Trick or Treat

"What makes Superman a hero is not that he has power, but that he has the wisdom and the maturity to use the power wisely."

- Christopher Reeve

Have you picked out your Halloween costume? Got your pumpkins? Gotten your candy corn? At our house we have been eating candy corn for about a month now. I sometimes wonder if Rebekah and Ethan rob the candy truck every week just for fun. Rebekah loves the stuff. I end up getting sick on it every year because it is accessible and I can't seem to put it down! It is just one of those things that makes the holiday more special. 

It wouldn't be Halloween without candy corn, pumpkins, hay rides, scarecrows, trick or treating, practical jokes and kids in costumes. I used to not be a big fan of Halloween. I had no real need to. Rebekah and I would attend our church's fall carnival and help out, but without kids of your own, it doesn't mean as much. 

Now that Ethan is in the picture, all that has changed. His first Halloween he was a pumpkin. Obvious choice since he was as wide across as he was tall (not to mention he couldn't walk so it was the perfect disguise). Last year he was a scarecrow. This year I have had a lot of fun with Rebekah looking at different costumes and trying to decide what he will be. 

As we looked through the different costumes one had more significant meaning than the rest. Superman! Unfortunately Ethan knows nothing of Superman. But, ever since I was a little boy my dad has told me of his experience as Superman. (Notice I said AS Superman.) My father distinctly remembers when he was about four or five receiving a pair of hand-me-down Superman pajamas, red cape and all. I can't remember from which cousin he got them, but given the rest of the story I can imagine the persuasive prankster. (Because some of you are more familiar with my family, I will withhold the names to protect the guilty.) 

Anyway, my father received the pajamas and was quickly in awe. Seeing his affection for this new "suit of power", my dad's cousin quickly cooked up a scheme to convince him that if he put on the suit, he would have all the power of Superman. He could break through walls, bend steel and even fly! 

Well, like any gullible little boy, that last line got my dad. To the roof he went! With his new-to-him "suit of armor" pulled and stretched over his little body, pale skin showing here and there, peeping through well worn holes from hard fought battles. Shield of gold proudly displayed across a sea of blue and a crimson red cape waving proudly like Old Glory in a stiff breeze. He rose to the peak of his one story home with determination. Without an ounce of fear he proudly proclaimed, "I am Superman! Da-Ta-Da!" Leaping from his perch and reaching for the sky, wind rushing through his hair and blood pumping in his little body, he fell. Down, down, down. He broke his arm and quickly came to the realization that he was indeed, NOT SUPERMAN. 

Even as my dad told me this story when I was growing up, I could sense some disappointment that he was not Superman. I also know now that what my dad was doing is what I have to do with Ethan every day. I can see the fire and determination in my young son's eyes. He is all boy. He is strong willed like his mother (and me). When he puts his mind to it, nothing will stop him. So like any good parent, I have to share with him my dumb mistakes. The lessons I have had to learn the hard way, just as my daddy did with me. He shared his successes and failures to help me understand that it is okay to fail. Even at the peak of greatness, reaching for the sky you can receive bad information that causes you to fall. It may even break you, but it will also make you stronger. 

As adults we lose the "innocence of a child". The thought that we can accomplish anything we put our minds to is surrounded with doubts and "what ifs". No goal is too big. No dream too far out of reach. Let's work together to return that innocence in Jones County. Don't go around encouraging others to jump off their roofs, but let's do encourage each other to reach for their dreams. 

I am continually amazed at the progress and accomplishments our community is having. I hope you are to. Let's work to finish 2011 strong! Happy Halloween and Happy Trick or Treating! Be Safe and have fun.