Hi everyone,

Today was our community Halloween party and it was such a sight to see.  It was fun to see people taking time down from work to don costumes and head to the meeting hall.  There was such a wonderful spirit and energy.

I ran around and took pictures and then something began to dawn on me. This was the feast day of "All Hallows Eve" or the Eve of All Saints Day.  Nov 1st is when we celebrate the Saints who have been a rich part of our history and lives who have challenged us to live the gospel and our faith on a deeper level.

It is easy to speak of the saints from old from hearing of them in our childhood, or through reading.  Can we see the saints in our midst this day? I look at the saints dressed around me this day.  The Core members have called me deeper into the gospel, into my life, my way of living and challenged me to the core.  They have made me lok at areas of my life, to see if they are compatible with the gospel.  They have brought forth love, tears, great joy.  They have brought the gospel alive for me.

I also look at the assistants, support staff, personnel who have left so much to come and be here and be present.  I see people letting go and embracing brokeness and touching their own.  There is a transformation going on here and it is awesome to watch develop.  There seems to be a reaching out to one another.  The core members are the living beatitudes and like the saints of old they call us to something deeper, more authentic.  They see into us and through everything and go straight for the heart.

Do we look for the saints in our midst?  Do we listen to the prophetic voices that call us to change, to hear those who cry out in their brokenness?

This night I am going to sleep thanking God for the chance to be here and for the living saints I meet each day here.  Until the next time.

Jeff

p.s. the above picture is of the gang from our house