Hidden Saints: Why must we look out for saints? It isbecause if ...

Hidden Saints: Why must we look out for saints? It isbecause if ...: Why must we look out for saints? It is because if we spot them we can expect an unexpected blessing. Where do we find them? They are e...

Why must we look out for saints? It is because if we spot them we can expect an unexpected blessing. Where do we find them? They are everywhere in our midst. We can meet them while taking a walk in the woods, shopping, in organizations, at churches, or when we just hop into a McDonald's or Hardee's to buy a cup of coffee. But how do you know they are saints? Some people cannot even recognize them because they appear as all sorts of people having different vocations. For one, when they greet you, you may want to ignore them because they look quite ordinary.

 

 Sometimes, they will strike up a conversation and during their interaction with you, you may not even realize that there was anything particularly striking or unusual about the person you just spoke with. This saint may have zeroed in on some problem that you are anxious about, that you wish would go away. Then here comes this man and woman in their dialogue with you, that touched on those same matters that have been perplexing you for some time.

It may have been whether you must quit your job for other work. Maybe you are having financial problems. Your child or parent is sick. What do you do? You might have moved into a new town and are looking frantically for an apartment or to buy a house. Then again, it may be that you wish to know the quickest way to get to your son's soccer game. This saint unexpectedly provides the answer you would have never thought about or just overlooked. You might never realize it, but maybe in hindsight you are sure that that gentleman or woman you spoke with, told you some things in such a simple way that literally saved your life.

Popular for over five decades, American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan (b. 1941) in his lyrics “It's All Over Now, Baby Blue” tells about an orphan with his gun crying like a fire in the sun:

Lookout, the saints are coming through
And it's all over baby blue ....

With saints unlike the lines of this lyric it is never over, for life continues into eternity. Saints pop up unexpectedly everywhere. They appear in places and in the midst of situations that you will never expect or suspect. All during these times they are working with us helping us solve problems and shedding light on new ones.

Hidden Saints

That is why most saints are considered hidden. On December 4^th, 2014 Pope Francis (b. 1936) at morning mass at Santa Marta carried by the Vatican radio recalled his experiences with saints when he said, “There are many hidden saints, men, women, fathers and mothers of families, sick people, priests who every day put into practice the love of Jesus; and this give us hope.”

A saint may help simply by giving a cup of water to a thirty person. Feeding the starving in the midst of devastation like earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and drought. You may see them building homes in developing communities to house the homeless around the world, digging wells in impoverished regions of India and Africa to bring fresh water and relief to villagers. Saints are humble people that still go unrecognized while working in hospitals, medical centers and soup kitchens.

Throes Of Life

In the throes of life saints appear. In places when there are severe pangs, spasms, pain and suffering you will find them. During these extreme difficulties and troubles they are slaving away. It may be a time of great revolution or social change in a nation and they are there with the down-trodden. In such an agonizing crisis they are silently nursing wounds and caring for the dying caused by violence in the streets.

Pop groups have sprung up that reflect such dark moments of life. Throes of Perdition lyrics song by TRIVIUM use images of being blind-folded, gagged, firing squads, vultures and hyenas etc., to promote their image. Throes of Dawn – a band formed in 1994, is a dark metal band from Finland provides music that pushes fears of pain in human existence. Their fare is emotional, dark and progressive music with growling, screaming and is bittersweet. An English rock band Pink Floyd founded in 1979, inducted in the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 1996, in One Of My Turns – The Wall Lyrics sings, “This is just a passing phase”:

One of my bad days 
Would you want to watch T.V.?
Or get between the sheets?”

Although saints are known to be working globally, still there are social experiences that still cry out for change and help. We find such instances in the pop culture that were previously cited that is highly promoted in the media. But regardless to how bleak these situations and instances are, the meek, hard working and hidden saints are making a difference impacting communities in small, big,  and unassuming ways alike.