Vampires or Leeches: Making the Day of the Dead Meaningful - Synchroblog

"The Lost Boys" 1987









I read a book sometime ago that intrigued me. It was just a manuscript and although I've encouraged the author to publish it I'm not sure if it will be. If you've seen the TV Show "Moonlight" it's basically the same premise: Vampires that desire to good. Although just like those of us fully human - there are vampires that desire to do bad.
However, if you'll allow me to run with this for a moment, we find that Vampires have a will. Vampires have the ability to lookout for the well-fare of others.

Leeches don't. Although leeches can be used for medicinal purposes, their existence is entirely self seeking. They don't have a choice.

So as Halloween approaches, which blood-sucker should we choose to be (if we give ourselves only two choices)?

In recent history, with the rise of the dangers with kids trick-or-treating and finding needles and poison in candy, the church overall responded well, offering alternatives and safety to families. I think this, in some small way, has allowed the kingdom to come a bit more into communities. This is a nice warm-blooded vampire approach. But is it enough? (And as some of my other synchrobloggers might argue that by doing that we miss the original intent of Halloween - so make sure you check them out).

At some point in my Christian following past, I made the decision to hide from Halloween. I'd hide inside, watch "G" movies, and pray the night would just go away. I was a leech. Self-seeking and self-preserving. Like many, I disengaged and became irrelevant. "I don't celebrate Halloween!" I'd say with snub-nosed pride.

And now, I have come to the conclusion that I'd rather be a vampire than a leech.... at least one like the book I read or like the TV Show. Rather than self-seeking, I want to be engaged in humanity. I want to talk with witches on the sidewalk and goblins in the ally. I want to dance with those who dance with the dead and undead alike. On a night when darkness is celebrated, should we who are bearers of the light not shine the brightest? (See previous post on Why the Emerging Church Loves Darkness)

Jesus exhorted us not to be a light under a bushel. I don't have plans for this Halloween, but I hope that my immortal vampire teeth shine brightly.

For other revelations amidst the darkness, check these out:

The Christians and the Pagans Meet for Samhain at
Phil Wyman's Square No More
Our Own Private Zombie: Death and the Spirit of Fear by
Lainie Petersen
Julie Clawson at
One Hand Clapping
John Morehead at
John Morehead's Musings
Vampire Protection by
Sonja Andrews
What's So Bad About Halloween? at
Igneous Quill
H-A-double-L-O-double-U-double-E-N
Erin Word
Halloween....why all the madness? by
Reba Baskett
Steve Hayes at
Who stole Halloween
KW Leslie at
The Evening of Kent
Hallmark Halloween by
John Smulo
Mike Bursell at
Mike's Musings
Sam Norton at
Elizaphanian
Removing Christendom from Halloween at
On Earth as in Heaven
Encountering hallow-tide creatively by
Sally Coleman
Kay at Chaotic Spirit
Apples and Razorblades at
Johnny Beloved
Fall Festivals and Scary Masks at
The Assembling of the Church
Why Christians don't like Zombies at
Hollow Again
Peering through the negatives of mission
Paul Walker
Sea Raven at
Gaia Rising
Halloween: My experiences by
Lew A
Timothy Victor at
Tim Victor's Musings
Making Space for Halloween by
Nic Paton