ONE MORE TIME

Holidays can be a wonderful time of the year for some. For others they are only reminders about inequity in their lives they would prefer to forget.

However, like any tradition, we do find ourselves each year participating in some way with the festive occasion of a given holiday. Some times that is a good thing, others perhaps not as much.

This year is the first year my wife and I will celebrate the holidays in our new house. Adding to the change is the presence of our first grandchild to our home.

So we face so many one more time moments with a new transition in our life. Right now, I'm sitting in our living room, composing with my grandson dosing in his baby swing. My son and the mother of his child are busy preparing to go out for Halloween.

Outside, our recently landscaped front yard is adorned by the addition of freshly carved pumpkins. Later, we hopefully will be visited by a few neighbor kids for the usual trick or treat affair.

All of this is a one more time affair with so many different issues and experiences. And as with all those who follow the faith, I am not unaware of the dark side to this holiday.

I could chose to abstain from participating, but in reality I don't see that as the right choice. For in the midst of the usual tradition, my mind can't help gravitate to the marvelous gift we have this year that I see as the Lord's blessing.

So that remains focused in my life. Participating in the festive spirit of the day is not about getting caught up worshipping demons and other such dark elements. It is about the freedom to say, in Christ I'm free.

And that for me means rejoicing over the Lord's grace that covers so many parts of life. It means being free to see him in everything even the things some Christians fear or condemn.

I refuse in this situation and play the hypocrite. By that I mean not passing out candy and trying to lecture people on the evils of the day.

In truth I know so many who are just captured by the allure of being silly and enjoying exercising their imagination. To that end, I seek not to beat people to death with the gospel, but respect their rights and then hopefully in a different time they will respect when the time is right to share the wisdom of God.

I seek in that sense to let my house be the Lord's domain. To see it with a rainbow of praise shining forth to give light rather than a dark cloud of hate that just wants to make people unhappy.

And hopefully along the way God is honored by the truth that is admitted in one's heart rather than the pious lies one wishes were true. I pray I never lose my joy of embracing the real meaning of God's love and grace.