Really? Seems like an odd question. We have so many descriptions of what people are and since this blog should, but not always does, have a gay theme, I thought I'd throw that in as a description any of us could use. Straight people can be queer too after all. There are so many other descriptions of people though, I am sure you will be able to come up with some that fit you.
So what about this variety of people we have witness to in God's world? What kind of people are we graced with personally, in society, in the media, at work, in our churches, wherever? When we are trying to decide who lets God shine through and whom we should emulate with our own precious God given gifts, who do me pick? Beyonce? Merton? Mother Theresa? Trump? It likely isn't just one person since we meet and are graced with a wide variety of people every day, all our life.
One of the things that I love about the Episcopal church is the way each day is represented by a given holy person. Unlike the Roman church, these people are not only Saints but also saints, small "s". These are people who may or may not be nearly as famous but have contributed to the faith and/or have lives a faithful life. So often the list of official Roman saints seem far removed from reality and are filled with almost a folklore of information. The beauty of the Episcopal way is that I am as likely to read about Saints Polyeuct and Nearchus; the man who started the A.M.E. church or about the young person who first started the Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich ministry. It is always informative, beautiful and inspirational.
Today we remember the life story of Eric Liddell ( 1902 - 1945 ). Perhaps most remembered as The Flying Scotsman and portrayed in Chariots of Fire. Eric was a true person of Faith. He gives me strength and hope and is a lot more relevant and timely than most Saints. No, he is a saint with a small "s" , not canonized, he didn't go through some torturous bureaucratic roman process but I believe, and the Episcopal church believes he is a saint, a holy person.
Again, when we take the time in our very busy lives to see and allow our ourselves to be witnessed to by the many holy people around us each day, how do we respond? I'm not speaking of exualting them. Perhaps appreciating them or simply recognizing them. What I think we are called to do is to be encouraged, called and asked to respond by being the same in our own personal way.
In our lives, how do we live and witness so as to be a "leg up" t others around us?
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