So I have done my Halloween rants in the past, and I don't care to revisit them. Everyone has an opinion on Halloween, some love it, some hate it. Personally I have come to accept it's just apart of our culture to celebrate this day, and most people really don't look to the meaning behind it. Is that a bad thing? Well, I don't know. I just prefer the ugly faces to not be in front of my kids, where nightmares will surely visit later.
So on to All Saints....something did strike me at a Party Store to find accessories for my four miniature saints. We have this year: Saint Queen Katherine of Hungary, Blessed Mary Kiota, Saint Martin of Tours and lastly Blessed Kateri. My little Babe will participate as a NASA astronaut, as I am sure one of those men became a Saint at some point. (Hey, we are making it work using a costume from Grandma).
I walked around this party store up and down aisles to find the exact pieces I wanted for my saints, and low and behold, I found most of the items I needed, and made my way to the front to wait along side other parents with their young ones picking out vampire teeth, capes, fake blood and all the gore. I honestly felt strange for the first time picking out a Roman soldier's helmet, sword, Indian costume and queenly accessories. It was a paradox standing there, me with my 'saintly' items, to honor those who have gone before us, as martyrs, Christians, monks and royalty, all willing to live and die by the Faith.
And then I look in front of me, and I look behind me.
The other shoppers were indeed looking for those ghoulish items to honor something quite different. Now I am not ranting about this holiday. I said I wouldn't. I just noticed the difference in shopping bags and the strange feeling I suddenly found myself in while waiting to be cashed out.
This is indeed the life, we Christians are called to. The decisions we make will often go against the grain of society. We could be standing anywhere, and have this be the case, living a tad differently, putting priority on something that others wouldn't themselves do. It isn't easy to go against the norm, I wouldn't choose it ordinarily. However, how many times, we as Christians must do this exact thing so as to live as authentically as we can, living who we say we are.
This morning, at a Mom's meeting at the school, we were discussing how our children have evangelized us as their parents more times than we can count. Someone mentioned, "Well, you are good Moms", as if that was the answer. A few women, spoke up, and admitted, they hadn't taught their children this good thing or that instinct to pray, but that the school had this influence on the children, and that the it's the children, via the school, that are planting seeds in the parents. It was beautiful, as it all sounded just like what a Catholic school should be doing. Someone else in the group mentioned how not enough people understand why we choose to send our kids to Catholic school considering the price tag.
I spoke up then, and said how important it is that we parents tell others these types of stories, because this is the 'why' we work to make those tuition payments, why we sacrifice the big vacations, why the cars are modest and why we insist this is the choice for us.
The fact of the matter is that sometimes, as Christians we find ourselves prioritizing differently than others around us. I find that dressing up as a Saint and having to learn the story of that saint, that heroic virtue, their dedication to God and perseverance alone inspires me. And as a mother, I need inspiration to keep fighting that good fight. How many others need that same inspiration, that our children can give as they grow?
So when I came home over the weekend, after standing in line for an hour at three different stores, fighting traffic, the rain, the crowds and ghoulish bloodied corpses all around me.....I was a bit cranky. I told my HH, never again. Next year, it's his turn.
This morning, after meeting with the Moms, I realized something, as much as I can't stand the shopping to dress up my crew....what I do love is seeing my kids know the stories of the saints. And it does take work on my part to get them ready. It does take work to teach them the story of their saint. It does force me to learn something new as well. It plants a seed in me too, that we are all called to be saints, that if we live this life emulating those who have passed on into the Kingdom, we have that much better of a chance to get there ourselves.
This life is a journey full of choices. Whether it's Halloween or not, isn't truly the issue. What's most important is the way we live our lives, making choices that reflect our beliefs. Will they truly know we are Christians by our Love, by our Love? (great song btw). Now, don't get me wrong, I am certainly not insinuating that anyone celebrating Halloween is somehow an unfit Christian. I simply challenge us all to be unafraid. And this holiday, seems to me, to be about fear and death. I challenge us to be unafraid living a tad differently, as Saints passed have proven that, this tad bit of difference can be all that God is really asking of us....to be authentic Christians, to be witnesses, to live, perhaps a "Little Way," like St. Therese, or heroically like Blessed Kateri. They choose a different path than those in front and those behind them.
Just food for thought. Enjoy this day, the day before we honor the Saints in heaven....
this All Hallows Eve.
Comments