You Are Not Alone
Dear Friends,
As we prepare for the celebration of All Saints Day this coming Sunday, I have spent time reflecting on some of the well-known saints who have traditionally been upheld as exemplars of our Christian faith since the time of the apostles—from Peter, James, Mary and Paul to Augustine, Ignatius, Julian, Catherine, and the many “Theresas.” We’ll be sharing insights about a few of these during our Sunday Forum presentation.
However, I find myself thinking even more about the saints, or “spiritual ancestors,” who have shaped and guided my life more directly. There’s my great aunt Eppie, who ensured I made it to church when my mom was busy with little ones; my 7th-grade math teacher, who saw a gift in me when no one else seemed to notice; and my best friend’s mom, who could always make me laugh when things were tough at home. More recently, some beloved parishioners who have walked alongside us at St. John’s for years have joined this litany of saints.
Just this past month, I lost one of my most admired spiritual guides, Barbara Holmes. Some of you may know her through her work with Richard Rohr at the Center for Action and Contemplation. “We lost a giant in our community,” said one staff member. “Dr. B,” as many referred to her, has now become a spiritual ancestor, and as she often reminded us, “We can draw on the wisdom of our spiritual ancestors to guide our actions.”
Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha, and others—all their stories of resistance, survival, and faith—inspire, guide, and remind us that we’re not alone. Despite societal pressures promoting individualism and the motto, “I’ll get mine, you get yours,” a communal spirit often emerges when we need it most. As James Baldwin reminds us, we are a community of witnesses with responsibilities to future generations. “Nothing is fixed forever,” he writes. “The earth is always shifting, the light is always changing… Generations do not cease to be born, and we are responsible to them because we are the only witnesses they have.”
At St. John’s, I like to think we are just such a community of witnesses. This becomes especially evident when we gather on All Saints Sunday—not only to honor the spiritual ancestors of our past, but also to be spiritual ancestors for those we welcome into our community through the waters of baptism.
In these challenging days leading up to the election, it’s vital to remember that we are not on this journey alone. Navigating tension, confusion, and uncertainty is nothing new. As Barbara Holmes wisely said, “In this life, you will have trouble. How we handle that trouble is our witness to future generations. An old order is passing away; a new order is on its way. We do not have the power to stop or slow the transitions we encounter, but we can live through them and support one another.”
May it be so, in Christ’s name.
Amelie+
