Tomorrow is Remembrance Day.
I watched this video tonight, and was struck by it. I'm not normally a big fan of Don Cherry, but was quite moved as I watched the faces of the Canadian soldiers who've died this year play across the screen.
(the video you want is the November 8th edition of Coach's Corner.)
Monday, November 10, 2008
29 Years
Today is my parent's 29th wedding anniversary. 29 years ago today they got married in the midst of some nasty winter blizzarding weather in a church in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. (Did you know tha Oshkosh is a place and not just a kid's clothing brand name?)
In a world where so many of my friend's parents aren't together any more, and where, as our peers have started marrying and having children, my brothers and I have already seen the first of friends have marriages end, I'm incredibly grateful for parents who have stayed together for nearly 30 years through good and bad times. I'm grateful for what they've modeled for my brothers and I. I'm grateful for little things, like dad putting in his daytimer once a month for years now to bring mom flowers, and mom still buying his favorite little treats and leaving them on his pillow every now and then.
So, here's to my mom and dad, and many more years!
In a world where so many of my friend's parents aren't together any more, and where, as our peers have started marrying and having children, my brothers and I have already seen the first of friends have marriages end, I'm incredibly grateful for parents who have stayed together for nearly 30 years through good and bad times. I'm grateful for what they've modeled for my brothers and I. I'm grateful for little things, like dad putting in his daytimer once a month for years now to bring mom flowers, and mom still buying his favorite little treats and leaving them on his pillow every now and then.
So, here's to my mom and dad, and many more years!
The Communion of Saints - Henri Nouwen
more thoughts from Henri Nouwen...
The Communion of Saints
We often limit the Church to the organisation of people who identify themselves clearly as its members. But the Church as all people belonging to Christ, as that body of witnesses who reveal the living Christ, reaches far beyond the boundaries of any human institution. As Jesus himself said: The Spirit "blows where it pleases" (John 3:8). The Spirit of Jesus can touch hearts wherever it wants; it is not restrained by any human limits.
There is a communion of saints witnessing to the risen Christ that reaches to the far ends of the world and even farther. It embraces people from long ago and far away. It is that immense community of men and women who through words and deeds have proclaimed and are proclaiming the Lordship of Jesus.
The Saints Who Live Short Lives
As we see so many people die at a young age, through wars, starvation, AIDS, street violence, and physical and emotional neglect, we often wonder what the value of their short lives is. It seems that their journeys have been cut off before they could reach any of their goals, realise any of their dreams, or accomplish any of their tasks. But, short as their lives may have been, they belong to that immense communion of saints, from all times and all places, who stand around the throne of the Lamb dressed in white robes proclaiming the victory of the crucified Christ (see Revelation 7:9).
The story of the innocent children murdered by King Herod in his attempt to destroy Jesus (see Matthew 2:13-18), reminds us that saintliness is not just for those who lived long and hardworking lives. These children, and many who died young, are as much witnesses to Jesus as those who accomplished heroic deeds.
Saints, People Like Us
Through baptism we become part of a family much larger than our biological family. It is a family of people "set apart" by God to be light in the darkness. These set-apart people are called saints. Although we tend to think about saints as holy and pious, and picture them with halos above their heads and ecstatic gazes, true saints are much more accessible. They are men and women like us, who live ordinary lives and struggle with ordinary problems. What makes them saints is their clear and unwavering focus on God and God's people. Some of their lives may look quite different, but most of their lives are remarkably similar to our own.
The saints are our brothers and sisters, calling us to become like them.
The Communion of Saints
We often limit the Church to the organisation of people who identify themselves clearly as its members. But the Church as all people belonging to Christ, as that body of witnesses who reveal the living Christ, reaches far beyond the boundaries of any human institution. As Jesus himself said: The Spirit "blows where it pleases" (John 3:8). The Spirit of Jesus can touch hearts wherever it wants; it is not restrained by any human limits.
There is a communion of saints witnessing to the risen Christ that reaches to the far ends of the world and even farther. It embraces people from long ago and far away. It is that immense community of men and women who through words and deeds have proclaimed and are proclaiming the Lordship of Jesus.
The Saints Who Live Short Lives
As we see so many people die at a young age, through wars, starvation, AIDS, street violence, and physical and emotional neglect, we often wonder what the value of their short lives is. It seems that their journeys have been cut off before they could reach any of their goals, realise any of their dreams, or accomplish any of their tasks. But, short as their lives may have been, they belong to that immense communion of saints, from all times and all places, who stand around the throne of the Lamb dressed in white robes proclaiming the victory of the crucified Christ (see Revelation 7:9).
The story of the innocent children murdered by King Herod in his attempt to destroy Jesus (see Matthew 2:13-18), reminds us that saintliness is not just for those who lived long and hardworking lives. These children, and many who died young, are as much witnesses to Jesus as those who accomplished heroic deeds.
Saints, People Like Us
Through baptism we become part of a family much larger than our biological family. It is a family of people "set apart" by God to be light in the darkness. These set-apart people are called saints. Although we tend to think about saints as holy and pious, and picture them with halos above their heads and ecstatic gazes, true saints are much more accessible. They are men and women like us, who live ordinary lives and struggle with ordinary problems. What makes them saints is their clear and unwavering focus on God and God's people. Some of their lives may look quite different, but most of their lives are remarkably similar to our own.
The saints are our brothers and sisters, calling us to become like them.
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