Rethinking Halloween

Romans 15: 5-9
5 One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

Welcome to October. Its time to carve ghastly faces out of pumpkins, buy your obligatory sugar treats coated with even more sugar and watch preteen girls change themselves into something resembling more of a Gray’s Anatomy chart than a “French Maid”. The latter scenario involves an investigation of anyone wishing to dress up for October 31 festivities. The investigation requires no legal authorities, nor does it entail a review of Halloween’s origins. For anyone who knows a child this examination is crucial. It poses the ultimate question: Who or what influences a child (anyone under age 18) to choose their own costume?

A child is born. Said child grows older and by the time the child hears the phrases, “You’ll understand when you are older” and “You can do that when you grow up” a hundred times each they unrealistically determine that they are an adult. And we, unfortunately, as adults, dream of being children again. As babies our parents dressed us up in ridiculous outfits without needing Halloween as an excuse. How many family Easter and Christmas cards show exasperated tots in exaggerated bows, dresses adorned with yards of fluffy tulle and three-piece suits with a clip-on tie and penny loafers (currency included!)? Creatively costuming ourselves (and others) to be something we are not has always been a harmless tradition. Or has it?

We bring our children into stores which display dozens of aisles of intriguing uniforms without giving a thought to the power of our purchase. When your child approaches you with a mask sure to terrify Grandma out of her Depends do we scream, laugh and then place the item in the cart? What would happen if before you ventured out for that perfect costume you sat down and asked your children the following questions?

1. What do you want to dress up as for Halloween? Why?
2. Do you know what your friend’s costumes will be? If so, why do you think they chose it?

Asking those questions is not “interference”. It isn’t harmful, it protects our children. A fourteen year old girl should never wear revealing attire. According to the Bible, sex is for marriage alone and enticing another to “take notice” of something they legally and morally cannot have is beyond ludicrous. Minors do not have the “right” (no matter how much they argue) to dress provocatively. Boys, although having more militant objectives in their play, should not dress as though they have aspirations of becoming a serial killer.

When in doubt, ponder the following:
1. Does this costume choice allow others more comfort to engage in behavior/conversation in which I wouldn’t want my child to participate?
2. Does this costume reflect Biblical standards of modesty and purity?
3. Could I bring my child, in the costume they want, to church?

Romans 14: 8-9

For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

Romans chapter 14 does not give exception to holiday and particular calendar dates. The chapter encourages us to eat what we want in celebration of an event (e.g. turkey for Thanksgiving) and to pick the day we wish to honor any holiday. But while we live (every day), we live it to honor Christ. His death enabled us to be free from death. So should we honor him by dressing up as a fictional murderer (via Hockey mask), a devil or a witch? This Halloween, let’s purposely dress to impress our living God, not to impress those who wish to embody death, misery and sorcery.

Familiarity Lovers Anonymous

At the end of September, my husband completed the requirements for receiving his Master's degree -- yay! While waiting for the magical diploma to arrive in the mail he's also started looking for full-time work. He and I have discussed several times about preferred states to reside. We're currently in Arizona (in the same town as his parents), my family is in Minnesota and Wisconsin, his remaining family is in Georgia. So wouldn't it make sense to prefer living somewhere close to family and familiarity?

Last weekend I mentioned our situation to an acquaintance whose response shocked me: "Why are you limiting yourself to these places? In this economy you should go where the jobs are!"
Her answer reveals her past. Immediately after marrying a military man she and her husband moved from state to state, country to country. The couple had no knowledge of where they were to live next or for how long. She inquired, "Have you ever lived away from home?" My response was, "I have lived in unfamiliar places, places I didn't care for, but never outside of four hours from family." Abruptly, she replied, "That's pathetic".

Excuse me? Now, I have been known to argue for extensive amounts of time to prove a point and this conversation was no different, albeit the time allotted for me to debate. As politely as I could possibly muster, I explained that there is nothing wrong with preferring a certain location as long as preference doesn’t equal stubborn resolve.

Moving to urban Arizona from rural Minnesota last summer was one of the most thrilling but difficult decisions of my life. It is no surprise to anyone who knows me personally that my reaction to this momentous transition has mirrored a bad rollercoaster ride. I'm heading up, looking forward to the ride ahead. I reach the pinnacle, see the heights and opportunities all around, but almost as immediately as the thrill arrives I have the horrifying realization that this trip will be like nothing I ever expected. I feel like throwing up. My heart races as gravity yanks me down to earth and in that one-second drop it occurs to me that maybe a terrible mistake has been made. Why did I decide to try this? Who convinced me to get on this cursed contraption?

Ironically, while my body is lifted back up to the heavens, my stomach sinks. I faced crooked twists and turns; even a loop-de-loop. My knuckles lock up into a pale white death-grip around the flimsy "safety bar" and harness. However, at the end of the ride the passengers around me all seem fine. They joyfully laugh and squeal with delight at the adrenaline rush. Meanwhile, I long to feel solid, stationary earth beneath my feet.

And just as I exit the ride, my husband asks if I’d like to try a new coaster called “The Master’s Degree Move”. What’s specifically terrifying about this ride is that no one can see the final destination. Sure, everyone knows that passengers exit safely; a Bermuda Triangle this is not. But before we leave the amusement park and head back home we must try the ride. There is no way around it. He assures me that no previous coaster passenger has ever died on it and that it only lasts two minutes, max.

We get in line. Others waiting represent park customers who have tried and loved the “move”. Not surprisingly, a peppering of others have never attempted the ride and have never cared to. I glance at hubby who is not paying mind to the petrified. He, expecting the adventure of his life so far, cannot wait to sit in the uncomfortable, fragile plastic seating and soar over a warped steel track with nothing but a Heimlich maneuver bar protecting him from potential danger.

We reach the front of the line. The person immediately behind me notices my apprehension and asks if I’ve ever been on this ride before.

“No, though I’ve been on others many times", I say, "I've never really enjoyed it. I’m trying this one so my husband doesn’t go on it alone.”

Her response? “That’s pathetic.”