Guardian Angels

In the Western religious calendar today is the Feast of the Guardian Angels. A little research shows that devotion to angels seems to appear within Christianity with the rise of the first monastic communities. Two of the most famous Christian monastics St Benedict and St Bernard of Clairvaux were both advocates of the angelic cult and particularly of guardian angels. Actually there’s little scriptural support for this form of devotion. Most who seek scriptural justification pretty much have to rely upon Matthew 18:10 “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.”

While my taste buds are not particularly inclined to the supernatural, I am a believer in guardian angels. And I believe it is more than appropriate to set out a time to stop and think about them and be grateful. For instance.

I vividly recall how at the beginning of my seminary life and not attending a Unitarian Universalist seminary that I was very worried how I would pursue my parish internship. Almost on a lark I found myself at the Pacific Central District offices in the basement of Starr King seminary a block from where I was attending the Pacific School of Religion. The District Executive at the time was Robbie Cranch. (A direct descendant, by the bye, of the Transcendentalist minister Christopher Pearse Cranch.) I introduced myself, explained how I was worried about finding an internship, and wondered if she had any advice.

The Reverend Ms Cranch sat me down in her office and began to grill me, first about my background, where I’d come from, what my interests were, etc. Then she asked, “And, what kind of internship are you looking for?” I was a little taken aback. Actually all I’d thought of at the time was how I needed an internship, and it would be nice if it paid something. I said as much. She replied, no, no; what do you want? What do you think you’ll need?

She pushed me and prodded and finally I blurted out, well, I guess I would like to be prepared to serve a mid-sized church.

She looked pleased with herself, sat back in her chair, and said two words. “Lindi Ramsden.”

I quickly ran through my mental rolodex and found “Lindi Ramsden” and “San Jose.” Lindi was the minister of the First Unitarian Church of San Jose. Now if you know anything about the San Francisco Bay Area at least in the mid-1980s, you’ll probably know San Jose was not considered the center of civilization. In fact it was considered slightly beyond any thought of civilization. (If you live in the Boston area think way beyond 495. Way beyond.) Certainly beyond anything I was considering.

I thanked Ms Cranch and soon left her office. Two days later she called and inquired whether I’d been in touch with Lindi. I hesitated and said, well, not yet, but I plan on doing so in the next day or so. She replied I had an appointment with Lindi in two days.

I went. And I fell in love. And I had the best internship I could ever have hoped for.

Talk about guardian angels.

So, today, on the Feast of the Guardian Angels, I offer you an opportunity. Who is it that has gratuitously helped you out? Who has reached out a hand when you were in trouble, or just needed a hand?

This might be a good day to say thank you.