On Monday, I was in Lubbock watching my son run one of his last high school cross-country meets. Go Hawks! One thing I have loved about XC is how supportive the fans are of the runners. No matter where you are on the course, you will hear different voices cheering. Parents, grandparents, coaches, teammates, and even strangers are on the course, encouraging runners to keep going. And even with the rain coming down on us in Lubbock, those voices were still there, cheering the runners on.
I am sure the runners sometimes recognize the voices. But at other times, I am sure it is just a voice reminding them that they can do this.
As we approach All Saints Sunday, I’ve been thinking about those voices, not just on the XC course, but in my daily life and the people who have encouraged me along my journey. This year’s reflection feels particularly personal. Our family has said goodbye to two of my aunts and my mother-in-law. As a church, we have also lost beloved members of our Aldersgate family. Each loss is different, yet each leaves a very real hole in our lives. We’re grateful for the lives we shared, but we also feel deep sadness that we won’t get one more conversation, laugh, or outing.
Hebrews 12 reminds us that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. After spending Monday watching the XC meet, I find myself thinking about that image a little differently. Friends, family, and congregations have cheered me on throughout my life, and I would give just about anything to hear some of those voices again. Yet, I still hear their voices in the things they taught me, the words they shared, and the love they showed me. They may no longer be standing beside me, but they are still very much a part of who I am.
Those whose names are on my mind weren’t perfect, but they impacted my life; they shaped me and how I live. They are saints in my book, and I believe in God’s book. Not because they were perfect, but because God’s grace was at work in their lives as they showed up and shared the journey. They were ordinary people being transformed by God’s grace and learning to love as Christ loves.
I hope you will join us this Sunday for worship as we celebrate All Saints. We will remember those who have gone before us. Some of those names will bring smiles, others tears, and many will bring both.
I hope you’ll take a moment to remember the saints in your life. Speak their names. Share their stories. Give thanks for the love they offered and the ways they helped shape who you are today.
And consider this: Who might need to hear your voice cheering them on this week?
Because the faith and love we’ve received are among the greatest gifts we have to pass on.
With Gratitude,
Rev. Rodney Whitfield
Senior Pastor
Aldersgate UMC