Holiday. Halloween is a controversial holiday. Some reject it because of the references to witches, devils and other evils. Some celebrate fantasy with princess or Superman costumes. Some go door to door trick or treating despite the danger of taking candy from strangers. Some hold trunk or treat events where all of the candy is from friends.
Very, very, few people know and even fewer celebrate the original reason for All Saints Day. The holiday was intended to be a time to remember those who have died.
In 1975 I was teaching at Illinois State University in Normal Illinois. Jeny and I purchased the original farm house in Normal. A three-story structure built in 1857. The foundation was fieldstone. The beams were heart of pine, aged to be as tough as steel. The address was on Main Street. Thus, I have the distinction of being a psychologist who lived on Main Street in a town called Normal.
We invited students to live with us and opened the home weekly for a fellowship activity. One of the students who lived with us died on Friday. Tom Oyan lost a very tough battle with cancer. His road was long and painful, but his faith never wavered. Please remember his wife and twin sons in your prayers.
Tom and I had a special relationship. The development of that relationship is a testament to the healing power of relationships through faith. Ours was a story of a redeemed relationship. I am very grateful and the healing makes celebrating his life special to me.
Halloween 1969. My favorite Halloween story is a story about my failure as a teacher and my success as a learner. I may have shared it before but it is worth retelling.
In order to afford graduate school at The University of Iowa, Jeny taught high school and I worked at the Menninger Clinic for a year after graduating from Washburn University. We saved our money and purchased a 10 by 55 single-wide, mobile home. The back room was the bedroom for Jeny and I. We had an extra-long single-bed for me and a regular bed for Jeny. Side by side they filled the room.
The next room was a very small bathroom. Then a small room with bunk beds for Dawn and Scott. Then another small room with a crib for Shane and storage. Then a space for living and the kitchen area. When Jeny washed clothes, she hung them on ropes in the hallway. Sometimes I had to crawl to our bedroom.
Jeny was a saint at managing the budget, the food, the children, baby sitting and tutoring.
The trailer park had an abundance of graduate students and their families. Halloween was a special time. The children always got lots of candy. This particular year the boys ate their candy very quickly. Dawn on the other hand hoarded hers and would not share with the boys when they ran out.
She was right , the boys had theirs and they should not have eaten it so quickly. However, I thought I might teach her a lesson about sharing. I took her hoard and left one piece. That evening I asked her if I could have a piece of her candy.
She went to her room, pulled out her box from under her bed. She came to me with tears in her eyes. Daddy there is only one piece left but here it is. I have pride about the goodness of all three of our children. That was a very special moment that showed Dawn’s good heart at a very early age.
In some ways I am ashamed I tricked her, but it gives me a warm memory that still moistens my eyes. It gives me pleasure to celebrate her life and her love for her daddy on All Saints day.
We lost several dear friends and a sister-in-law this year. I welcome a holiday to remember friends and family who have died this year as well as those who have gone before.
Happy All Saints Day
This and That
More Planks and Sawdust:
Trump has frequently called Harris a Marxist and a fascist. One example of many was October 2:
Trump calls Harris a Marxist, a communist, even a fascist. Why his wild punches don’t land
On October 12 he called her retarded:
Trump Calls Kamala Harris ‘Retarded’ During a Donor Dinner: Report
No Republican that I could find called out his rhetoric.
In response to a question about John Kelly calling Trump a fascist, Harris said she agreed with Kelly.
In response Mitch McConnell and Speaker Johnson chose to tell Harris to tone down the rhetoric.
I would like to see both sides get away from name calling. I do not like deplorables and garbage any better than fascist and retarded. But I believe calling out the other side for the same behavior perpetuated by your side is a clear example of ignoring the planks in your own eye and flicking sawdust from other’s eyes.
My Concern:
I do not often quote the Bible in this blog, but an idea is heavy on my mind. I think we need to do what we can to take it to heart:
Mark 3:25 “And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.”
Matthew 12:25 “Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.'”
Russia, China, Iran and other enemies understand division is their means to our downfall. In my opinion the only way to make America great is to be united and put God first.
Good News
Courage
‘Leave Her Alone!’: Brave Teen Saves Girl From Kidnapping Attempt
Star Power
Heart-warming
Beloved McDonald’s Employee With Down Syndrome Retires After 25 Years Of Service
No blog next week. Jeny and I are flying to Wichita and then driving to Kansas City for a niece’s wedding. Then back to Wichita to see the daughter and grandson of Jeny’s sister-in-law who died two weeks ago. Then we are driving to Edmund, OK to see my first cousin and her mother—the 95-year-old matriarch of our family. As a consequence, there will be no blog next week.
The Good Lord willing and the creek don’t rise, I will be back after the election.
Please vote!
Peace
Jerry
0 Comments