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There is a sacredness to Halloween (known in the church as All Hallows' Eve) that can be lost among the spookiness and scariness of its celebration. I always liked Halloween as a kid. If you asked me then, I would have told you the *free candy* was the best part of Halloween (obviously!), but looking back with an adult's eye, I see something else.

I loved interacting with our neighbors who "oooed" and "ahhhed" over costumes. I loved bumping into friends from down the street or the neighborhood on the other side of the park. I loved the sense of freedom in leaving my parents at the sidewalk while walking up to a neighbor's door alone. I loved the fresh air and the pumping of muscles as we walked, waving to strangers and friends.

I loved that our Arabic neighbors, who were never outside and couldn't speak English, participated. I loved that I knew that the guy who worked for Pepsi gave out cans of pop and the guy who worked for Frito Lay gave out big bags of chips. I loved counting candy afterwards and trading with my friends. I loved staying up later as teenagers came to the door after dark. 

No, it wasn't really the candy—it was the community.

The candy made it all the sweeter, but it was the community that gave the holiday its own kind of sacredness.

And, it's still true. When else do neighbors interact on a large scale like they do on Halloween? When else do we greet our neighbors of every persuasion and belief with the same warmth? When else is candy/neighborly love/grace extended not only to every beautiful princess and muscley superhero, but to every monster and ghoul too without exception? When else is everyone invited and everyone included?

Becoming a pastor has a way of inviting you to see everything through a lens of "what will preach."

Perhaps against expectations, Halloween preaches. In so many ways it is an expression of God's kingdom, from the feasting on goodies to the welcoming (even loving) of the masked and monstrous parts of ourselves and neighbors. 

I wish you Halloween blessings—blessings of candy and fun, of community and kingdom.

Trick or Treat in the blessing of God, welcomer of all, community weaver, and giver of all good things. May you find yourself on unexpected holy ground.

PS: I have been thinking about the sacredness of Halloween for a long time now. An article on the theology of Halloween came through my inbox and inspired me to share. You can read that article for another perspective :)