November 2, 2018

I’m so glad it’s November.  I mean, October is a lovely month with the introduction of cooler weather and pumpkin spice everything, but it also comes with an unfortunate holiday.

Why yes, I’m talking about Halloween.  By no means am I a Halloween Scrooge – denying candy from adorably dressed littles.  I also know there is a morbid spiritual history behind the holiday and I don’t care to get into that argument.

The fact is – I don’t like to be scared.  I don’t like the jumping out part.  I don’t like the grotesque costumes or the focus on darkness.  And I really don’t like the focus on death, dying, and the dead (and half dead).

I’ve spent the last several years of my life trying to stay alive.  Why would I want to focus on physical death and all that it brings with it.  Skeletons and skulls.  Graves and tombstones.  Blood and gore.

Since I was a child and made the decision to follow Christ, I’ve learned to turn from darkness.  The darkness has nothing to offer me.  Death has nothing to offer me.

I want life.  I want light.  I want to celebrate a spiritual relationship that encourages me to love and serve others.

So, please excuse me as I step off of my soap box while nibbling on a Snickers bar I stole from my grandson’s plastic pumpkin.  It’s November and I have a cornucopia to fill and a large menu to plan.

Lord, you are the light of the world.  In you there is no darkness.  Your light dispels darkness and exposes things we thought were hidden.  Help me, Lord, to remain in your light.  The darkness holds nothing for me.