“There is a child in everyone of us who is still a trick-or-treater looking for a brightly-lit front porch.”

–Robert Brault

Since today’s Halloween, I couldn’t resist writing a post on this most hallowed of secular celebrations.

If “Scrooge” is the term for someone who doesn’t like Christmas, and that person’s response is, “Bah, Humbug,” what are the words for someone who doesn’t like Halloween? “Screech” and “Boo, Humbug?”

If so, full disclosure–I’m a Screech. After thirty-five years of handling post-Halloween tummy aches and nightmares, I’d had enough. In what world did it make sense to have skeletons, ghosts, tombstones, witches, and vampires hanging around in our yards or on our front porches, or risk having a child’s candy laced by some perverted stranger?

Don’t give up on me, you lovers of Halloween. Keep reading, please!

How did Halloween start? It originated as a Celtic, pagan celebration acknowledging the end-of-summer harvest. People donned costumes to ward off ghosts. I suppose they were exhausted and just not thinking straight!

In the 700s A.D., Pope Gregory III, affectionately known as Pope Trey, designated November 1 as what would become known as All Saints Day. The evening before was referred to as All Hallows Eve, later simplified to Halloween. So, oddly enough, the very secular Halloween and the very religious All Saints Day became inextricably linked. Weird, huh?

Okay, enough back story. Returning to my issues with Halloween, strange how a grandchild can change everything. A few years ago, at my granddaughter’s urging, I consented to host a trunk at our church’s Trunk or Treat. How could I resist a chance to do something with her, right? At Trunk or Treat, people decorate their car trunks, don silly costumes, and have baskets of candy for the church’s preschool children, alumni, and siblings. And make the rounds they do–over and over!

In other words, it’s adults acting like kids and kids acting like, well, kids. Turns out, it was tremendous fun!

And, to show you God has a providential sense of humor, I landed on the committee that oversees Trunk or Treat. We just held this year’s event the end of last week. It was a blast to see the joy on the faces of those costumed kids filling their pumpkins, baskets, or bags with candy. While some were shy and clung to their parents, others came at us with both hands!

More importantly, to set up an event that shows our children how much we care about them is, to tweak a phrase, very “low-hanging candy.” After all, believers are called to honor, look after, and even become as children. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth (and He always did!), unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 18:3 NIV).”

I guess that means Trunk or Treat is one way of answering Jesus’ call. And there you have it: My best attempt to imitate good ole Pope Trey and somehow tie Halloween and religion together!

Broadening this to life’s greater picture, sometimes we have to drop our preconceived notions and be open to change. Like they told Mikey, “Try it; you might like it.” Be forewarned, if you’re not careful, finding joy in something you previously doubted or even snickered at might just enrich your life.

Changing our opinion about something doesn’t mean we lack conviction or we’re easily influenced; rather, it suggests we’re using our brains and opening our lives to new adventures … even in a church parking lot.

Now, you might say going from how Trunk or Treat changed my view of Halloween to a wider concept of life experiences is a bit of a stretch.

But I would say for adults to put aside their grownup pretensions, even if it’s just for one night of the year, and act like a kid, all to bring joy to children, is magical.

Then, you might say that a bunch of adults dressing up in silly costumes, handing out candy to kids, and relishing their smiles and happiness is just plain goofy.

While you might be right, I say, “Boo, humbug!”

Anyway, have a happy and safe Halloween … and may the moon shine brightly on you, may your ghosts be friendly, and may all your skeletons remain in the closet!