I
ALMOST COULDN’T BELIEVE IT WHEN I READ THE HEADLINE in a national newspaper
about Target’s new Halloween tree. A Halloween tree? Really? You’ve got to be kidding. Who sits around and thinks up
these things? (Evidently the National Tree Company marketing geniuses that make
and sell it.) But how could they take a tree—a symbol of life and growth—and
turn it into a tree of horror and death? Seems like an oxymoron to me.
If you think I’m getting too
melodramatic here, just read the description on Target’s website:
“This potted tree with its
tangle of stringy black branches will add a hint of horror to your Halloween
decorating scheme.”
A tree that adds a “hint of horror to your Halloween
decorating scheme.” Ooooh, doesn’t that sound lovely? Why do I want to add
horror to any decorating scheme?
Then they continue with a description that makes this
horror tree sound appealing.
“Branches are sprinkled with
sparkling glitter and strung with 25 battery operated warm white LED lights.
Includes 6 hours ON/18 hours OFF lights timer. Decorative urn base is weighed
for stable display. For indoor or covered outdoor use.”
ENTICING LANGUAGE
Catch the “warm” adjective? And a “decorative urn base?”
They’re trying to make it sound pretty. And it must have been convincing
because the 46-inch, $129.00 tree is sold out, temporarily unavailable at this
writing, which is only five days ahead of Halloween.
This shouldn’t surprise me, though. From the beginning of time, evil has
masqueraded as beautiful and enticing. In this case, horrible, warm and
decor-enhancing. What other way would you be attracted to it? With 8.4 BILLION hard-earned American dollars
spent on Halloween in 2016, it’s clear we’re attracted to and tempted by the
macabre and creepy.
But as I do every year, I make a
case for not celebrating this seemingly harmless “holiday.” So here’s
the link to last year’s post that gives you all of the reasons I think you
should re-consider your celebration of it.
500 YEARS AND COUNTING —
And if you’d like to go a different
direction this year, read this blog post by my friend, author and speaker Jim
Watkins. It’s in reference to the 500th anniversary of the
Protestant Reformation Martin Luther inadvertently started back in Germany.
It’s not what you expect, and I think you’ll find it a thoughtful analysis of
Catholic versus Protestant views.
Don’t be afraid
of missing out. Do something different this year. Celebrate beauty and life!
And if you have to attend a Halloween costume party, dress up as one of your
favorite martyrs. (You can find plenty of modern ones. Thousands of Christians
are being martyred daily all around the world.) At the very least, it will
trigger an interesting conversation!
And on a final
note, this month I’m celebrating my 5-year anniversary of this blog! I think
that’s worth a Woo Hoo! as my friend and writer extraordinaire Adam Colwell likes
to say. J It has been nothing short of a miracle that I’ve been able
to post every Monday for a total of 279 weeks along with a couple extra thrown
in. (One I deleted in deference to it being published in an international
publication).
I am grateful.
Only God could have orchestrated all of this and provided any speck of
inspiration I’ve been able to share.
I’ll see you
back here again next week for another dose of peace!
Blessings,
Andrea
May you prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul
prospers (3 John 2).
Photos courtesy of Google Images
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