Fearful or Fun

With this dress-up day in full swing, the question for many years has been, "What do Christ-followers do with all of this?"  Well, the answer, in my opinion, can be found in what we do with anything that is manufactured by the world, for the world: do our best to be a witness of God's light and love among it.  We can get caught up just like anything else...in the recreation of the event...and miss a moment to be missional.  And, in getting caught up, we can dive into the "fearful" plays of make-believe.  What I mean is that the "zombie" thing might be a sign that we're a little too involved...and, are overlooking an opportunity to be the blessing we were intended to be (smiley face).  We can also lock our doors in fearful or righteous opposition, offering our hostile teachings of what every symbol means with the devilish roots.  The celebrations of Halloween will continue...  So, being sucked in nor shutting it out entirely is the answer.  Rather, the balance is where the impact for Christ has the most potential.  Here are some suggestions on how to turn a darkened evening into a bright experience:

(1)  Offer lots of encouraging words.

(2)  Throw in a hope-filled message about Christ with the candy.

(3)  Choose a genuine smile over a scary expression.

(4)  Turn on some lights, really!  Light up your corner of the street. 

Whether you dress up or not, let the kids have fun...even your kids.  Choose an alternative, if need be.  But make sure you find ways to be less fearful about today and more fun.

How can you turn a "dark holiday" into an opportunity to be a blessing?