Scares and Saints

Hallowe’en is nearly here and for many it is a much-loved ‘holiday’. The amount spent on decorations and costumes and candy has become enormous. For others, it is almost an annoyance, and for others still it’s seen as a wooing to destruction and even hell.

I have to admit that it isn’t my favourite holiday and I won’t be getting dressed up, but I will be handing out treats in my neighbourhood to children coming to the door. We talked this past Sunday in church about loving our neighbours, and how Hallowe’en is a great time to meet neighbours, to go and see friends, and to make social connections in our communities. With so much to make us fearful these days in the news, just going and knocking on someone’s door and pulling them from their screens and anxious isolation can be a wonderful thing..

I’m saddened that what used to be a safe event participated in by almost everyone, where you actually knew your neighbours so going around the neighbourhood wasn’t scary but a celebration of established connections, is now much different for many of us. We tend to not know our neighbours well, we need to buy pre-packaged treats because homemade is suspect and likely to be tossed, and not many participate, perhaps because of anticipated greedy hands and disrespect and a lack of connection beyond just getting candy.

My hope for this year is that we will remember that a big part of this night is about community. In a world where the last week saw striking violence and hatred yet again, I pray that lighting jack o’lanterns will be a sign of hope in the darkness and that good-willed people who care about children and their safety and positive relationships with adults will see this night as a chance to overcome fear and suspicion. May we be reminded of the joy in doing things together and visiting each other.

My friend Laura Alary posted a wonderful article by Wendy Claire Barrie about how Hallowe’en is the start of three holy days in the church, including All Saints’ Day. Society may have turned this night into horror movies and scary scream fests but there is a deeper meaning there for us as Christians. The light of the positives about these days can overcome the darkness and seeming worship of death and gore.

We have a wonderful opportunity to meet and serve our neighbours who come knocking, to show care and compassion to children who may be struggling for any number of reasons. While they may want to dash on to the next place, encourage them to take a minute to breathe, to sense your care and hospitality, and to answer a question or two about their costume. Even in this ritual of trick or treating, we can be living examples of the grace and welcome and safety of Christ.

We are all called to spread God’s light and love, and Hallowe’en is an opportunity to do that if we take it. We stand, not alone and in fear but in the company of the saints. May the ones who come to us Wednesday night see that strength and the face of Christ in us.