Tuesday, October 30, 2018

TIM Good morning, I’m Tim Wise, Senior Adult Minister and Sanctuary Choir Director at Central. Halloween is coming, and I am sure you have been decorating, buying costumes and candy, and preparing for the night of fun and fellowship in your communities. When I think of Halloween, the Jack-O-Lantern comes to mind and the process of making one. First you wash off the outside to get rid of the dirt and mud, then you cut a hole in the top and clean out the pulp and seeds (what many call the gunk or yucky stuff!). Then, you carve a face by cutting out the eyes, nose, and mouth. Then, you place a candle inside so the line shines through the eyes, nose, and mouth; then you put it out for everyone to see. This is a pretty good depiction of what Jesus does when we allow him to be present in our lives. When we invite Jesus in, he picks us up and cleanses our life from sin. Then, he removes all the nasty gunk from inside of us such as hatred, anger, and selfishness. Then, he puts a smile on our face and places a light inside of us. We are called to use this face and this light to shine into the darkness of the world around us. So, tomorrow night as you see all the Halloween decorations and costumes, and hopefully, a few jack-o-lanterns, I hope you will think about the light Jesus has shining inside of us and think about if we are showing that light to the world through our bright, shining smiles and faces.