Saints: Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things
This All Saints Day I’m doing something different. Instead of concentrating on the saints who have gone before me, I’m remembering the saints in my life who are still with me.
The saints in my life are the people who are living and are immersed in the world in some way. They’re pretty much ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Saints are people who I turn to when I need support the most: the people who, when I was at my lowest, came by with a casserole, a card, or simply put a hand on my shoulder.
My saints are the people in my life who in small and large ways have shaped me into the person I am today. Saints are people who let the light in, help me offer the best of myself.
My saints are the people who become the hands and feet of Jesus. They aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty; they jump into life and challenges with both feet. Saints don’t know the meaning of the words ‘challenge’ or ‘impossible.’
Saints show up! Saints don’t fix my problems, they just show up, wait, reflect, are present, and listen. Saints demand that I pay attention to what it is they are seeing—the Holy in our midst. Through their words and actions, they point me toward God.
On Nov. 1, I’m going to spend some time reflecting on the saints in my life. Hope you will too.
Thanks for reminding me of this. So true and something we don’t think about often.
Great reflection, gives me a new way to look at all the saints that have touched my life especially in the last year.
Eileen,
Thank you for a relevant take on what a saint is for us today. It brought to mind many special persons in my life as I go throughout the day and their strong witness to sharing the journey in many various ways with me. Happy All Saints Day!
Dear Eileen, This is such a beautiful and true reflection of who the saints in our
lives are. I would only add that they just pop up in your life when you least
expect them. Thanks~
Eileen,
This is beautiful!! I love it and the image of the lasagna, yum. Made me think of all the meals at your table because you, my friend, are one of the saints in my life.
Thanks for always being a clarion voice for those left out and behind. And thanks for telling your story and proving again and again what it means to be from love, of love, and for love.
Cheers!
Eileen, you like so many of the BVM sisters and associates, typify your very apt description of saints. Thank you for all you do for me, the associates, the congregation, and the wider humanity.
THANKS so much, Eileen – I’m with you! Your reflection really makes it a lot easier/more meaningful to celebrate this community feast this yr! You really gave us a lot to ‘look for.’ I’m so glad that you’re one of the ‘not-so-ordinary-after all’ people in my life, and that you’re willing to share your gifts as an assoc. coordinator. Gratefully, Nancy
Thanks for your beautiful reflection, Eileen…It calls me to remember the wonderful saints in my own life, from when I was very little through the present day. Thanks for the reminder!
Eileen, thank you for opening up new ways to be aware of the many saints in each of our lives.
You invite us to new insights and openness to the blessed people/saints in our lives.
Happy All Saints Day, C Jean
A lovely idea to incorporate into my own Nov. 1 prayer, Eileen. Thanks!
Eileen beautiful reflection . I spent last Sunday at Benefactors mass with several saints and will be in Dubuque this weekend to celebrate with so many others. I live with my best saint my soon to be 97 year old mom
Eileen beautiful reflection. Spent last Sunday at Benefactors Event with several saints and will be in Dubuque this weekend with many more. Live with my best saint my soon to be 97 year old Mother .
Thanks for these fine thoughts, Eileen. Saints all around us, indeed!
Eileen,
What a beautiful reflection on the saints in our lives. Thank you for making so many of our unsung heroes the saints they are.
Helen Gabel
Thanks, Eileen! What a great perspective. I too am so grateful for the “saints” in my life.
Eileen, thank you so much for helping me to appreciate the saints in my life. So real and true. Marianne
You’ve verbalized how I have thought of saints as well. I never could quite understand why one had to be dead to be a saint. I just thought that the concept was easier to recognize and relate to – the saints among us. Thanks, Eileen.
Eileen,
Such a wonderful reflection. Thank you for always being there for me and others!
Deb
I love this day and your description of the saints in your life matches my own. Mary Hogan, BVM used to tell us when we were novices that, “Saints are people who are unafraid to put their hands into any kind of water.”
Eileen,
I don’t usually post things on facebook, but this was so beautiful that I posted it for all my friends. Thanks so much for this reminder to us of all the living saints in our lives. D
Dear Eileen,
Thanks for such a lovely description of the “saints” in your life. They show up whenever they are needed, Glad we have a special day to honor them.
Monica
A wonderful reflection! So true and practical