Posture is Everything

Scripture Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus replied "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it. Love your neighbor as yourself." 

As Halloween approaches it made me think about loving my neighbors. Sounds like a stretch but hear me out. How better to describe a stranger than someone wearing a costume? We don't know who they are, or where they came from. Do we only see the costume? Or do we take the time to look more closely and try to figure out who is behind the mask? We surely have eaten some of our Halloween candy by the time they ring our doorbell, thus loving ourselves. Do we deny candy to anyone who comes to the door Halloween night? Somehow, I think we treat them all fairly and with the same generosity, regardless of who they are behind the mask.   

Can we extend these acts of kindness and generosity beyond giving candy to children on Halloween? Can we extend love to our neighbors with acts that help provide food or housing? Can we pray for them and with them? Can we be present with them when they need it? Let's at least try to be the "Treat" in "Trick or Treat." 

Prayer: Dear Lord, This Halloween let us pledge to do more than just hand out candy. Let us also extend kindness to all of our neighbors who come to the door. Let us continue to extend love and generosity to all, regardless of their mask or costume.    In Jesus name we pray, Amen