Many houses were decorated, but very few were the kind of scary that could make a young child cry, as that was the main population for this community. My parents were an avid promoter of celebrating Halloween, without the "scary" elements. Granted - Dad did pull a couple tricks on us with fake spiders and popping up from places to illicit a scream or two (or more), but that was him every day of the year. Mom has always despised all things paranormal or associated with evil. We were never allowed to dress as witches, vampires, zombies or the like. And for years - family costumes were a thing. My favorite was when we did characters of Peter Pan, cause I got to be TinkerBell. Mom made my costume and it was Beautiful.
Every year we went Trick or Treating and for my youngest years - our church also had a Halloween Festival, that eventually got changed to the "Fall Festival" and then of course, died out shortly after that. But I remember how much I loved it there. They had all these booths and games. You could go bobbing for apples, fishing for candy, play a bean bag toss on the pulpit steps and ultimately - fellowship with your church in such a wonderfully fun family setting.
My memories of Halloween center around family, friends and God. Even as a young tween in Cary, I went trick'or treating with friends from my youth group. God was strongly present in this holiday, as He is in all things. And frankly - I don't understand why we don't promote this holiday within the Christian Community more.
God sent us all into the world to spread His love and Grace. I don't remotely believe this is about having several generations of babies and sharing the gospel with them. Nor do I believe God insists every one of us go overseas as missionaries. But we are ALL sent with the Good News. And as a wonderful speaker at our Women's Conference recently spoke on - where we are, is where we have been sent. And where sin is, is where a Christian must be. Sin is everywhere -- in our relationships, our politics, our education, our holidays - our entire life and our world, is full of sin and brokenness. We are not called to ignore any aspect of this. And we are certainly not called to judge or shun others as if we are better than them.
As Christians - we have a responsibility that will make our lives SO Much Harder and More Difficult than others. That means putting ourselves in uncomfortable positions and constantly hitting the wall with exhaustion before remembering to ask God for His Own Strength. It's going to be rough and totally blow at times, but that's not the point. We have Joy in His Purpose. We have Hope in Him. and the Big Picture is that we are here as His Broken Tools to fix a Broken World. And things like Halloween? This should be one of the most enjoyable ministries by far.
It doesn't take much to reach out to a community as my childhood church once did. Parents often don't have a neighborhood to take their children trick or treating, or not a safe one at least. It would not be hard to open up a venue and reach so many on this holiday. And for all the reasons many have for not wanting to support such a holiday - remember that there is NOTHING that God can not turn to Him. This is primarily how He works: untwisting what Humans twist, mending the broken and destroyed, making the impossible - possible. He is a God of Miracles. We must not ever forget that.
Just because we cannot imagine something - does not mean God has not already begun to implement that which is beyond our wildest dreams. Maybe at one point Halloween was about witchcraft or evil, only good for mischief or an opening for the paranormal. But for so many - that's not what it is at all. And it's not simply about candy or dressing up either. It's about more. It's full of excitement and anticipation, laughter and love, fellowship, community and family. And I'm not surprised. God is at work in this holiday, as He is in Everything.
And that is my unpopular opinion.
