As much fun as costuming up has been, we finally have a general concensus to exempt Halloween from future family celebrations. (It'd be great to incorporate dressing up into another holiday, though.) I grow more and more leary of Halloween's sinister meanings as the years pass. I'm sitting here watching History Channel's "Cities of the Underworld" now as Miranda taxis her brothers and sisters around tonight. Druids and their costums are nothing to laugh about. You say we've cleaned up the act, that it's all in fun. I say closing our eyes to history is naive. The Bible reprimands the calling of spirits from the dead and the crafting of witches. Does your hoaxing of these things not make your position treacherous? There are principalities with whom we are hardly able to reckon.
You see that I didn't condemn it all and demand that the children forego Halloween (known as Samhain in yesteryear). I asked them to consider it themselves. We watched another informative video. There was no evidence that a celebration of this kind holds any value. It's revealed to me just now that the only "death" holiday that should be reverenced is that of Christ, a true bloody sacrifice so that we don't have to suffer the same destiny.
Besides, is All Hallow's Eve not really one for adults anyway? ...in its originations and even today as I've characterized as "whore and gore". I'm hearing that this occasion's candy sales are topping Valentine's Day's and that decorations sales are topping Christmas's. Why? Ask yourself.
Don't think I've left the other holidays without inspection. The Easter Bunny tradition is a slap in the face to the crucifixion of our Saviour. It's foundations represent the goddess of fertility. Furthermore, lying to our children about the existence of pretend creatures and their abilities is setting up a doubtful mindset of what the real unseen is. When we tell them of the Holy Spirit, then why would they give it much gravity if the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus have proved to be fallacies and WE parents have portrayed them as realities. What fun is there in tricking our children? There is no "magic" in cartoonish characters bringing presents. BUT, there IS "sweetness" in finding gifts from family members who gave much thought, and often much sacrifice, to show their love.
Lying to children is never okay. We're all given the discernment to know when to divulge details at what ages, but not telling them about our marriages, our finances, our pasts, our concerns, ...about sex, about politics, about sickness is doing their maturity and stability a disservice. They can handle it; what they can't handle is it being suddenly thrust on them ...and expected to absorb and deal with it, while carrying on a regular schedule nonetheless. Come on - WE couldn't even do that. The one thing I'll add is that you shouldn't go against your spouse on anything I've written here. Agreement is paramount. God will hear your concern and work on your behalf, maybe not on your timetable though. Years ago, Mike wouldn't hear of the ways I challenged tradition. Now, he insists we do ...but not from any amount of nagging. God alone has dealt with him.
Prayer covers a multitude of things we'll probably never understand. Before the children left, I thought of having a family prayer, which usually involves a request to the Holy Spirit to guide us in the will of God, but I found it very difficult to utter those words as the kids headed out to partake in this evening. DO NOT get me wrong; OF COURSE, I prayed and am praying for their safe return. You say your own prayer next time you or the kids are readying for this sort of activity and see what kind of taste you get in your mouth. That "taste" is not any better for me just because the little ones are "trunk or treating" at a church somewhere. If anything, my peace is further from me concerning the church's involvement. There is plenty of good to celebrate without deception and "repackaging" darkness.
I almost forgot! I have a postscript: Do you know anyone who practices WICCA, "good" witchcraft? I do. Do you really want to open up that can of worms for your children honoring nights like this one? If there is to be an occasion tonight, why do believers not congregate to explore its history so it doesn't repeat itself. What would happen if we prayed down evil from its pedestal?! Or do you not understand its real and powerful foothold? Look around; from where do you think the current distresses of this country arise?
If you still haven't bought in, tell me this: Where does the theory of covering rottenness with niceties hold together in this life we're living? An ill-tempered child dressed prettily is still rotten. A bad policy smothered with incentives is still rotten. An abuse patted down with make-up is still rotten. You finish the list and please, do tell where the repackaging of a nasty thing blossoms into something beautiful. You say, "Ahh, lighten up; I did it as a child and I'm all right." Open your eyes; it's not all about us and this is not our elementary world. You're raising your child well? Well, then teach them how to discern good from bad. Or would that ruin your fun? Maybe there's more "fun" in the fearless; ones who don't give stage to the frightfulness of demonic practices and prescences.
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