“Forrest in his element…back at the Williamsburg church”

It’s nice to be remembered. 

Over 20 years ago I served as the minister of a smaller church in eastern Iowa. As a part of their 100th anniversary celebration I was humbled to be invited to deliver the morning message and to co-officiate at the sacrament of communion. 

As I began to greet people before the severice I found myself chocking with emotion. This surprised me. I’m not a very emotional person. And I began to fear that it would happen again when I began to speak. It did. Those people

Came into my life at the right time and touched me in ways that still resonate today.  It is good to be remembered. It is better to be well thought of, too, especially as a person who invested fully in others. 

Every day we are writing the pages of how we will be remembered, our obituary,  if you will. When we touch the life of another without guile or thought of self, we make a deposit into Eternity’s bank. I speak a lot about love and service and respect and kindness because I believe those things to be the building blocks of God’s Kingdom. Each are a glimpse of grace.

Lord God, help me invest my life wisely in those things that are eternal significance. Amen. 

For All the Saints 

“For all the saints who from their labors rest, Who Thee by faith before the world confess, Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest, Alleluia! Alleluia”

For many followers of Jesus, today is “All Saints’ Day”, a day set aside to remember the faithful who went before us. For me it is a day of reflection as I think of the individuals know longer with us; those who touched my life and helped mold me into the person I am today. 

There was, of course, my parents who sacrificed much, said prayers with me every night of my childhood, and gave me unconditional love. A grandfather who chewed Day’s Work plug tobacco as he pushed me on a swing and another who would sneak chocolate covered raisins to me as we laid down for a nap. A coach who challenged me, Sunday school teachers who didn’t laugh at me when I stuttered as well as a minister who prayed for me and once spoke about a “vision.” 

There were so many others. Each was a glimpse of grace. I know that you had them, too. Pause for a moment today, in the spirit of gratitude, and remember their touch–God’s touch–on your life. 

“O blest communion, fellowship divine, We feebly struggle, they in glory shine; Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine.” Thank you for showing me the way. Amen. 

From the hymn, “For All the Saints” 

For All the Saints 

“For all the saints who from their labors rest, Who Thee by faith before the world confess, Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest, Alleluia! Alleluia”

For many followers of Jesus, today is “All Saints’ Day”, a day set aside to remember the faithful who went before us. For me it is a day of reflection as I think of the individuals know longer with us; those who touched my life and helped mold me into the person I am today. 

There was, of course, my parents who sacrificed much, said prayers with me every night of my childhood, and gave me unconditional love. A grandfather who chewed Day’s Work plug tobacco as he pushed me on a swing and another who would sneak chocolate covered raisins to me as we laid down for a nap. A coach who challenged me, Sunday school teachers who didn’t laugh at me when I stuttered as well as a minister who prayed for me and once spoke about a “vision.” 

There were so many others. Each was a glimpse of grace. I know that you had them, too. Pause for a moment today, in the spirit of gratitude, and remember their touch—God’s touch—on your life. 

“O blest communion, fellowship divine, We feebly struggle, they in glory shine; Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine.” Thank you for showing me the way. Amen. 

From the hymn, “For All the Saints” 

For All the Saints 

“For all the saints who from their labors rest, Who Thee by faith before the world confess, Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest, Alleluia! Alleluia”

For many followers of Jesus, today is “All Saints’ Day”, a day set aside to remember the faithful who went before us. For me it is a day of reflection as I think of the individuals know longer with us; those who touched my life and helped mold me into the person I am today. 

There was, of course, my parents who sacrificed much, said prayers with me every night of my childhood, and gave me unconditional love. A grandfather who chewed Day’s Work plug tobacco as he pushed me on a swing and another who would sneak chocolate covered raisins to me as we laid down for a nap. A coach who challenged me, Sunday school teachers who didn’t laugh at me when I stuttered as well as a minister who prayed for me and once spoke about a “vision.” 

There were so many others. Each was a glimpse of grace. I know that you had them, too. Pause for a moment today, in the spirit of gratitude, and remember their touch—God’s touch—on your life. 

“O blest communion, fellowship divine, We feebly struggle, they in glory shine; Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine.” Thank you for showing me the way. Amen. 

From the hymn, “For All the Saints” 

For All the Saints 

“For all the saints who from their labors rest, Who Thee by faith before the world confess, Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest, Alleluia! Alleluia”

For many followers of Jesus, today is “All Saints’ Day”, a day set aside to remember the faithful who went before us. For me it is a day of reflection as I think of the individuals know longer with us; those who touched my life and helped mold me into the person I am today. 

There was, of course, my parents who sacrificed much, said prayers with me every night of my childhood, and gave me unconditional love. A grandfather who chewed Day’s Work plug tobacco as he pushed me on a swing and another who would sneak chocolate covered raisins to me as we laid down for a nap. A coach who challenged me, Sunday school teachers who didn’t laugh at me when I stuttered as well as a minister who prayed for me and once spoke about a “vision.” 

There were so many others. Each was a glimpse of grace. I know that you had them, too. Pause for a moment today, in the spirit of gratitude, and remember their touch—God’s touch—on your life. 

“O blest communion, fellowship divine, We feebly struggle, they in glory shine; Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine.” Thank you for showing me the way. Amen. 

From the hymn, “For All the Saints” 

For everything there is a season

 I stepped into what was formerly the Commerical National Bank in my hometown. I hadn’t been there since January of 1977. The shiny marble floor still glistened. The majestic marble columns still  drew the eyes toward the intricate tiled ceiling. 
I noticed the customer before me admiring the Lobby’s beauty. I interrupted his thoughts. “I haven’t been in this building since 1977.” I ssud. “It’s still beautiful, isn’t it? At one time it was said that the president of this bank elected mayors and was a leader in the city’s development.  I used to work in an office on the 8th floor.” 

Looking around at empty teller windows, I added, “The last time I was here all 21 windows had a teller.” There was only one teller now. The lobby was empty, save for a lone teller, a receptionist and the two of us. 

Looking thoughtful he said, “I wonder what this will be like in 25 years?” “I don’t know,” I replied. “Times are changing.” 

“For everything there is a season”, The Preacher in Ecclesiastes once said. Old chapters draw to a close and new chapters are born. 

“O Light, from age to age the same, O ever living Word,” the old hymn proclaimed, “Here have we felt Thy kindling flame, Thy voice within have heard.” Every age belongs to that Light; the light of Love, the light of Jesus, the light of God. Each age contains a glimpse of grace. 

Lord God, in the midst of constant change let us not be afraid. Let us look us always look for Your grace that sustains us. Amen.