To Saint (for All Saints Day 2022)

 

To Saint

If a saint is a very virtuous, kind, or patient person, who is the first person you think of? Today I’m using the word “saint” as a verb-an action word. We are remembering people we love or have loved, and those we have lost. We each have our list. Who has sainted you? Who has been an example of all that is good, kind, and true?

We know we’re all a mix of saint and sinner, that’s our human condition. But there are those special people who seem to get love right. Jesus Christ taught us how to love and warned us against any kind of selfishness, cruelty, greed, and exclusion in his blessings and woes sermon of this morning. (Luke 6)

Saints might seem rarer these days when hate is on full display. I have spent the week thinking of people who personally and more broadly “sainted” well. I found my mind wandering to people who have blessed and taught my children through their lives. I haven’t named them, but perhaps you’ll recognize some of these behaviors.

Who has taught you to love? Who has taught you to care about the world? Who has sainted you?

Is it the person who bandaged a knee or dried your tears with gentle kisses when you fell?

Is it the person who read all the books on the shelf to you while you were cuddled before bedtime?

Is it the person who taught you how to gently catch spiders in the basement and put them outside because all creatures matter?

Who has sainted you?

Is it the person who taught you how to make cookies and didn’t care if flour covered the kitchen counters and floor?

Is it the person who sliced a crisp fall apple and evenly divided the slices with you, even though you always ended up with an extra slice?

Is it the person who showed up for football games, choir concerts, parent-teacher conferences, robotics competitions and positively affirmed every moment?

Is it the person who taught you how to write a poem about springtime?

Is it the person who taught you how to talk to God?

Is it the person who never over-explained, but simply answered your questions with open-ended thoughts?

Who has sainted you?

Is it the person who was patient when you made an emotional decision, had an elaborate pity-party, or were too self-focused?

Is it the person who carefully guided you back to safety when you were going down a wrong path in life?

Is it the person who listened to your mess-ups and didn’t judge you or make fun of you or scold you?

Is it the person who failed, made a huge mistake, hit bottom, and then got back up again, and told you the truth?

Is it the person who embodies or embodied the fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Who has sainted you?

Is it the person who taught you what Jesus meant when he said that the poor are blessed, the Kingdom of God belongs to them. They are the people worth hanging out with and caring for?

Is it the person who showed you how to feed the hungry?

Is it the person who showed you how to wipe someone else’s tears and help them laugh again?

Is it the person who defends or defended those who are excluded, reviled, and defamed for no good reason? Did they show you how to bring everyone in and keep no one out?

Who has sainted you?

Is it the person who never took themselves too seriously, and taught you how to let pride and ego go?

Here is another question. Whom have you sainted?

Is it the person learning about love, kindness, and generosity from you?

Is it the person learning patience from you?

Is it the person learning about forgiveness from you?

Is it the person learning how to love strangers and neighbors and enemies from you?

Whom have you sainted?

Last week I gave you a little homework. I asked you to think about your own funeral. This was not meant to be a depressing task. Your funeral is your last dance on earth. How do you want it to go? What music, hymns, solos would you like? Which hymns fill your heart, or bring tears to your eyes? What are your favorite scripture passages, poems, prose? If there was an open mic, who would you like to stand up and tell stories about you? Which stories? Whom have you sainted and continue to saint?

We’ve got one shot on this earth to do all the good we can. Of course, it’s not about good for ourselves, but good for all people and creation. If we follow Jesus, we have the perfect road map. If we love well, we’re traveling in good footsteps.

Today we remember and thank God for those who have sainted us and taught us how to saint.

May we leave today with new inspiration and wonderful memories of those who’ve taught us boldness, joyfulness, openness, and generosity along the way.

Blessed are you, dear friends, when you bring Jesus Christ into the world with your words and actions.

Blessed are you, dear friends, when you meet the needs of another.

Blessed are you, dear friends, when you don’t know everything.

Blessed are you, dear friends, when you walk in another person’s shoes.

Blessed are you, dear friends, when words of kindness spill out of your mouths on a regular basis.

Blessed are you, dear friends, when you speak the truth in love.

Blessed are you when you treat others the way you want to be treated.

Blessed are you, dear friends, when you face life’s losses and remember death is not the final word.

God bless those with broken hearts today. May the Holy Spirit of God mend the rugged places and bring you peace and wholeness.

For all the saints. For all of you. Continue to saint.  Grace, peace, and love. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Maren's Shoes

 

Maren’s Shoes

No! She was not going to wear her shoes. Her sock-covered feet ran as fast as they could.

When you are two years old, you have all the power in the world.

“NO SHOES!”

Her beautiful, patient mother tried again. “Maren, it’s time to go. You need to wear your shoes.”

“NO!”

People were swallowing their last sips of specialty coffees and bites of bakery donuts. These treats brought by Maren’s parents to celebrate her second birthday. The whole congregation sang “Happy Birthday to You!” But now, after delicious delights and conversation, people were putting on their coats. Sunday morning was over. It was time to go home.

All in the church were wearing shoes.

All but one.

I watched Maren run from her mom. Her determination complete. Her steely will on full display. Spunk and sparkle fill her entire being.

I called out her name. “Maren…”

She stopped and looked at me.

“Would you like to wear my shoes?” I asked.

She looked at my feet in my black Sunday pumps. Her socked feet moved slowly in my direction.

Was this some kind of adult ploy? Some trickery to take control of her feet?

Still wearing my white clergy robe and a Sunday dress underneath, I awkwardly knelt to the floor and sat. I took off my shoes.

Maren stared at my shoes. Then her two-year-old feet carefully stepped into my shoes, one socked foot at a time. Her feet slid as if on tiny slides. Losing her balance she fell forward, arms outstretched.

I caught her hands in mine. She regained her balance.

Her beautiful and patient mother came over with small shoes in hand.

“May I wear your shoes?” I asked.

Maren nodded solemnly.

I took one of Maren’s shoes and stuck out my stockinged foot.

I tried to put it on. I smashed it around my toes. Nope.

I looked at Maren. “It doesn’t fit.”

She reached for my hands as she removed her socked feet, one by one, from my shoes.

She sat quietly contemplating life as her mother put small shoes on small feet.

This two-year-old girl is a lover of the color pink, full of determination and steely will. This two-year-old girl is going places. I’m excited to watch her grow. There is intelligence and light in her eyes. Her parents have passed on that intelligence and a sense of curiosity to both Maren and her big brother Alexander.

She is quite an adorable force.

Maren didn’t fit into my shoes.

And I know there is no way I could ever fill hers.