I don't get it. This Halloween thing has me seriously perplexed. 

Oh, I understand dressing up like a cute, fuzzy animal or a favorite superhero.  Even I'd like to do that.  And I get the candy.  Who doesn't enjoy an excuse to eat candy? But what I can't grasp are the ghosts, witches, skeletons and all other grotseque-looking netherworldly creatures.  How is it those things are fun?  Why would you want to decorate your house with cobwebs, or make punch that looks like swamp slime or cookies that resemble eyeballs?

I cannot wrap my mind around such things.  And I would like to.  Let me clarify:  I would like to understand what drives a person to do those things.  Is it all in the name of "fun"?  What is it then, that makes the very same thing "fun" to some, and "un-fun" to another?  Is it just preference, personality, or spiritual position?  Where does good and evil play in here? 

And, no, I don't ask these questions with any pre-formulated responses in mind (like I usually do in asking questions!); I'm truly curious- what is it that makes Halloween a day worth celebrating?

I read a fascinating book to Julia recently (or at least as fascinating as children's books can be) called "The Honest To Goodness Truth".  The little girl's mother in this book warned her to never lie but always tell the truth.

True enough.

So, the main character strove to tell the whole truth- no matter how, no matter when.  This made obvious problems.  Like when she saw a hole in her friend's sock and blurted it out in front of everyone on the playground!  She quickly found herself friendless and frustrated at this truth telling business.

I relate, for I too have pondered exactly what it means to be honest.

Quite honestly, being honest is a complex thing.  For it is more than just relaying facts; there are emotions involved.

If a friend asks me for my impression of her new house and the honest truth is less than positive, what do I say?  I have enough wits about me to not spout out all the things I think are ridiculous with the place.  But, I wonder, if I find a genuinely positive aspect of her abode and use that as my reply, and no more, is that truly being honest?

I also know people for whom being honest means they feel it necessary to inform me of every detail on a given subject.  Whether asked about or not, they delve into a liturgy of their latest ailments, aches and pains; or the most recent findings on the life of their sister, friends, dog, or bedspread.  Does the truth require me to listen?  Even if I think they might be better served by the truth residing in my heart that for most circumstances, a summary is sufficient.

There's the adage that "sometimes the truth hurts".  We all know this to be a true, and yet necessary part of life.  So, how do you go about being the deliverer of such a truth, and yet "speak it in love"?

If we truly love someone, we won't allow fear to dictate how we communicate with them.  "Perfect love drives out fear."  And there's honestly an awful lot of truth-telling that's tinged with fear.  It seems Jesus had plenty of negative things to say.  Even to his disciples, He spoke more than just flowery words.

And yet I remain just a bit afraid.  Like the story's main character, I'm not a fan of friendlessness or frustration.  So still I ponder, what does telling the Honest To Goodness Truth, truly mean?

They say if you haven't ideas to blog about, just post pictures. 

Well . . .

What do you do if you have neither ideas NOR pictures to work with? 

Hmm.