It’s amazing to think about all that comes upon us this glorious month of November in the year 2006 of our Lord. We begin the month remembering the saints who have gone before us. It is through these saintly people, as they lived out their saintly calling before us, that we find inspiration and hope in the promises of Christ our Lord. Personally, some of those saints weren’t saints when I knew them and had to deal with them. Yet, as I mature and move in time, I am able to see the qualities these saints have passed on to me.

Sir Bernardus Weber was one such saint. He was my sculpting teacher and was not one of my favorites. He never gave me a break. He pushed me in a very “unflinching” way and because of him, the door of beginning to understand discipline was opened. I never did thank him for this precious gift he provided.

Another such saint was my Pop Warner football coach. I had to drink bananas, whole milk, eggs and a protein powder, all blended together, in order to weigh just enough to play. I didn’t like this man because he didn’t let me play much. He had no idea as to what to do with me since I was so light. He was afraid I’d get hurt. So what did he finally do? He made me a running back!!! How crazy!!!! But it worked. I didn’t want to get hurt so I always ran fast and then protected myself before getting hit. From this man, I learned to dream and that often times you have to do the unexpected to make those dreams a reality. I never did thank him for this gift. There are many such saints in our lives. They pass on godly qualities without seeming to be too godly. They pass on Christian living without seeming to live the perfect Christian life. They pass on character in order that we may have character. They pass on a love of life as they love the life God has given. And more often than not, it was not in a church setting. And too often as we realize what these saints have offered us, we don’t find the opportunity to express our gratitude and thanks, until it’s too late.

Gratitude and thanksgiving bring us to the end of the month in which we celebrate a day of Thanksgiving. It’s a day of thanking the Lord for the harvest, for the lodging, for the family, for the friends, for the faith and for Christ our Lord. It’s also a day to thank God for the saints whom He has employed to shape and touch our lives. To thank Him for the ordinary saints, in every day life, who don’t seem so saintly, until it’s too late to tell them that they are saints.

In the Great Thanksgiving, in which we celebrate Christ’s death and resurrection, all the saints join us at the table. It is a foretaste of the feast to come and in that feast all saints will gather and because of Christ, they actually do gathered around the table with us. It’s a great time to give thanks to and for the saints of our lives.

In Christ’s love and Service
Pastor Dan