Do you want to be a saint?

Today is All Saints Day and the Catholic church celebrates all the “saints”. You may or may not know that the Catholic calendar has feast days each day of the year. There are not enough days in a year for all of them, plus a saint in this case is anyone who is in heaven, not just the names we know. Today, the priest asked who wanted to be a saint and about half of the church raised their hand.

Sainthood seems too much to achieve. I am thinking of all the amazing stories of the saints, and I am not convinced that my life is that extraordinary that someone a hundred years from now will read about it and be inspired. If it’s possible to become a saint by getting to heaven, I may have a fighting chance.

A long time ago, a priest asked in a Bible study, “How are you getting to heaven and who are you taking with you?” Now that’s an interesting question. The implication is that it’s not just me that I am helping get to heaven. Perhaps by helping someone on their way, I will get there too. Even the disciples went out in twos, so it makes sense that we are not meant to “go it alone”.

So today, I went to mass in remembrance of all the saints who have gone before me to heaven; family members, friends, and others who, in my opinion, left this world too soon. Tonight in many counties of the world, families are gathered in cemeteries, lighting candles and celebrating the lives that have gone before us.

Maybe my nugget for today is that I don’t have to be perfect to get to heaven. Choosing my faith each day and striving to do the right thing in all circumstances may be more extraordinary than I think. Choosing love and kindness when the situation seems difficult. Choosing hope instead of doubt. Some days all I can choose is the next right step. That’s enough.

So as you celebrate today or tomorrow (depending on your cultural background) I leave you with the question- How are you getting to heaven and who are you taking with you?