Not demons, just kids having fun

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October 31, 2009

Dwain Walden The Moultrie Observer Sat Oct 31, 2009, 10:47 PM EDT

I thought this Halloween would pass without someone calling me to tell me how evil it was to let our kids celebrate “All Hallows Eve.” But, sure ‘nuff, I got the call on Friday morning.

A woman was very vocal about all the evil in the world. She talked about the anti-Christ and how we are leading our kids astray by letting them be a part of such demonic celebrations.

In this discussion she asked me if the letters 666 meant anything to me. I said yes, it means 18 if you add them together. It also is the square root of 443,556. And I would like it to be the yardage in offense that the Georgia Bulldogs would run against the Florida Gators on Saturday. But, I’m a realist for the most part, and I was afraid that would not be the case.

Anyway, she did not apreciate my sarcasm. But I did tell her that I knew that her reference was to the Book of Revelations and the “sign of the beast.” However, I told her that we couldn’t accurately count without the number 6, and inevitably three of them would come together. And I told her I didn’t feel there was any evil significance inherent in those numbers anymore than there was evil in our kids dressing up like ghosts, goblins and Ponzi scheme disciples. Basically, I told her that if I drew winning lottery numbers and they included any combination of “666” I wasn’t giving it back.

A side note: I once served on a pulpit committee and one of the ministers we interviewed said that one day he was going to preach a sermon on the Book of Revelations ... as soon as he completely understood it. I appreciated his candor.

He wasn’t “called” to our need. And it had nothing to do with his comment on the Book of Revelations. We just couldn’t afford him. Typically, Baptist ministers don’t get “called” to lower salaries. I probably understand that tendency much better than I understand the Book of Revelations.

Now back to Halloween: I realize that if you dig back into history you can find evil connotations that one could construe to this fall celebration. But in my opinion, if evil isn’t intended or perpetuated in your heart, then I don’t see a great problem. As far as I’m concerned, it’s just a time of year when kids can have a lot of harmless fun going “bump in the night” and eating a lot of candy. And while I realize that eating a lot of candy can have its ill effects, I don’t see it upsetting the cosmos or Fed-Xing anyone straight to Hell.

About the only problem I have with Halloween are those kids who are really too old to be out “trick or treating.” I’m talking about 15- and 16-year olds who often show up at my door. Someone needs to tell them “trick or treating” is for the little kids. Hayrides and costume parties are for the bigger kids.

I didn’t ask this woman if she thought candy corn was evil. I think my sarcasm had run its course very early on.

While she was dismayed that I wouldn’t agree with her, she did not call me the anti-Christ. But before she hung up, she said she would pray for me. I told her I appreciated that — that I could use all the help I could get. And I assured her that on Saturday night I would not dress up like Bernie Madoff and scare the life savings out of everyone.

(Dwain Walden is editor/publisher of The Moultrie Observer, 985-4545. E-mail: dwain.walden@gaflnews.com)

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