lovely pup with much to share.

Go now and spread peace and joy wherever you are. There's nothing like a puppy lick to brighten someone's day. In closing, I quote Barbara Woodhouse who says: "I have caught more ills from people sneezing over me and giving me virus infections than from kissing dogs."

Blessings to all....

Mary-Margaret O'Brien
Lt. Chaplain - Yorkie Brigade Chapel
"Yorkie prayers are Angel's wishes!"
"Pups for PPL"
"A dog has lots of friends because he wags his tail and not his tongue."
Anonymous

EDITOR'S NOTE: Mary-Margaret was the recipient of an all-expense paid vacation to the Bahamas with a group of single pups last week. It was rather last minute so she didn't have time to announce this to the group OR TO HER MOTHER!! She came back with a splitting headache, a hang-over, and the seed was planted for this week's Inspirational Message. And she still doesn't remember much about "Julio", or so she says.