Cinco de Mayo and other reasons for celebration

Today is Cinco de Mayo and in Mexico it is a day to celebrate the unlikely victory of the Mexican Army over the French Army in the battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Although this conflict raged on for a period of time paralleling the American Civil War the victory on May 5 became the rallying point for Mexican pride. While the day has become a popular reason for celebration (and some might say cultural appropriation), I want to suggest that we have other reasons to celebrate this May 5.

One big reason to celebrate is the communities of Pictou County coming together to help the Viola’s Place Society find a permanent home and begin to establish a shelter for those in need of a place to stay.

I sat at the Pictou County Council of Churches on Tuesday morning as we celebrated what was only a dream 18 months ago. VPS (Viola’s Place Society) thanked the council for being the first to come alongside with financial support. They thanked First Baptist for jumping into the gap and providing an emergency shelter for the winter of 2017-18. They thanked other churches for coming alongside in fundraising. The shelter is moving forward and taking shape. There was a spirit of hopefulness, thankfulness and determination in the room. The council gladly affirmed the Viola’s Place Society.

As one person rose to speak in affirmation of what was happening he spoke of the sense he had that the Holy Spirit of God was behind this and that this was moving. That reminded me of a second great thing to be celebrated. Fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus, after he went back to heaven, the Holy Spirit came to influence the lives of believers. This spiritual presence of Jesus with us today is a fantastic reason to celebrate. In just a couple of weeks on May 20 it will be Pentecost Sunday. That is the day in the 2018 church calendar when the presence of this Holy Spirit is officially celebrated but today is as good a day as any to celebrate that God is with us; Jesus has not left his followers helpless. He has come by the Holy Spirit to comfort, encourage, teach, guide and empower. It is the Holy Spirit working through people that is the moving influence of churches. The Holy Spirit is a great reason to celebrate.

As I thought about this I was reminded of the Shepherd’s Lunch program, the Pictou County Fuel Fund, Sunday Morning Inspiration and so many other things that we have here in Pictou County because people have been moved by the love of Jesus and empowered by the Holy Spirit to want to help and make a difference. Today we can celebrate that we live in a place where we can see visual co-operation among churches that love people because they have encountered the love of Jesus.

This giving culture has moved beyond the walls of our churches and has influenced the general culture of Pictou County. Good will and giving to needs is part of the fabric of our area. That is yet another reason to celebrate.

So there are a lot of reasons to celebrate on this Cinco de Mayo. And don’t forget Mother’s Day is just around the corner.