November is upon us…For most of us, clocks will fall back this weekend (if only they would stay that way)…Our minds are already thinking about Thanksgiving—who is hosting the meal, who will attend, what is the menu??…Some of you may already be Christmas shopping…

ALL SAINTS’ DAY & more

Let’s slow down and be present in November, which begins with All Saints’ Day on November 1. Actually, it begins today: on Halloween or what was traditionally All Hallow's Eve, the beginning of the Allhallowtide triduum, a 3-day observance of the church that was dedicated to the dead. This included October 31/All Hallow's Eve, November 1/All Saints' Day and November 2/All Souls' Day. Particularly in Roman Catholic traditions, November 1 celebrated the remembrance of officially designated Saints of the Church, while November 2 was a day to remember any loved ones who had died. This remembrance would typically begin with a vigil on the eve before these 2 days....All Hallow's Eve on October 31.

Of course, history being what it is, there are other historical influences as well. The Celtic festival of Samhain on October 31/November 1 is traced back 2000 years ago in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man and was an autumn harvest festival of sorts. However, it also was believed to be a time when the barrier between this world and then next became particularly permeable allowing for communication with the dearly departed, and allowing for departed souls to return to the earthly realm. Celts would make offerings of food to these spirits whom, it was believed, would adorn human outfits and knock on doors to receive such offerings.....yes, you guessed it: this is a likely origin of trick or treating on All Hallow's Eve or Hallow'een. The trick occurred if you didn't provide these begging spirits with food which would result in a curse of sorts.

Add to all that the ancient Roman festival of Pomona, a harvest-inspired feast that took place on November 1 to celebrate the Roman goddess of fruits, and we have an interesting array of historical customs that feed into these 3 days. It is not unusual that the Church adopted dates and customs that "redeemed" the more pagan or secular traditions into opportunities for faithful observance.

And just to add to the landscape of blending customs and traditions, both religious and otherwise, most Protestants do not celebrate the religious Allhallowtide triduum, but have kept All Saints' Day as an observance wherein the remembrance of official Saints of church history as well as deceased loved ones (saints in general) are remembered, particularly those who have passed in the previous year. Many Christians participate in Halloween as a secular fun night rather than a solemn time of remembrance, and many do not partake at all due to the pagan elements of it's history.

Isn't humanity interesting? How we adapt history in our own image and for our own purposes? Personally, I have always appreciated the idea of remembering the dead as a part of the Church Year. I think about the legacy of faith that has gone before me; I remember my loved ones who have passed on and try to recall the stories of their lives. Our society has days to remember Veterans and fallen soldiers and a few historical figures...but I think it is an important time of reflection to think about our Spiritual forefathers and mothers, as well as family members whose legacy we are a part of.

It's a meaningful way to start off the month of November...and particularly meaningful when you realize that the bookend of this month is Thanksgiving, a time to be thankful for all we have in this current life. We begin with remembering all those who brought us to this time, and then we give thanks for all we have in this time. It's really quite lovely, isn't it? And I love the picture above because it reflects the idea from the book of Hebrews about how we are surrounded by a "cloud of witnesses" as we pray and live out our own faith in the present.

OBEDIENCE?

All of this reflection on the month of November brings me to this concept of the faith life: Obedience. You cannot focus on remembrance of those who have died and gone before us, or on being thankful, without the idea of Obedience hovering. These November remembrances remind me that this life of mine is not just about me. The past, present and future continuum that each of us is on is bigger than any one of us...and this is as it is because of the Loving God that is our Creator, and God's Son that is the Savior we claim to follow with our very lives.

Following Jesus as a person of faith means leaning into our God-given place and purpose within this continuum of past (all those that have gone before us), present (the now where we live our lives in thanksgiving), and future (an eternity with God and all those who have gone before us in a kingdom of God's making). To me, leaning into and living within this continuum requires Obedience...meaning that we are always seeking to align our will and ways with those of God, while seeing ourselves in the context of being a tiny part of the Body of Christ rather than the center of the universe.

Unfortunately, our society teaches us to live as though we are the center of the universe...as though it's all about me and what I want and desire, and my success and accomplishment, because I deserve it. This is in stark contrast to learning to obediently live to the fullest as God created me to be, following a call to fulfill His purpose to bring in the kingdom here and now. Obedience is practically synonymous with discipleship...or at least required for discipleship.

Now that is something to think about during November. We remember the legacy of the past and those who have come before us, as well as being thankful for all that we have and are in the present...and so we pray to be Obedient disciples that follow Jesus in helping to create a future God has planned to redeem everything so that heaven and earth, and all God's people, will be one with Him forever. May it be so.

May your November be filled with meaningful remembrance and lives full of giving thanks.

Shalom,

Julie Parsell

Spiritual Wellness Guide - angelstringsministry.com

Retired Pastor + Spiritual Director + Therapeutic Harpist + Holy Yoga Instructor