For All the Saints

I am writing this blog on All Saints Day, 2015.  In many ways All Saints Day is one of my favorite days on the year.  I view it as a very personal sacred observance.  Festivals like Christmas and Pentecost that I long to celebrate corporately, but All Saints Day is a quiet day of personal reflection.  I consider those who have gone before me.  Through their words and actions they have left spiritual footprints that I continue to follow today.   As I think about it, one of those spiritual giants created my appreciation All Saints Day and the entire liturgical calendar.   William Huener was pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Downers Grove, Illinois.  Bill was my teammate for the seven years.  Bill had a passion for the liturgical calendar and perhaps my zeal for the festivals like All Saints Day can be traced back to him. 

Some of those saints in my life impacted me professionally.  Into that group I would place my departed friends Larry Brandt and Jack Giles.  Mark Diefenthaler is another individual who left an impact on my.  Mark was a college classmate and later a good friend in the ministry.  Mark’s professional ministry was cut short by a tragic accident that left him a shadow of his former self.  In spite of his limited abilities, Mark continued to try to find ways to share the faith. 

Other saints are departed family members.  My aunt, Phyllis Ulbrich, in particular comes to mind.  Aunt Phyllis was my godmother.  Since she never married, it was almost like having a second mom only I never had to worry about her disciplining me.  Rather, she would like me know in a gentle way how she was disappointed in me.  She was also the one who sent me care packages when I was in college.  My maternal grandparents, Ed and Helen Ulbrich, both left an impact on me.  Grandpa was always a listening ear and grandma the ultimate example of dedication and compassion.  In many ways I have two departed fathers; my dad, and my father-in-law, Gilbert Brown.  My dad tried to be friends with everyone.  He was also a great model of unconditional love.  Gilbert Brown was someone who supported and encouraged me.  He took an interest in my ministry, but was also quick to offer insights and gentle advice. 

Not all the Saints in my past were my elders or peers.  One who comes to mind is Margy Heyse.  I only knew Margy for a short time, nine months to be exact.  Margy was a young lady with a dynamic faith, a glowing smile and boundless energy.  Her parents were members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Dundee, Illinois.  Margy had graduated from Valparaiso University but was unable to find a job in her chosen field.  As a result she had been the part-time youth director at Bethlehem until I arrived to fill the position full-time.  She continued to work beside me as a volunteer, until one day she walked into my office to tell me she wanted to go into full-time youth ministry.  That led to a position as a youth staffer for the North Wisconsin District.  Her term was short.  She was the victim on a drunk-driving accident in November of 1980.  Margy was had a contagious faith and one of her favorite expressions was, “We are Easter people and hallelujah should always be our song.”  If she sensed you were having a down day, she would try to turn things around through that expression.

 

My list could go on and on, and I am sure you probably have a similar list.  I would hope that you would reflect on those individuals and the heritage of faith they have left behind.  Those recollections should not be limited to one day a year.  I would also encourage you to consider what imprints you are leaving behind.  That is what passing the torch of faith is about.