Yes Virginia, There Is A February 29th

I’ve read a number of the technical explanations for why we have to add another day approximately every four years except for a variety of exceptions in order to keep our calendar in sync. The stuff reads like computational craziness but I’m thankful that we have folks to help keep all of this together. There are also guidelines for those born in a leap year that need to have a precise way of computing when to celebrate their birthday. I’ve always thought that most people just move it back one day but there’s actually a system where the birthday can float depending on how the calendar falls.

The bottom line as I understand it is that if we did not make these adjustments, after a number of years the Easter Sunday celebration might fall on the 4th of July and that wouldn’t reflect the actual day Jesus resurrected. We can know the exact date of the resurrection precisely, based on the Jewish lunar calendar that was followed at that time. That calendar coordinated special days like Passover based on the equinoxes. Confusing enough for you yet? However, interestingly, this doesn’t mean it is a fixed date on our calendar each year because it floats but in a precise way where it does in fact land on the right date even though that day may not be the same each year. I sure hope you’ve got all this down because it’s beginning to make my head spin.

There are a number of leap year festivals in a variety of locations including one held in the Leap Year Capital of the World, celebrated in Anthony, Texas/New Mexico. These two communities call themselves twin cities but do not qualify officially for this designation but that could make them an even more appropriate candidate for this celebration. This year’s festival includes a golf tournament, a trip to a nearby casino, and many other activities. They are inviting all those born on February 29th, leap year anniversary couples, and any and all others who want to come and enjoy a great time.

I looked through a list of supposedly famous people who were born on February 29, but to tell the truth, other than Dinah Shore, the late singer and talk show host, I only recognized Tony Robbins, the motivational speaker. He has been called one of the top 50 business intellectuals in the world. That may be true since I do know he has persuaded a huge number of folks to pay him enough money to make him very, very wealthy. I mostly know him from his infomercials where he is up on a stage goading people to set goals and achieve success using the power that is within them.

As for important things in history that have happened on February 29th, the list includes the first accusations made during the Salem Witch trials in 1692; a 1944 famous invasion during World War II of the Admiralty Islands by General MacArthur; and finally, Karen and Richard Carpenter of the singing duo, The Carpenters, received a gold record for their hit song, Hurting Each Other, in 1972. There were other events listed but none seemed very important to me.

While all this was put together mainly in jest, I suppose the critical thing to consider about time, calendars, and birth dates is the fact that the clock is running and regardless of how we do our counting, time is getting away from us and our opportunity to embrace God’s presence and His purpose for us is also slipping away. Here’s a poem I’ve heard quoted many times before and it is listed as being written by an unknown author. I thought it appropriate in helping make my point:

Two little lines I heard one day,

Travelling along life’s busy way;

Bringing conviction to my heart,

And from my mind would not depart;

Only one life and it will soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,

Soon will its fleeting hours be done;

Then, in that day my Lord to meet,

And stand before His judgment seat;

Only one life and it will soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Give me, Father, a purpose deep,

In joy, or sorrow Thy word to keep;

Faithful and true what e’er the strife,

Pleasing Thee in my daily life;

Only one life and it will soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

I do hope you will have a tremendous time of restoration and reflection over your upcoming Saturday and Sunday. May we all find ourselves thinking about the message of this little poem as we seek to live out the life He has given to us. Amen. …..More later.