The parade is coming

We could hear the band long before it passed the chapel. They were marching through Masantol and down Santa Lucia. As I ran to the second floor windows I called Kathie to come and see. The approaching celebration called for our immediate attention. Our minds were taken back to small town America before all the business and isolation of neighbors. The focus of our Masantol neighborhood was the sounds and colors of celebration. Now they were close enough to see all the colors. Flags were waving in all directions. Joyful children filled the streets, families marched behind. Soon I witnessed the center of focus.

On a cart surrounded by many stood the carved image of a catholic saint. He was rolled along with the crowd surrounded by candles. I felt for the children who didn't know. Their ears were drawn like ours by the music of the people. The seeming happiness of colors and sound. The adults had many more years of following the crowd. Their hearts were given to the worship of this saint. The Bible states in Psalm 135, "They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not;
They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths. They that make them are like unto them: so is everyone that trusts in them." They are marching into eternity. Pray that God will open their eyes to see their need for Jesus. How much better to march in worship and song to our living Savior Jesus!