Flitch Day

Some of you know my curiosity with wierd holidays, like Yellow Pig Day, well, July 19th is Flitch Day. Flitch Day could actually be the origin of the phrase "bringing home the bacon." It began as an old custom brought to America by the early settlers. Once a year, a slab (flitch = side = slab) of bacon was given to any married couple who could prove they had lived in harmony and fidelity for the past twelve months.

To find out about the Dunmow Flitch Trials in England check out this link.
http://www.dunmowflitchtrials.co.uk/

I'm sure it is all in jest now, but I think it brings up an interesting point "prizes and a trial" for fidelity. Maybe that's a way to bring down the divorce rate. Prizes and a yearly trial. We could televise them and have a brand new reality show. Before I digress too far off the original thought.

The Apostle Paul talked a lot about keeping our eye on the prize. Philippians 3:14 "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus." and 1 Corinthians 9:24 "Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it."

Both these passages talk about "the prize" being Christ and our relationship with Christ. In my opinion, fidelity in marriage and fidelity to Christ IS the prize. Yet, fidelity isn't talked about much anymore. Most of the time we only hear it as the name of a bank or investment company. Do we really know what the word means any more? Fidelity implies the unfailing fulfillment and commitment to ones vows, covenants and promises.

Another word for fidelity, one which we use in the church quite often, is faithfulness. I don't know why but the word "faithfulness" doesn't seem to have the same sound of strength or power or depth as the word "fidelity." It sounds softer. Maybe it's just me.

I know that the word "fidelity" often evokes the idea of Duty or Obligation in some and many people don't like those ideas, they seem legalistic. Believe it or not, one of the derivatives of "fidelity" is the word "abide." In the Gospel of John, chapter 15, Jesus uses the word "abide" again and again as he talks about "being the vine and we being the branches."

In this discourse Jesus makes it clear that it is not about duty but relationship. Seperated from the vine, we can't bear fruit. The same is true in marriage and in our relationship with Christ through service in the Church. We have to attend to those things which build the relationship. Lives that are so busy that they can't attend to the most significant relationships availble are out of whack. It is vitally important to spend quality time with your spouse and your Savior.

I treasure the prize of fidelity I share with my spouse and with my Savior. I love spending time with them. I look forward to spending time with them. I covet that time with them. How about you?

Well, that's how wierd and off the wall my mind works some times. Thanks for stopping by. Is that bacon I smell cooking?