As I compose this on Halloween evening, my thoughts are not revolving around the young trick or treaters that will frequent my door in search of candy for their bags. Their nocturnal visits will be a treat themselves as they proudly display their costumes. The parade of princesses, pirates, Batman outfits and skeletons always delights me and makes the evening entertaining.

Instead, my thoughts and my heart are directed toward tomorrow, which is All Saints Day. Throughout many centuries of the early church's history, All Saints Day was celebrated as one of the holiest days of the Christian year, along with Easter, Christmas and Pentecost. It was the day to visit the churches and give God thanks for all the saints that touched and blessed our lives, leading us into a relationship with Jesus Christ by their witness. In fact, Halloween, or All Hallowed's Eve, began as the community's evening party before All Saints Day.

Maybe one reason that All Saints has lost its presence and prominence in the current church's life is the confusion over the word "saint." The Bible calls every believer who is a devoted follower of Jesus a saint, which means to be called out by God and to be distinguishable from others through loving deeds and actions in God's name. A saint, in other words, is an ordinary person who loves God and attempts to live by faith in the power of the Holy Spirit.

It has been these common, everyday saints that have made a difference in my life. They led me to God who unlocked my heart and offer the peace beyond human understanding and a joy to trust God in spite of the circumstances of my life. These saints demonstrated Christian love in action by their sacrificial acts of kindness and compassion to others. They showed my and taught me not to trust my possessions but first to give to God with my money and treasure and learn to depend on God's provision to meet my needs.

So, tonight, as the goblins and ghosts ring my doorbell, I will recall those Halloween nights when I filled my bag with candy. Yet, all the while, I will look toward tomorrow when I will reflect on the saints, both living and dead, who have meant and still mean so much to me. I thank God for them.