All Saints Day

Today is All Souls Day. In our Lutheran tradition we only celebrate All Saints Day with the idea that it includes both the saints and the souls. But for example the Anglicans make a distinction between the two holy days and today is the day to remember those loved ones who have died.

Incidentally, one of the challenges of talking about this is the amount of euphemisms we have about dying and death. Understandibly so, though.

These photos are from the Main Cemetary of Turku and my parents grave. It is a very small one. For a long time I've been embarrassed by the smallness of the stone - a dear friend helped me to carry it from Ruissalo Island which was a really special place for our family - and it was the biggest we found. And I haven't planted a rose garden around it - not that you could either but you get the point.

But this Saturday as we went there to take the two candles it all of a sudden felt all right. It is small and not fancy but it is for lack of a better word organic. It would little by little no longer look like a grave at all if the cemetary were left unattended and there is something good about that to me. I guess it's the feeling of "ashes to ashes and dust to dust" that I get. My parents are with God - this how I want to see it - and in due time the remains of our bodies need to become one with the earth again. And something about that is very soothing to me. I think it's a feeling of timelessness. There is no hurry any more.

I do miss them both, though. Very much. I think they'd be incredibly proud of their beautiful, beautiful little granddaughter. In fact I think they'd drive everybody nuts with stories about Lotta and I so wish they could.

All of you who are mourning the loss of loved ones: may God hold your in the palm of His hand and assure you that everything is going to be all right. May you all be very blessed.