I gain inspiration from the saints. First off the bat, I should explain that my definition of saints is not necessarily the same as yours. Don’t get me wrong, I love the saints of the church celebrated by those with Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Eastern Orthodox roots. However, I have in mind an expanded palette that includes beings beyond those bounds to our broader cultures—North American Indigenous Elders, for example. My notion extends to our everyday saints amongst us and some whose names are not known or remembered at all. What they have in common is that they have helped in ways big and small to tip the balance toward the good.
Are you thinking of your saints?
Would you include a beloved pet and companion offering daily unconventional love? Surprising idea?
Perhaps Sir David Attenborough—our planet’s most ardent defender and cheerleader?
Or the bus driver—also part counselor, arbiter, entertainer, enforcer, safety officer—who
- takes the time to converse with a senior citizen;
- who notices a young man frantically dashing to catch the bus and chuckles when the out-of-breath sprinter gasps “thank you!”
- accommodates those walking and conversing with internal demons
- offers directions and travel tips to a visiting family
- skillfully navigates our congested chaotic city streets while somehow maintaining composure
We’re living in a world of distrust, division, and dissension. These days, thinking a positive thought or performing an act of kindness could be considered an act of courage or fantasy. In my mind, people who create are our near and far saints. Think cooks, poets, musicians, potters, quilters, writers, visual artists. Think encourager, smiler, gentle protector, cheerful presence. We can celebrate them through our engagement with and appreciation of their good works. Equally, we can be makers ourselves thereby being someone else’s saint.