There’s a word for it: paraskevidekatriaphobia, a fear of Friday the 13th. But what is the origin of that fear and how does it manifest itself today? Some scholars believe that we Nordics are to blame. Loki, the mischief maker, gate crashed a banquet in Valhalla where he then tricked the blind god Hodr into killing his brother Baider, the god of light, joy, and goodness.
Somehow it became moved into the Last Supper where the 13th member (Jesus plus 12 disciples) left and Jesus was crucified on a Friday. Add the fact that the number 13 was a sign of good fortune in pre-Christian times, a bad English novel, and voila!
The really bad fortune on this Friday the 13th is that more than 900 manatees have died as a result of the red tide, a type of algae that is killing their food source, and is most likely responsible for large fish kills on the Florida coast. If we don’t take climate change and its effects seriously, we’ll have more than Friday the 13th to contend with.
Prayer for the Day
Illuminating God, you bring sunrise and sunset into our days,
Reminding us of your constant presence;
Binding God, you weave us together as weft and warp on a loom,
Pulling us together in many different patterns.
Illumine us with your wisdom so we care for earth’s creatures
And bind us closely together as your people seeking to serve you.
In the name of the One who illumines and binds us,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
We cannot break God’s laws but we can break ourselves against them.
Maude Royden, English suffragist and preacher (1876-1956)
It appears that these red tide events are increasing in nature, especially on Florida’s west coast. ..manatees and other animals impacted by these events are sentinels for serious environmental and human patterns.
Gregory Bossart, zoologist, conservationist (1951-2019)
When I enter my house, I shall find my rest with wisdom,
For companionship with her has no bitterness,
And life with her has no pain, but gladness and joy.
Wisdom of Solomon 8:16