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Feast of the Saints

Oscar Paulino, left, and Angel Hernandez move produce from the juice bar where they work into a refrigerated van in New York, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012. The juice bar, like most businesses in lower Manhattan, was without power and was trying to save some of their perishables. Days after superstorm Sandy hit, businesses both big and small are facing a tough choice, to reopen or stay closed. (Seth Wenig / Associated Press)
Oscar Paulino, left, and Angel Hernandez move produce from the juice bar where they work into a refrigerated van in New York, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012. The juice bar, like most businesses in lower Manhattan, was without power and was trying to save some of their perishables. Days after superstorm Sandy hit, businesses both big and small are facing a tough choice, to reopen or stay closed. (Seth Wenig / Associated Press)

They know how to do it: survive and support each other and share what they have. They are, after all, New Yorkers.  

The power, offering light and heat, remains a memory and a wish; refrigerators simply store food, not chill it, while folks wildly seek sources to charge their communication centers: cell phones.  

Tonight, on Hallow’s Eve, we await tomorrow’s holy day: All Saints’ Day. A day when Catholics and others share a tradition of celebrating those who have gone before us, remarkable people who showed compassion and love and sacrifice and courage and sought justice and welcomed the stranger.  People of faith who responded to their call to serve others, their call to love God, by loving God’s creatures, by lessening suffering with comfort and kindness, amid chaos.  

We do not have to look to our deceased patron saints to celebrate the Feast of All Saints. Tonight, many of those saints are working without sleep, or food or warm clothes. They brave the midnight darkness to work within the chaos and make order. They offer peace and kindness and hope.  

They are, after all, New Yorkers.

(S-R photo)

Spokesman-Review features writer Rebecca Nappi, along with writer Catherine Johnston of Olympia, Wash., discuss here issues facing aging boomers, seniors and those experiencing serious illness, dying, death and other forms of loss.