Last Sunday, the church I attend, celebrated All Saints Day. It’s a day the church sets aside to specifically remember the people who have gone before us. While I have participated in many All Saints Day services over the years, this year was especially significant for me and my son because of the loss of my husband last year.
The pastor said that we all have people in our lives who have left a fingerprint on our hearts. It can be anyone we meet along the way, from early childhood to the present moment. These people have had a deep effect on us in some way. He invited us at the end of the sermon, to light a candle in remembrance of one of those people on a table at the front of the sanctuary.
The lights were dimmed and the music played softly. There was a large Christ candle that stood in the middle of the table that represented the light of Christ. The congregation was invited to take a long match and take the flame from the Christ candle and light one of the many votives on the table. When he first extended the invitation, for a moment, I wasn’t sure if anyone would go forward, but then there were people coming from all directions. I felt an instant kinship with all of the other believers who waited patiently to honor a loved one.
I wondered briefly if there would be enough candles to accommodate everyone, but of course, there were. The smoke from all of the matches and candles intermingled and created an incense of sorts, of worship, rising to heaven in both gratitude for the gift of each person and grief over the loss.
I have learned this year, that you can hold both simultaneously.
I’m not sure why I was surprised by the vast amount of people who felt called to light a candle. Every single adult in that church (and in every church), was there, because someone shared the love of Christ along the way. Someone had planted a seed in the heart of every person there and that seed had taken root.
The service reminded me that we have the opportunity and the call to share the light of Christ with a world that desperately needs it and that light will remain long after we are gone. Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too.
Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂