Changing Things

Halloween for this year has come and gone, but I did want to share what we did. I don't like Halloween. No matter what the origins and no matter how cute the little kids are in their costumes, knowing all of the sinister things that go with it or that it has turned into, just really turns me off.

I don't like skeletons and ghosts and weird sounds and all of that.

Our pastor suggested that instead of turning our backs on Halloween, we should use the opportunity for good. He suggested that we get out into our front yards to give out the candy and get to know our neighbors and turn it into a time of fellowship.

So this year again, we did just that. I hauled our lawn chairs from the back yard into our driveway and set up a table with hot cider and hot coffee and baked a few batches of cookies. I put a bunch of candles on a rack (securely in glass containers so we wouldn't accidentally start a fire) to shed some light on the scene. We were blessed with a balmy evening but it would have worked in the cold as well....

The neighbors came and we had a great time with each other as well as all of the folks who came trick-or-treating.


Jesus replied, "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the other commands and all the demands of the Prophets are based on these two commandments."

Matthew 22:37,39-40