Happy Reformation Day

Harvest, The End of Summer, The Beginning of Winter, Commemorating the Saints, Remembering the Reformation; and, Oh yes, Dressing up, and Trick-or-Treating - Wow, we've got a lot to celebrate this weekend.

I saw a t-shirt in the store yesterday.  It read, "I don't do tricks, just give me the candy."  Straightforward.  I like it.  I also believe that it symbolizes many American attitudes toward holidays.  We may not say it, but our attitudes and actions say, "Don't bother me with the substance of what we are commemorating, just give me the hype."

How much do you know about the origins of All Hallow's Eve (Halloween)?  How much do you remember about the origins of Thanksgiving?  Something about Plymouth Rock and Pilgrims, maybe.  I know you know why we celebrate Christmas.  But how much do you know about the traditions and meanings surrounding it?  There is so much meaning that we miss.  We skip the meat and go straight to dessert, or candy in this instance.

It would be really easy here to bash commercialism.  But I don't blame merchants for trying to make money.  I like the hype as much as anyone.  But maybe we should slow down a little, and think about what exactly we are commemorating as the "holiday season" begins.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reformation_Day

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Saints

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween

pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints 
Ephesians 1:18

For all the saints who from their labors rest
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed
Thy name O Jesus be forever blest
Alleluia Alleluia
William W. How