Welcome to Breakpoint, daily look at an ever-changing culture through the lens of Unchanging Truth

for the Colson Center on John Stump Street.

Of the thousands of green-clad parade goers, marchers, and partiers today, few know about

St. Patrick, the man for whom today's holiday is named.

Even fewer still know of the man beyond the legend, who supposedly drove the snakes out

of Ireland, and certainly possess an indomitable faith in Jesus Christ.

Back in 2006, Chuck Colson told St. Patrick's story, here on Breakpoint, in a commentary.

Here's Chuck Colson.

Patrick was born in Roman Britain to a middle-class family, about 390 AD.

When Patrick was a teenager, marauding Irish raiders attacked his home.

Patrick was captured, taken to Ireland, and sold to an Irish king, who put him to work

as a shepherd.

In his excellent book, How the Irish Saved Civilization, Thomas Cahill describes a life

Patrick lived.

Cahill writes, The work of such slave shepherds was bitterly isolated, months at a time spent

alone in the hills.

Patrick had been raised in a Christian home, but he didn't really believe in God.

But now, hungry, lonely, frightened, and bitterly cold, Patrick began seeking out a relationship

with his Heavenly Father.

As he wrote in his confessions, I would pray constantly during the daylight hours, and

the love of God surrounded me more and more.

Six years after his capture, God spoke to Patrick in a dream, saying, Your hungos are

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