The first part of October 31st included, for me, a quick round-trip drive to Duluth. The last part of my day included choir rehearsal for the annual Cook County Christmas Concert (concerts December 4 and 5). Putting the day together meant that there wouldn’t be enough time to get home to Hovland, so I had some “in-between time.” What a treat (and trick!) it turned out to be.
After sitting all day, the chance to have a 30-minute walk was a treat, and it became even more of a treat (and trick) than I expected. It was Halloween, so the streets of Grand Marais were filled with walkers in all shapes and sizes. Since it was dark, I could only make out height or width of the costume covered forms. It was a treat to hear the delighted giggles of the little-sized forms and the gentle reminders from the big-sized shapes (“Just take two pieces at this house; now, take my hand as we cross the street”). The trick? Passing the houses handing out goodies!
The first part of the day, in Duluth, had included the funeral of a dear friend, Diane Grau. Her favorites in life were God and Jesus, and her family. Her next favorite? Kids, all kids, any kids. She taught middleschool science for decades, helped in Sunday school and confirmation, creatively made Halloween costumes, collected school supplies for Afghanistan kids when one of her sons served there. Once you knew her, you realized that to Diane it didn’t matter what size or shape anyone came in, she felt we all qualified as kids. After all: “See what love God has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are.” (I John 3:1)
This Sunday, many Christian churches will celebrate All Saints Sunday. It’s a time when Christians celebrate the lives of those who have died, and celebrate living as Christfollowers, as children of God. While walking around Grand Marais on October 31, I realized that my day had been an All Saints day.
There had been a funeral, and a gathering of friends being the body of Christ for one another, serving one another; there had been a walk where the joy of little children resounded in the dark; there had been voices raised in words and music, singing to God, “Come to us O Lord in splendor bright, fill our hearts with everlasting light,” and singing to the world, “Have you heard about our Jesus?”
At times our lives are filled with fun, like a continual candy-getting Halloween; other times, life is more frightening than the scariest Halloween fiction. But all times include God’s Divine Promise: God is with us. Jesus is not resting in some far off place, he is at our side. Part of our living means death will come our way, as it did for my friend Diane. But as she knew, in Christ we are never alone; in Christ our graves become doorways to eternal life, to new life, living fully with God. And in that, rejoicing is included!
Have you heard? What marvelous love the Father has extended! Just look at it—you’re children of God!
Each month a member of the Cook County Ministerium will offer Spiritual Reflections. This week our contributor is Pastor Kris Garey, Trinity Lutheran of Hovland.
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