LOVE: All Saints/All Souls

Ask me if I like Halloween and I will respond I love the idea of the thin veil between the living and the dead, celebrated every year. Day of the Dead / Día de los Muertos is upon us. With it it brings pageantry, art, color, dance, wailing and some good theatrical showy-ness.

Life is as beautiful as death.

As a Christian, I have really struggled with the whole 'who is in and who is out' thing with regards to 'life' after death. I am told to believe that if someone was not saved, or did not profess a relationship with Jesus, they would not be 'in heaven' when I got there. I was/am baptized - so of course it is assumed I will go there - up there, in heaven - just hanging out, me and my homeboy Jeezy, and all the other Christians who have been driving me nuts for my living days here on earth.

I take comfort in the new conversation that seems to be everywhere - about focusing on life, the here and now, bringing about change and heaven here now on earth, as it is in heaven. We are shifting away from evangelization that is based in fear (think of the early Billy Graham) and into a time of social justice, pro-peace and making a difference - being Christ in the world (you are His only hands, feet, blah blah blah).

But it still does not answer my burning questions of whether I will ever see my mom again, or my cat Tiffany for that matter. Mom wasn't baptized, cracked the "good book" once in a while - mostly taking comfort in the Psalms, she was not, NOT down with the humanity in religion. I mean who would be after being abused in the name of the Lord?

So to keep this all wrapped up in love - and not bickery - I'll share with you a quote from a woman whos doubt and love speak volumes to me right now.

Keep in mind that our community is not composed of those who are already saints, but of those who are trying to become saints. Therefore let us be extremely patient with each other's faults and failures.
Mother Teresa quoted in No Greater Love.

Comments

[Mindy]

I like this post. I hate seeing you struggle.

[Paul]

i have no answers but thank you for sharing