Saints and Saintliness

An oft-used generic expression for death is “the other side.” It provides us with that all-purpose image of … exactly that! The most common occasion of assembly these days is funerals or ‘celebrations of life’ as many of us baby boomers head in that direction. In this environment of recently departed friends, relatives, parents, grandparents there are many variations on said topic. We do need images to help us celebrate or grieve or pray with or whatever it is when multi generations gather in today’s pluralistic society. At time of death “the other side” is an equalizing image perhaps acceptable to a good chunk of the population. The image may be inspired by a sympathy card with picture of angels or soft clouds, or John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, or other funeral home type creations. So whether it’s a religious service or not, images of the other side are easy to come by.   

Death is indeed the occasion of seeking the sacred texts, whatever the religious moorings. Our Bible includes still the powerful and most touching image, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders” (Hebrews 12:1). Even with the departed now beyond interviews and explanations, the vantage of that person looking over us from over there is a comforting one. Those just departed; both their absence and their presence are so very comforting and significant, I think. Needless to say this may bestow sudden angelic qualities on the departed they themselves not aware of and may never have been looking for. I also find that cloud of witnesses helpful for reflecting on my life journey of threescore and ten plus years.

Every time I visit my home province of Saskatchewan I stop by the country graveyard not far from the home place to say hello and goodbye to my dear mom and dad. Their earthly days now over, and well testified by family and neighbors and friends now engraved “side by side” for all to see. I’m glad for these occasional graveside holy moments, even though I was not always impressed with my parents' ways, nor points of view (definitely not always in agreement with dear old dad). I now envision them looking down with love and encouragement, probably appreciating the cemetery visit as much as I enjoy the security and the love of that place.

I know my parents have ‘been there done that’. I know it even more clearly having read latest edition of Preservings (No.44, Spring 2022) a history journal detailing the Old Colony Mennonites deciding whether or not to move away from this worldly Canada to reside in the welcoming country of Mexico. My parents did not join the throng even though my dad’s parents and some of his siblings chose the departure and lived the rest of their days there - grandparents buried in Durango. My parents stayed here in this country, raising their family on a dairy farm - a bright, quizzitive, healthy, energetic brood of nine boys and three girls - in this worldly environment of sports and school activities and all kinds of neighbors and traditions and questions asked by us every day. When another batch of Old Colony relatives and friends a few years later made another move (auswanderung) to ‘God’s land’ in LaCrete, Alberta, I recall my dad’s slightly cynical but firm declaration that we would not participate in that escapism. “The devil will probably show up there too!” 😏  Nonetheless he was charitable to them, even submitting our three-ton farm truck to hauling some loads of furniture way up into that northern Alberta hinterland for them.

 Myself being a young teenager at that time I was enthralled with my parents' bravery in standing up to some churchly expectations which they could not abide by. I respected them for it, and also appreciated their encouragement for us to do well in elementary and high school, even if it was the government public system! This became a significant factor in my own faith decision and later formation. From their heavenly vantage now up there within that cloud of witnesses, I would love nothing better than to hear another assessment from my dad of how we are doing so far! They were and they still are my parents!

This morning’s devotional reading is on same topic (Rejoice!, MennoMedia Vol 58, no 1, 2022). Only it moves that idea of saints in heaven to what they may have been like during their earthly days, well ahead of the funeral and post-funeral sentimentalities. In other words, what saintliness might characterize us as we go about our daily affairs in the here and now? Gentle Wisdom is the term used by the writer Leonard Beechy as he ponders the impact of some of those persons on his life, and so invites us readers to do the same. Basing his thoughts on James chapter 3, Beechy, makes reference to All Saints Day (Yes, the day after Hallowe’en - many lawns and trees in recovery from skeletons and goblins and witches laying or hanging around - the irony of a morbid dismissive death evening followed by attention to saints). The devotional goes on, “Let us search our memories for those whose presence has warmed and illumined us with models of divine wisdom. They are part of our cloud of witnesses, a community beyond time that surrounds and blesses us.” And then he concludes with another reference to the Apostle James, who, “makes clear that, God help us, we need to embody this gentle wisdom ourselves” (p.66).

Good reminder for me, this slightly worn out workaholic. Life is not only the things accomplished in these brief earthly years (check out Isaiah 40:7). It also includes the  memory and consideration of those who have gone before. We are a part of all that we have met. What we do with that begins here and now. Our high calling to saintliness begins with the words, the actions, the spirit we offer to the next person we meet.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness (James 3:17-18).