Cocaine of emotions
We are faced with hatred, violence, helplessness, hopelessness, disasters, and such nastiness in our leaders these days. Max Lucado in The Applause of Heaven writes today’s devotional as an option to the world’s issues.
Resentment is the cocaine of the emotions. It causes our blood to pump and our energy level to rise. But also, like cocaine it demands increasingly large and more frequent doses. There is a dangerous point at which anger ceases to be an emotion and becomes a driving force. A person bent on revenge moves unknowingly further and further away from being able to forgive, for to be without the anger is to be without a source of energy.
Hatred is the rabid dog that turns on its owner.
Revenge is the raging fire that consumes the arsonist.
Bitterness is the trap that snares the hunter.
And mercy is the choice that can set them all free.
Since God has shown us great mercy, I beg you to offer your lives as a living sacrifice to Him. Romans 12:1
We can choose to be beaten down with the problems in my opening sentence, or we can choose that which always stands by with mercy, God. You may have drifted away from your church or did not come in a church door, and you will find it more difficult to handle what life throws at you, especially in the mercy department. Find a congregation to enfold you and show you what God’s mercy is all about. You cannot go at life alone. God doesn’t work that way.
More on All Hallow’s Eve
The tradition of Halloween started with the Celtic fest of Samhain where bonfires and costumes were worn to scare away the ghosts. Pope Gregory III declared November 1 to be observed as All Saints Day with October 31st as All Hallow’s Eve. Trick or treating originated in Europe where people would go door to door for soul cakes in return for praying for dead relatives. In the late 1800’s Halloween took on a more festive and community orientation to allow families to get together. In the 1920’s and 30’s there was quite a bit of vandalism. The “tricks” were countered with treats of candy to decrease the vandalism. Halloween then morphed into more of a secular celebration centered on the young in the 1950’s. The tradition of masks came about when people ventured out on All Hallow’s Eve when the ghosts were most active. The mask would identify the person as a fellow spirit. For us in the church today, we remember people who have passed away over the past year or those baptized in the past year on the first Sunday of November as the most recent saints in the church. All Saints Day is a remembrance time for the dead and the newly baptized (died in Christ).
Be safe with the trick or treaters! Join us for All Hallow’s Eve (Halloween) trick or treat at St Mark’s on Oct 31st 6-8 pm. St Marks serves at SonSet Thu, Oct 24 - come help us serve if you can!
Blessings to you this week, Deacon Nancy
