All Saints Day

In the tradition of the Catholic (and Anglican) Church today is All Saints or All Souls Day.

Usually this day is a time to remember those we've loved and lost over the past year. A day to think of all the saints that are no longer with us. However, today at Holy Trinity, the sermon was not about that. It was about "thin" places on earth. Places where we can begin to see heaven here on earth. I like this idea. I like the idea that we are creating places where people can be just that much closer to God. That's the point of being Christian. Sometimes we see these places when we are surrounded by nature and are awe struck by how beautiful this world is. (This happens a lot to me here in Switzerland - it really is one of the most beautiful countries on earth). Sometimes we see these thin places when we are with our friends and loved ones. Sometimes we see these thin places in others that we pass on the street or in the tram. Sometimes we see these thin places as we pour ourselves out in service for God. Sometimes others see these thin places through our work (or at least I pray for this).

I am thinking about how I can make more of these thin places in my own life and in the lives of those around me.

Also I have been having a discussion, through Facebook and this blog, about what it means to encounter the other and then to identify with them. Part of our discussion has centered around the question of if it is enough to just identify and "love" someone. I think, though, that once we truly understand the pain that someone else is going through that we will be moved to action. We cannot sit idly by and say I feel your pain - if we mean that then we will be moved to do something about it. If we truly feel the pain of those around us who are suffering then we will start working to change the situation. I think that this is what James is talking about in his book in the Bible. Our faith, our beginning of love, is something that changes our lives. Our lives cannot be the same as before because we are different. We cannot say we truly love someone unless we show that in our actions. How we show that depends on each of us. But that is a topic for another blog.