Although Halloween is safely behind us
for another year, I find myself still intrigued by the amount of coverage this
event accrued on my social network news feed.
It happens every year. There are lengthy diatribes on why folks do not
participate and lists of comments from individuals either assenting or
dissenting. The participants and
non-participants lob pithy, condescending remarks at one another in an effort
to prove their point. No one earns a
concession. And I'm more than happy to leave that decision between
you and God. The barrage of coverage does, however, cause a lot of wondering on my part.
Personally,
I have no strong feeling one way or another concerning Halloween. I think it is a silly, commercialized
event that sparks a lot of conflict, but serves no real purpose on the calendar. Any day can be deemed Christian or pagan, followers
of any belief system can and do perform rituals or hold services whenever they
want, children like to play dress up all through the year, and I find that I
actually buy more individually wrapped candies throughout the year than I buy
on Halloween. Thus, I wonder
why Halloween gets so much attention when holidays with much more value are
coming up and will receive less or less appropriate coverage.
Thanksgiving
is currently less than a month away.
Many are already planning their feasts, football games, and family
time. My news feed will then be full of
photos depicting families, tables overflowing with food, and complaints of
having eaten too much. Some will express
their gratitude for God, possessions, and family. Then they will go on about their food, fun,
and fellowship without a thought that there are two parts to the word “Thanksgiving”…thanks
and giving. I wonder if I’ll see any
diatribes on giving to the needy during the month of November. I wonder if, after reading Psalm 100, anyone
will read I John 3:17 where it says that the love of God is not in that person
who has this world’s goods yet turns a blind eye to someone in need. I wonder.
Christmas
is less than two months away. In truth,
there is not a worse holiday for commercialism and material gluttony. Those who
eschew Halloween often make up for it at Christmas. Beautifully decorated Christmas trees are hidden by
mounds of brightly wrapped packages loudly demonstrating extravagant
excess. I wonder if, when Luke 2 has
been read (if it is at all) and the children are ready to dive into the gifts, someone
will pause to remind them of the words of Jesus saying, “It is more blessed to
give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35 KJV)
I wonder.
Lest
you think that I am hypocritically throwing around opinions, blame or self
appreciation, let me clear things up. I
know what it is to truly need. I have experienced the anxiety that comes with
legitimately wondering if there will be enough money to get through the
month. I have had to rely on the charity
of others. God has never failed me. He has always provided. In return, we give back. Every year at this time, we do a family
project where we buy and donate food to a charity or food bank, or buy items to
make blessing bags for the homeless. We donate to food drives as often as
possible and this year we donated jackets to my daughter’s school for children
who didn’t have them. Sometimes it isn’t
financially convenient to make these donations.
We do it anyway. And God keeps
providing.
I said all that, not to toot my own horn, but to say this…Don’t let Halloween
be the most discussed holiday this year.
Don’t forget the “giving” part of Thanksgiving. Don’t make people go hungry because you had
to have a pile of “wants” under your Christmas tree. If you have never experienced need, learn the
difference between “want” and “need”. Remember,
that somewhere in your town, children are not eating turkey on Thanksgiving or
opening piles of presents on Christmas.
As you pose for your Christmas photo, remember that there is a little
girl a few blocks over that doesn’t have a Christmas dress, but is wearing too
big jeans and a ratty shirt. Acknowledge
in your heart that a little boy somewhere is playing with sticks because he
doesn’t have real toys. These aren’t
scenes from the past. They are
real. They are true. They are happening near you. I wonder if you've noticed.
I wonder if you realize that you can help. If every
Christian would donate a couple bags of food, a turkey, a coat, a dress, a pair
of shoes, a toy, or a book, we could alleviate some of the need. If every Christian would follow I John 3:8
and “…not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth,” (KJV) Thanksgiving
and Christmas would be the most talked about holidays of the year. If every Christian would only remember that
to whom much is given, much will most assuredly be required…(Luke 12:48)…I
wonder what would happen.
