All Saints Day follows upon the evening of all hallows.   The saints or hallowed ones - the ones not specifically assigned a saint's day in the liturgical calendar - have their collective day of remembrance.  It is a day to give thanks for the saints who shaped our lives - for generating and supporting new life, for the work of head and hands,  for their personal faith and convictions, for their participation in community to share in God's mission, for their love and so much more.

Today I remember particularly my brother Bert.   At his birth in 1938 he was named Marinus (after our maternal grandfather) and Aalbertinus (after our father and great grandfather) Oussoren.  Somehow after immigration from Holland he became "Bert".   

His "adult" family life and vocational life was spent in the town of Kenora (after "growing up" and educational years in the Netherlands, New Jersey, Vancouver, and Stonewall in Manitoba.   Family near and far, school (he taught Geography and World Studies at Beaver Brae HS), Knox United Church, and "camp" (Lake of the Woods island cottage) were his familiar base.   The vocational highlight of his professional life was the many school trips to various parts of the globe to help many students and, after retirement, interested adults discover the diversity and richness of life on the planet.   

Bert wasn't "pious" in a traditional sense, but he was faithful.  He expressed his faith by his contributions to the life and work of his local church and cared about those close to him as well as those assigned to his classes over the years.   He was a good human being  with all the needs of forgiveness and grace, and, with all the gifts of caring and love that is hard-wired into our humanity.

He is included as one of the innumerable saints who deserve to be remembered, thanked, and celebrated on All Saints' Day.  They remain in the eternal care of the Holy One as beloved children of God's one human family!   R.I.P.