Cheese Squares and October 31

On a recent evening I was looking for a late night snack and found a piece of American cheese in the refrigerator. I unwrapped the cheese and instinctively folded it into tiny squares before eating the slice. I literally laughed out loud when I realized what I had done. And then I wondered to myself, “What in the world am I doing?! Why did I fold the cheese into squares?!” My (silent) response to the internal questioning was:

“Absolutely! It’s the most fun way to eat cheese and it’s what I’ve always done.”

Habit.
Some habits are good.
Some habits are not so good.

On a day like Halloween I wonder how many of us fall into the habit of dividing days (or life) into the secular versus the spiritual? Often unintentional, this is easy to do.

However, whether labeled Reformation Day, All Hallow’s Eve, Halloween, or unlabeled …
… today is a holy day. 

See the frazzled saint standing before you shepherding and protecting children on a night of imagination, wonder, and chaos.

See the lonely saint opening their home in hospitality and greeting to neighborhood families.

See the saint hidden behind locked doors and closed blinds seeking peace and safety through seclusion.

See the saint creating a sense of value and worth through provocative costumes and behavior.

Allow this day and the holiday season it ushers to provoke reflection on the stories and faces of our neighbors and friends. Remember them and seek their well-being after these community nights of festivity have ended.

Christ transcends culture. Christ transcends holidays that evoke sadness and fear and causes segregation, both within and outside the church.

Step outside of cultural and religious habits.
See and experience the sacred on this holy day.