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Hallo again to all.

This week we encounter All Saints day, All Souls day, los Días de Los Muertos, and the US presidential election. (All-hallows eve has long since become a secular holiday.) We therefore find ourselves reflecting on how so often in life the dead are alive, an end is a beginning, and that nothing lovingly remembered is ever truly gone.

Thinking about what once was, but now is gone, we are reminded of this story, which we first heard decades ago from a Baptist minister in the States:

I was walking across a bridge one day, and I came across a man standing on the rail, about to jump. I said 'Stop! don’t do it!'

'Why not?' he said.

I said, 'Well, there’s so much to live for!'

He said, 'Like what?'

I said, 'Well... are you religious or atheist?'

He said, 'I am quite religious.'

I said, 'Me too! Are you a Christian?'

He said, 'I am.'

I said, 'Me too! Are you Catholic or Protestant?'

He said, 'Protestant.'

I said, 'Me too! Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?'

He said, 'Baptist!'

I said, 'What a happy coincidence. So am I. Are you Baptist Church of God or Baptist Church of the Lord?'

He said, 'Baptist Church of God!'

I said, 'Amen! Are you Original Baptist Church of God, or are you Reformed Baptist Church of God?'

He said, 'Reformed Baptist Church of God!'

I said, 'Amen and Amen! Are you Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1915?'

He said, 'Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1915!'

I said, 'Die, Godless heretic!' and pushed him off the rail.

This week we shall remember all of our dead (Godless heretics or not), remind them that we love them, and do our best to continue the purposes for which they spent their lives. And we shan't push anyone off a bridge.

See you next week.

Cynthia McFarland cmcf@anglicansonline.org	Brian Reid reid@anglicansonline.org

Last updated: 31 October 2004
URL: http://anglicansonline.org