October! Lovvvvvvvvve it. The temperature drops so I get to pull out my sweaters and my boots. The Texas state fair rolls around and the thought of corny dogs, pineapple ice cream and funnel cakes overly excite me. I enjoy the preparations and decorations for autumn and Thanksgiving. I even get excited about the fun things associated with Halloween.
As I think about my best memories of Halloween, my thoughts drift to childhood. One of the activities that we did each year for Halloween was bob for apples. Kid after kid would immerse their faces in a huge bucket of water and apples, and see how many they could retrieve with their mouths' in a certain limit of time.
Just to think about this as an adult makes me want to gag. The once crystal clear water would swiftly become cloudy and discolored by face paint. The water that was once clean and pure would become a germ infested pool filled with half eaten popcorn kernels, hot dog bits, and saliva. I shudder at the thought!
As gross and unsanitary as this sounds, I don't remember any huge out breaks of mono, strep, flu, or even colds following this event. What I do remember about this was how much fun we had.
What other fun things have I educated my way out of? Where else has maturity won out against laughter and excitement? What things will I never do once or again because I'm just too informed and enlightened?
How about you? Do you not love hard any more because you found out how messy it can be? Have you lately talked to a stranger and walked away with a friend, or do social norms tell you to maintain your personal space and barely nod "Hello"? Do the responsibilities of an adult always out weigh the excitement of life?
Though there is great value in intelligence and maturity, they can co exist with fun, excitement and laughter. So maybe all your life you have been told to "Grow up!" and "Act like a mature adult!" Well I am giving you permission to go return to your childlike nature and go bobbing for your life's metaphoric apples.
Matthew 19:14 Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
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