This Sunday is All Saints Day - when the church traditionally remembers those who have gone before us, who have showed us the way along the path of faith, and who are now among the cloud of witnesses who cheer us on (Hebrews 11-12).
Interestingly, the practice of the church was to hold a vigil on the night before All Saints Day - ie: on All Saints Eve. In old English, the word "hallow" meaning holy is used interchangeably with "saint", so All Saints Eve was also known as All Hallows Eve, from which we eventually derive All Hallows e'en or Halloween. Quite how remembering the faithful departed became a strange fixation with horrow and death in modern day celebrations of Halloween is another story! but the origins of this day are Christian.
Maybe we can take a moment this weekend to remember the saints who have shaped us and whose examples continue to inspire us? And maybe we can also pause to think about whose lives we are touching and shaping and who is likely to be remembering us after we are gone?