We’re a week or so away from Halloween. I know it’ll be a different Halloween, with whatever happening being very limited due to COVID-19. I’m sure we’ll still have some trick-or-treaters at our house. We’ll leave the candy in little bags on the porch rather than personally give them out this year. I’ll miss having our Trunk-or-Treat, too, but it was difficult for me to envision having hundreds of kids here at one time and doing it responsibly this year. I love seeing all the kids in costumes. I love decorating our car for Trunk-or-Treat and wearing costumes, too. One year on Halloween I went out to eat with friends after giving out candy, and the Grim Reaper came into the bathroom. I thought, “This is what’s so great about this day—the Grim Reaper is in the bathroom and it’s no big deal!”
If you could become someone else for a day, who would it be? Would it be a race-car driver or a movie-star? Maybe a world-leader or someone from another time? In a way, we do it all the time. It’s tempting to wear a disguise. We’re often tempted to be someone we’re not, projecting a face to the world that isn’t our true self. I heard a story from a pastor, who was asked if he liked ministry. He replied that he enjoyed preaching, and teaching, and other things in it. The follow-up question was, “That’s not what I asked. I asked if you liked being a minister.” He honestly replied, “Well, not really.” The man wisely said, “That’s because God called you to ministry. You’re trying to be someone else, acting a role. God called you to be yourself.”
I believe the greatest gift we can give to the world is our true selves. To be honestly the person God created you and me to be—that is the best gift we can give. So who are you really, and what disguise have you been wearing to cover that up? Halloween will soon be over; maybe we can put those disguises aside.
Grace & peace,
Jason Jones
