Ahhh, welcome to October - the season changing trees, colder breeze (weather!)…and the beginning of what many recognize as the Halloween season.  

As we search for longer sleeves and warmer jackets, the hunt is also on for costumes! While history shares details of death and perceived demonic influences in the holiday’s humble harvest beginnings, culture (and capitalism) welcome this opportunity to embrace the peripheral highlights of this occasion: being someone else.

In a world that punishes people for where they live, who they worship, and how they look, it makes sense that children and adults alike might be entranced by the invitation to don a different face. Our “greener grass” imagination typically dreams of another persona or identity who we assume has some liberty that we don’t - such as fame, fortune, worldly beauty, and acceptance. According to our Westernized culture, these criteria are vital for success. And so when the opportunity presents itself, for even one day, many happily participate.

Thus, as Christians, we find ourselves caught between the tension of being in the world and not of it. Stuck, we wrestle with questions such as: How do we reconcile that God tells us we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14) when the world tells us otherwise? And, how do compassionate Christian leaders respond to this worldly temptation to be someone we are not?

If discussions could be facilitated to explore media messages about acceptance and its rippling affect on our self-esteem, it begs to wonder what kind of feedback might come forth to help shape the way we navigate this occasion.

Truly, while we often cannot control the world’s desire for better, we do have authority to decide the ways in which we navigate. Participating in Halloween doesn’t have to signify whether one is Christian or not. We can teach our young - and older - people how to journey through the tension of the “here and not yet” by equipping them with critical tools to walk the line. We can offer more options than the standard binary of “in or out” by highlighting the value and normalcy of the intersection, where values (and fun!) aren’t compromised.

Perhaps a viable intersection could include encouraging participants to spend some time reflecting on a God-given gift or quality within themselves for which they are grateful. In other words: What do they like about themselves? Then, in selecting their costume for the season, encourage them to consider a person (or action figure!) who possesses the same quality.

Who would they choose to become, and why? What about that persona feels similar to how they feel about themselves? How are you both alike? What seems different? Where did that message come from? Finally, what does Jesus have to say about how he feels about each/all of us?

Using this helpful framework, students will come to realize that there is not much distance between those whom we admire, and what we admire in ourselves. There is beauty and richness in all of us!

I’m excited to hear what you come up with this season - I’m sure it will be a holy blast!

Happy and Blessed Halloween!

Halloween Titles from Beaming Books