All Saints Day

When Allison was just 5 years-old, she asked me an incredibly poignant question about heaven. 

From the backseat of the car I heard, “Who will I see there?”

All Saints I , Wassily Kandinsky

Without much forethought, I responded with the names of those who have gone before us.  Those who walked this path of faith and who, through both word and deed, left trail markers along the way to point those that follow toward the face of God. 

Then I heard these words tumble out of my mouth, “Then there will be all of these people who you have never met who love you and cannot wait to meet you.” 

She said, “There will?  What will they do?”

“I don’t know.” I said, “But I am sure that they will be excited to see you.”

I am not really sure what happened during the rest of our drive home.  I was distracted by the image of those who have gone before me who I do not know.  Those who love me and cannot wait to meet me.  Those who are cheering for me as I run the race of life.  This image has come back into my mind quite often since that day on the way home from school.  

Synaxis of All Saints

In the western church, November 1 is celebrated as All Saints’ Day.  This is the day the Catholic Church set aside long ago to honor and celebrate the lives of all of the saints, both known and unknown – both known and unknown - who walked the path of faith, and who, through both word and deed, left trail markers along the way to point those that follow toward the face of God.

This weekend the youth from Second Presbyterian Church will be at Camp PYOCA for our fall retreat (please pray for us).  Our theme for the weekend is discipleship.  As a part of the retreat, the students will be encouraged to write down and remember the names of the saints in their lives who planted, watered or helped cultivate their own discipleship. 

Sometime in the next several days, I encourage you to do the same.  Take time to remember the saints both living and dead who planted, watered or helped cultivate discipleship in your life.  Say a prayer of thanksgiving for those who walked this path of faith and who, through both word and deed, left trail markers along the way to point you toward the face of God.  Remember the saints in your own life, both known and unknown.  Celebrate the lives and testimonies of all of the saints who have gone before you.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.”  Hebrews 12:1-2