Halloween in my childhood was for kids. Trick-or-treating with friends. Getting candy and homemade treats. Wearing plastic costumes. Along the way the candy companies have marketed well, costumes have become more elaborate and some folks have gotten bent out of shape over this holiday.

Halloween has its origins in ancient Celtic practices honoring the dead and the transition from life to death. Christians began to recognize All Hallow's Eve (10/31), All Saints Day (11/1) and All Souls Day (11/2). Then Christians in many places got weird about a kid's holiday. We need to recapture the childlike fun of Halloween and we need to take the opportunity to remind ourselves of the transition from life into death, not in scary ways, but it ways that remind us of those who have gone before us and of our own mortality.

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As I snuggled with one of my kids this week, they asked me who I was voting for in the election and why. As I gave my answer, I realized that much of what sways me as a voter is the character of the leader. I can disagree with people on policy, but if they are a leader who cares about people, I can still follow.

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus heals people and in doing so restores them to community. They are no longer cast out because of disease or mental illness. They can be brought back into the community and can be cared for. I wonder what would happen if we elected more leaders who acted that way?

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Life feels overwhelming. Hurricanes Helene and Milton; West Coast Wildfires; Wars in the Middle East and Ukraine; an election cycle; climate change; gun violence; and the list goes on. I was late getting this episode posted because of feeling overwhelmed with family and with career and with all the things.

Kate Bowler, New York Times best selling author co wrote a devotional book and in one devotion she talks about the cost of caring. It costs part of our soul to care for others. To have empathy and compassion means we give a bit of ourselves away. A price but certainly worth the cost.

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