Because Halloween falls on a Sunday this year, I keep running across debates on other Mormon blogs about whether or not it's okay to trick or treat. We are absolutely going to go. I don't feel any qualms about it, either. Sure, it's a Sunday, and yes, I understand the need to keep it holy. I also know that there is no to-do or to-don't list out there, despite what people sometimes think.
This all has me thinking about how caught up in the details we all get as Mormons. I mean, I love my religion, but it seems sometimes that it's about all the little tiny details, not the big picture. The thing is, there's no way to fit everyone into a neat little box and assume all the rules fit beautifully. We're all different, with different backgrounds. There are some important, big picture kinds of issues, and then there are the smaller things we choose that get us there. Unfortunately, sometimes the way we get there is the focus, hence all the discussions about silly things like whether or not to celebrate Halloween.
I don't think, though, that God put us here to be carbon copies of each other. Sometimes, I feel very out of step with the people I associate with. I've felt this way ever since I was young, coming from a very messed up home situation. I've beat myself up over it, tried to conform at times, and at others, just rebelled in a spectacular fashion. I think I've finally come to the realization, however, that I am who I am and it's okay. I'm a little different, and sometimes I don't do things the way the mainstream does, but I love my God, and I love my religion, and I appreciate greatly that what is right for me is right for me. And it's totally okay that someone else has a different path. What matters is that we all get there.
*Okay, so I got right to it. I guess I just needed a post to break the water.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Marching to My Own Beat
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4 sonar pings:
Love this. I agree wholeheartedly!
We have made the same decision. I don't even feel like I am trying to justify it. I just want to take my kids trick-or-treating!
Since my Hubby is pretty close to non-LDS from my point of view it's very simple. Activity w/ my family? Awesome! Sometimes it's just as simple as that.
We have many LDS families stationed here and the split seemed to be about 50/50. I didn't witness any discussion...just unofficial data. It just seemed to be a personal choice...not a "I'm more righteous than you" kind of thing...which is great. And even the families I know who chose not to go, still handed out candy (except one). Our kids are on the older side...only 2 are really young enough to go...and we let them choose...one went one chose not to. But we did have a great time visiting with neighbors coming and going as our houses are packed in fairly tight and most of us were sitting outside. It was a very nice evening and I didn't feel any need to justify being neighborly as I handed out my chocolate.
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