Ghouls, Greed, Grace and God

The history of Halloween has evolved from pagan to Christian and now in post-Christian America  ~  it is a inane magnification of the macabre:

In modern culture, Halloween has become not only a commercial holiday (second only to Christmas), but a season of cultural fascination with evil and the demonic. Even as the society has pressed the limits on issues such as sexuality, the culture's confrontation with the "dark side" has also pushed far beyond boundaries honored in the past. ~ Albert Mohler

As a child I enjoyed Halloween. Where I grew up it wasn't called "Trick-or-treating," but "Halloweening." It wasn't about the candy. Yes, we enjoyed our goodies, but it was about the fun. We would trek to the attic to the Halloween box filled with a humble hodge-podge of hand-me-down garments, accessories, and masks. We always managed to pull a costume together. And here's the thing ~ it had to be good. Good in the sense that ~ we had to be unrecognizable. We had to fool the neighbors. Because where I grew up the custom was to go only to neighbors' houses (people that you knew and they knew you), then you went inside their house, and they had to try to guess who you were. So, the goal was not to "give yourself" away in any way, shape, or form. The most fun was to stymie the neighbors, and the candy was just "icing on the cake."

That was the 60's.  Now, oh my ~ what Halloween has become.  A prime example of greed.  How much candy can I get!?!  Kids going to as many houses as possible, grabbing as much as possible, and giving you the "stink eye" when restricting their loot or they don't like what you are offering.  And don't get me started on the teens that show up in jeans, a flannel shirt, and a pillow case for their haul.  The lack of respect that has been exhibited at my door has been quite astonishing (not all, but enough).  Personally, I turn out all the lights so as to be participatory, but hubby disagrees...so, when he's stepped away from the front door ~ guess who has to open it.  Ugh.

However, I am more and more intrigued by this phenomenon that Halloween has turned into such a huge and intense celebration and glorification of death and all things related to it. 

DEATH. 

Death ~  that which we do everything in our power to avoid. 

Death ~ that which we try to cheat. 

Death ~ that which we dread. 

Death ~ that which we fear. 

Death ~ that which we try to outsmart at every turn. 

Death ~ that which when a loved one does succumb to it leaves us sad, heartbroken, crushed, distraught, grief-stricken, and sometimes immobile. 

So, why do people decorate their yards like cemeteries, hang skeletons from the trees, and put ghouls on their porches.  Why do people flock to haunted houses, revel in all things morbid and dress in grotesque costumes?

Such a juxtaposition.

We hate death and yet, at Halloween ~ are jubilating in it.

Why?

In celebrating death in this "irreverent" way, does it make us feel more alive?

Is it an "in your face" way of saying, "Ha ~ I've cheated it for another year so I can mock it and make fun of it?"

I don't understand the rationale.  It just gets curiouser and curiouser to me that supposedly normal, otherwise level-headed people participate in the "celebration of darkness."  If they sat down and really thought through the reasoning of decorating their yards like cemeteries and their faces as zombies...would it sober them to the reality.

Death is not a joking matter.

Do they want to die?  Do they want their loved ones to die?

Do they think about what happens when they die?

There is life after death ~ where do you want to spend it?  There are two choices:

Heaven?

or

Hell?

Heaven is light and hell is dark.

The good news is God in all His grace wants ALL to come into the light.  He has overcome the darkness.

"Because of God's tender mercy, the Light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give Light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace."  Luke 1: 78-79 (speaking of the advent of Jesus' birth)

Are you on the path of peace from knowing Jesus Christ as the One who came to earth, shed His Light, who died for you to live in the Light and have eternal life in heaven?

When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, "I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12

We have all committed sins because we now live in the world where purity and light were relinquished by Adam and Eve which gave Satan a foothold to usher in impurity and darkness.
 
We can become right with God again by acknowledging our sinfulness, and Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross that takes away our sins.

The journey from darkness, which is hellish, to light, which is heavenly....is easy. 

Just tell God you want His Light, Jesus to be your Savior from the darkness of your sins.

Choosing LIGHT and the celebration of walking in the Light is awesome!  Nothing compares. 
 
Click here to find out more about "peace with God,"  or if you have any questions, leave me a comment.

Clarification:  I do not mean to be judgemental to those who celebrate Halloween ~ it just is a CURIOSITY to me of the dichotomy of human nature's aversion to death and turning around and celebrating it ~ and I put some of those thoughts into words. That's all.


 



 

"Black Friday" Thought

If Christmas is to celebrate 

Jesus' birthday,

why is it

we buy gifts for everyone, 

BUT HIM.

I have to confess I am the "chief of sinners" when it comes to this.

I am a slow learner....this just dawned on me last year.

So, hopefully ~ I can reevaluate my perspective.

 

212 years ago......

THANKSGIVING DAY 1789
BY THE

 PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

GEORGE WASHINGTON

 A PROCLAMATION

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of almighty God,

to obey His will, 

to be grateful for His benefits, 

and humbly to implore His protection and favor -

and Whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me

 "to recommend to the People of the United States

 a day of

public thanksgiving

and prayer

to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts

the many signal favors of Almighty God,

 especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness."
Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States

to the service of that great and glorious Being,

 who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be –

That we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks –

for His kind care and protection of the People of this country

 previous to their becoming a Nation –

for the signal and manifold mercies,

and the favorable interpositions of His providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war –for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed – for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which He hath been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite

in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions –

 to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually – to render our national government a blessing to all the People, by constantly being a government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed – to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord – To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and Us – and generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

Heavenly Father,

212 years later,

in Your great and tender mercy

under humble praise and glory

to the only One worthy...

may the above be so; yes, may it be so.

In Jesus' matchless name I pray.  Amen and Amen

LINGER LooooooooooooNG!

As we begin the season of hustle-bustle and hurry-scurry, I have another guest post that very eloquently points us to what is important. A much needed reminder beautifully written by an extraordinary and beautiful (inside and out) young woman, Anne Marie.  She is a friend of my daughter's who is graciously and generously living her life loving and learning how to linger in East Asia.  Her wisdom at such a tender age is inspiring:

lingering

According to Miriam Webster, this is what it means to linger:
       1. To be slow in parting or in quitting something
       2. a: to remain alive although gradually dying
           b: to remain existent although often waning in strength
       3. To be slow to act
       4. To move slowly

I want to be a person who lingers. 

I want to linger over a hot cup of coffee before the noise of the day begins, instead of immediately feeling the need to check email.

I want to linger in the embrace of my husband's spontaneous hug at the kitchen sink instead of nudging him away so I can wash the next dish.

I want to linger in meditation on God's word instead of being satisfied to just check it off my list for the day.

I want to linger at bath time with Maddox and not care about what time it is or how much water is being splashed on the floor.   

I want to linger in silence with a friend instead of feeling the need to interject with some answer or piece of advice that, let's be honest, probably isn't that great anyway.

I want to linger in my weakness.

I want to linger in the hard lesson God is teaching me instead of just wishing for the end result. 

I know I'm gonna wake up one day when Maddox is grown and wish that I could do bath time with him again or sing him to sleep, so why do I try and rush through those things now? Why do I feel like I have to live life in a hurry from one thing to the next.  I really have absolutely nothing to be in a hurry for.     

If every moment is beautifully ordained by God, which I whole-heartedly believe is true, then why wouldn't we want to linger in them?   And if we never linger, doesn't that mean we are missing out on what that specific moment has to offer?  And if we keep missing the gifts that come in the moments, then aren't we missing out on the fullness of life that God intended for us? 

I want so badly to go slow and savor minutes, hours, days, and the season God has me in.  I want to let my child stay in the bath too long just because he loves it. I want to experience the slow and sometimes agonizing process of refinement that comes with learning the hard lesson, because that's how God shapes us and changes hearts.  I want to know the extent of my weaknesses so I can better understand the extent of God's strength and grace - if I never linger in my weakness I will never have to depend on the Lord.  I want to sit in the tough emotions, because there's a time for every one of them under Heaven.   I want to hug Chris for a long time because I have no idea what tomorrow holds and if there will even be another hug. 

Lord, teach me how to linger.

Thanks, Anne Marie ~ for such a good word.  May we truly linnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnger according to God's economy and not our own....especially at this upcoming, hectic season.