BO-O-O! BIG TIME!
All the statistics support the fact that Halloween is big business! Estimates are that we will spend millions on costumes, decorations, and candy. That's a lot of pumpkins! They say that Halloween is now second only to Christmas in the amount Americans spend on decorations. I am not sure what to make of that. I guess we are all still kids at heart and adults love an excuse to dress up and have fun. Or maybe in the midst of a miserable economy we just need a really good distraction. So here are a couple Halloween Day thoughts.
First, I am not worried about Halloween and Harry Potter leading our kids into witchcraft or some such silliness. Kids and adults know the difference between fantasy and reality and we all know this is just for fun. When people challenge Rev. Faith Fowler about Cass UMC turning itself into the scariest haunted house in Detroit, she always says, "If you are 10 year old in the city of Detroit, you want to know what's really scary? It's homelessness. And if we can use a haunted house to raise money for homeless kids we are going to do it."
Second, in the church Halloween is only a prelude to a much bigger and better day, All Saints Day on Nov. 1. One of the oldest holy days of the church is now a time to remember those who have died in faith and to celebrate Christ's victory over every demon and every evil, even death itself. On Sunday we will do just that.
Third, Halloween might be just for fun, but evil is real, pervasive and ever present. However, evil is much more subtle than Darth Vader or Voldemort. It doesn't show up with devil's horns and pitch forks. It doesn't parade in gaudy costumes. Evil can be found in the violence of our world, the destruction of poverty, the haunting of hunger and the ghoulishness of greed. Evil makes itself known in those things that break community and undermine the goal of the common good. And those evils really are scary.
So go out and have a good time tonight. Greet your neighbors, since this might be the only time all year you speak to them. Give out candy and smiles and enjoy the moment. Then tomorrow, remember the saints, those who fought the good fight and join them in the battle with authentic evil in our world today.
Next weekend is also our annual composer festival. Come Saturday night at 7:00pm for a mass choir concert with our guest composer. Details are on the website www.fumcbirmingham.org.
|
