Tonight is Halloween, a spooky evening of dress-up and candy. Personally I never cared much for the costume part, but I’m all in on the candy. Now that my kids are grown I don’t have any bags to raid, so I just buy my own and pretend to pass it out. I’ve been eating Mounds bars all week.

Our neighborhood sprouts more and more yard decorations every year. Bones litter the ground and skeletons beckon children to front doors. Most folks fail to look beyond the fun to the reality lying scattered across their lawn. We’ll all eventually end up mouldering in the dirt. While tempting, I won’t become the crusty old man telling the children of that truth tonight.

It’s easy to miss deeper realities in the swirl of a fun evening. In the same way, it’s easy for me to ignore deeper realities by keeping my life busy. I allow distractions to pull my mind to the immediate, to the candy I enjoy and crave, and rarely get around to pondering the eternal.

Jesus said, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

John contrasted light and dark throughout his gospel. Nicodemus first came to Jesus at night, and much later came out as a committed follower in the light of day. Jesus shines a light into the gloomiest of souls.

So it’s good for me to remember the realities behind a night of costumes and candy. Jesus remains my light in the midst of revelry and distractions. Jesus stands as the Lord of Halloween because Jesus stands as the Lord of Life.

In the darkness—especially in the darkness—keep the faith. Follow Jesus. Let the Light of the World give you life, even as you dodge glowing skeletons to get a hand into that pot of candy.

John 8 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by David Menidrey