GOOD NEWS: SAINTS ABOVE and BELOW ARE PRAYING

Today is All Saints' Day. It's also my daughter's birthday and the birthday of one my dear friends, Stan Gaede. And so, while they'd deny it, I consider Heather and Stan fitting folks to share this day with saints above and below. Remember, being a saint has nothing to do with being perfect. Consider Saint Peter and Saint Paul.

Also, Buechner in Listening to Your Life, expanded my view of saints who should be remembered in our prayers today. Who are they? "The foolish ones and wise ones, the shy ones and overbearing ones, the broken and whole ones." Well then, who among us couldn't find our names listed among one of these categories? And so we pray, trust God and look for ways to offer God's unconditional love and extend grace to the likes of them. And each other.

Well, unconditional love, trust and grace, remind me there's an election coming up in a few days. And the results will test our trust in the democratic process and God. It will challenge our love for each other, and if we'll allow differences to be seen as the enemy. The days before and after this election will test our willingness to extend grace. Will we believe the best or the worst about each other? It's a tall order when we're short on patience and long on fear. And when we're short on listening to learn and long on needing to be right, no matter the cost.

Maybe it would do us well to pause the sources from which we get our news and return to the Chronicles of Narnia and the writings of C.S. Lewis, for example. In PRINCE CASPIAN, Aslan speaks to Susan, words we'd do well to heed; "You have listened to fears, child...Come, let me breath on you. Forget them."

So, lets take a hard look at our fears and who or what feeds them. And before we vote, lets consider the influences and influencers we need to "forget." Then, lets remember these words, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." (llTimothy 1:7,NLT) So lets pause, take a deep breath. Exhale fear, breathe in trust that God is awake and cares. And remember saints above and below are praying. We are not alone.

And, if you're like me, it helps to sing or put on music that feeds faith, not fear. An old song comes to mind, one we sang in the Baptist church where I grew up. It went like this,"Breathe on me, breath of God; fill me with life anew, that I may love what Thou dost love, and do what Thou wouldst do."

Now, that whole notion may seem weird to some of you who read this blog, who wouldn't identify as a Christian. But pausing to take a deep breath is good for all of us. And then you'll just have to trust me that God will show up with what you need. After all, it's All Saints Day. Heaven, help us! And praying saints above and below are doing just that!