Redeeming Halloween – A Celebration Over Fear

Fear in America looks a bit different than fear over here. I think as Americans we tend to use euphemisms in order to mask our fear. In the same way we prefer to admit to “innocent” white lies as opposed to lies, we prefer to use “nervous, anxious or worried” to describe ourselves as opposed to fearful. But just as white lies are still lies, anxiety is still fear.

Why do we do this? I think it is because as Americans we feel that we have all we need to pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps. We have ample resources and ways to get what we need as long as we have the right information. And so the pressure is on us (especially mothers) to figure out what that right information is, what do we need, which doctor is best, which medication or essential oil will work and just about any and every other decision that plagues our day. And so we are filled with a fear (which we call stress or anxiety) because we do not trust in the Father who promises to take care of us. With the pressure of being responsible to take care of ourselves we fear when reality hits… that “no, in fact, we cannot take care of ourselves and loved ones in every way we try.”

Fear looks different in this part of the world. While Americans have a false sense of complete control over their lives, locals here have a false sense of complete incapability. There is so much that you can’t control here and it shows in our every day lives. I have no idea if I’ll have water running through my pipes tomorrow morning and there is nothing I can do to make sure I do. We keep candles and flashlights ready for power-outages that have no guarantee on when it actually comes back on. And as many locks we put on Josh’s bike we know that at some point it will be stolen. Therefore, we are reminded constantly of our lack of control in life. For those who don’t know the True God, fear can easily take hold, and for those who do know the True God, fear is a constant battle to overcome.

This was the basis for our Halloween celebration. I know that there are a million opinions about this holiday and about introducing locals to such culturally based traditions but I could not pass up the opportunity to share with our friends that we can overcome fear. As I was talking to the Father about what to do with this holiday, I felt a question arise in my heart. “Why do we have celebrations, more importantly why were the Israelites commanded to have celebrations?” —-To remember what God had done.

One of the reasons so many dislike this holiday, including myself, is how it seems to currently be a celebration of all that is evil. There are some terrible things that go on and as much as the church has offered alternatives it still seems to be tainted. I asked myself why the holiday gives me the heebie-jeebies and I realized it is because for one day it is like all your fears come to light. All the mysterious and unknowns are thrown out there in costume and haunted houses. And I, one of weak faith, am reminded of my fear.. I am reminded of my lack of faith.

And so, with this reminder I was led to the verse where JC was explaining how his followers would be scattered and afraid “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). And I thought, now THAT is worthy of celebration. Because of the love of God, shown through JC, I don’t have to fear death, I don’t have to fear that my good works outweigh my bad, I don’t have to fear the unknown. Because of the love of God, I don’t have to fear sickness or worry over finding the right information. Because of the love of God, I don’t have to fear nightmares or evil spirits. Because of the love of God, I don’t have to fear random acts of violence. Because of the love of God, I don’t have to fear.

What an amazing thing to celebrate! How important this is to teach my son! To have a whole day where we talk about what scares us (right now for Jaden it is astronauts, a completely dark room and a popping balloon) and celebrate that we don’t have to be afraid because we serve a God who loves us and promises to protect, provide, and show mercy and grace. How wonderful it is to have a day to point to and say, “Remember what God has done, He takes away our fear.”

That was our celebration this year for Halloween. We invited our neighbors and were so excited to host 10 kids and their moms. We explained how OUR family celebrates Halloween and why it is different than what they might see in the movies. We started off with a piñata which everyone thoroughly enjoyed and then headed up to our apartment (yep all of us in our little apartment!). I had baked 3 mini loaves of banana bread, 7 loaves of pumpkin bread, 3 dozen cookies, and then had naan, fruit and nuts. We played games that represented different fears that we need not have. One was a spiderweb maze where we mentioned that we do not need to fear sickness. Another was a monster bean bag toss where we do not need to fear bad dreams. And the mummy wrap game explaining that we do not need to fear death. We then added pumpkin bowling and trick or treating (to each door in our apartment) just for fun.

I don’t know that our message was heard in detail but I am encouraged to know that our local friends know that we serve a God that takes away our fear. We, as C’s, do not have to be afraid and because that is an amazing gift… we have an entire holiday to celebrate it.