Last night we (my 10-year old son and I) engaged in one of our annual Halloween rituals - watching It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. I'm not sure why I have never considered the message(s) underlying this annual holiday entertainment.
Consider Linus' belief in The Great Pumpkin. It's unclear where he gets this idea. But he sticks to it. Despite the ridicule of his sister and friends. Despite Sally's abandoning him. Despite the fact that The Great Pumpkin doesn't show up. It's clear, too, despite the evidence that Linus will stick to his belief as the show comes to the closing credits.
And then there's Charlie Brown. In an oft-repeated scene, he falls for Lucy's invitation to make a run at kicking the football. And, yep, she moves it at the last minute. Despite her promises. And then she observes that her written promise wasn't notarized so it's not binding. She explains away her once-again pulling away the ball.
Charlie Brown then goes trick-or-treating with his friends. At every door, his friends get candy, money, prizes. And he gets a rock. A rock??? Who gives kids rocks for Halloween?? But that's what he gets - and only rocks. At every house he visits!
Hmmm... Oh. Well. Am I Charlie Brown and Linus?
I have been on a sabbatical for the last two weeks. During that time I have spent a great deal of time thinking about my life, my faith, my ministry and vocation. I don't know that I have any earth-shaking revelations to share. Or any revelations for that matter. But as I watched this Peanuts special for the ??-th time I realized that I may be more like Linus and Charlie Brown than I have cared to admit.
Despite the evidence, I have persisted in believing things that just aren't so - things about people's character or behavior (a la Lucy), things about how I am *certain* God wants to work or will (a la Linus). It's not that I don't believe anymore or have lost my faith in God. Quite the contrary.
But I don't want to be a Linus who continues to hold to beliefs and hopes that are without foundation. I don't want to be like Charlie Brown who keeps charging at the football and ends up (again) on his butt. So I need to get out of the pumpkin patch and not fall asleep there. I need to stop charging at targets where people say one thing and do another.. and another... and another.
I have no idea what this means in terms of my life or ministry. Except that I want to be free of The Great Pumpkin and Lucy.
I am afraid what will happen when I watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and A Charlie Brown Christmas. Or am I?
