Superstition, Tradition, and the Gospel Truth (otherwise known as the February article)

To be the shortest month of the year, February sure has more than its fair share of interesting occasions. Think about it. What other month has such a variety of happenings ranging from President’s Day to Valentine’s Day and from Groundhog Day to leap year’s extra day, February 29th? There are many strange occasions scheduled to occur this month. Consider February 2nd. It’s Groundhog Day, right? How is it that in this day and age, that on February 2nd of every year hundreds of people travel to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to see Punxsutawney Phil get up in the morning? And not just watch the groundhog, but broadcast him. And people tune in. Live broadcasts on the radio, TV reporters live on the scene, hundreds of onlookers huddling in the cold all waiting for a small rodent to emerge from his burrow, waiting to see if the groundhog will see his shadow. I mean, look around people. Do you see your own shadow? Then the groundhog will too! Seem silly to you?

There are many superstitions or traditions observed today that seem ridiculous even though they might be fun. The traditions and superstitions that are celebrated today are not necessarily the same as ones from days gone by either. In Shakespeare’s day if a cat sneezed in your house, it was believed that the household would experience bad fortune. It seems silly today to think that the sneeze of a cat could cause bad luck, but so does watching a groundhog predict weather. We seem to hold on to these traditions or beliefs sometimes, even when they are without merit. Consider the tale of George Washington whose birthday is celebrated on President’s Day. How could he be frivolous; he was President of the United States. Very important. What do you know about him? Even without having just written a research paper on his life you probably know that he chopped down a cherry tree and promptly confessed his deed to his father when questioned about it, right? So what, you say? Only problem is that it never happened. No cherry tree, no ax, no “I cannot tell a lie.” It is just an anecdote created by a man who wrote a biography of the famous president. While Washington was a noble man, the story of the cherry tree has no truth to it.

Well, what does have truth to it you ask? Good question. No matter how often superstitions or traditions change, there is one truth that remains constant. The never changing truth of God’s love and sacrifice for us. The month of February celebrates love and romance. There has never been a truer love found in all of history than the love God has for his creation of mankind. He gave the ultimate Valentine’s Day gift by sending his only son to come to die on the cross in our place. He provided us with “eternal salvation” mentioned in Hebrew 5:8 by giving his life as a sacrifice for anyone willing to accept the gift. And not only does God provide a way of salvation, but He continues to sustain those who accept him. Isaiah 26:4 talks about how God is “everlasting strength” to those who trust him. He promises to keep us and protect us. He assures us in John 10:28-29 that nothing can take us out of his protective hand for all of eternity. Eternity is a pretty long time, don’t you think? It’s doubtful that Punxsutawney Phil will be around to see his shadow for all eternity. The future for those who accept God’s gift of salvation is sure, without any doubts.

Eternity may begin on earth, but it will one day continue in Heaven. It will not matter whether Phil saw his shadow, whether Washington chopped down a cherry tree or what Valentine’s Day gift was most romantic. All of the superstitions and traditions held by man will one day pass away. They may change over time or they may fade completely. No one these days says “God bless you” to their cat. We have different superstitions and traditions today. No matter what changing customs are celebrated, one reality remains steadfast. God wants to have an up close and personal loving relationship with you, not just on Valentine’s Day, but on every day of the year. He demonstrated his love by his sacrificial gift, and he wants to make his promises a reality in your life. Traditions such as Groundhog Day or Valentine’s Day are fun, but God’s love for us is exciting. Shakespeare may have said “God bless you” to his cat to keep bad luck at bay, but you can rest assured that when you sneeze and receive that same blessing, God is alive and well, ready to bestow it.

Sidebar
Groundhog Day is celebrated on February 2nd of each year. It is considered a milestone indicating whether the coming spring will be early or late. According to legend, if the groundhog sees his shadow upon emerging from his burrow, then winter will linger for another six weeks before making way for the arrival of spring. Though there are earlier mentions of a similar celebration, formal festivities for Groundhog Day began in 1886. Each year, and every year since, on February 2nd at daybreak in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania spectators trek to Gobbler’s Knob to anxiously await the arrival of Punxsutawney Phil as he rouses from a night’s sleep to predict the upcoming weather. The schedule of events in the small town in Pennsylvania begins well in advance of the 2nd, and it includes a variety of activities ranging from homemade crafts to a lasagna luncheon. The celebration continues throughout the week, and concludes the day after Phil’s official prognostication. If you want to see Phil’s prediction first hand, get there early. The gates open at 3:00 a.m. for spectators, and there is usually standing room only!