Question: How can you tell it is fall? Answer: Pumpkins! I’m not necessarily referring to pumpkins in the garden. No, it’s about much more than that. It’s pumpkins on every store shelf in every form you can think of—some you’d prefer not ever imagine. Pumpkins cascade across every front porch and are arranged on tables and displayed in baskets. Pumpkins are now glittered and frittered, sculpted and crafted. You’ll find pumpkin whipped in your breakfast pastry, in your lunch soup, and your dinner salad. It’s even in your coffee!
We eat, sleep, and –literally– breathe pumpkins because the number of pumpkin-scented candles, perfumes, air fresheners, and the like grows more prevalent by the autumn-minute. Whatever your personality, there’s a format for you!
We’ve got… Pumpkinality!
There have also been a few disturbing turns for pumpkins. Chicken pumpkin taco. Really? Seriously, why? Pumpkin potato chips. Pumpkin pizza. Those are all ideas someone should have squashed. (Squashed? Mercy, there’s even pumpkin in your humor. “Pun”-kins?)
What’s with the extreme pumpkinization of our society? I don’t know, but I must confess, I’ve been sucked in–willingly, even. Well, I draw the line with the tacos, chips, or pizza. But the rest? Wholeheartedly, all in.
This popularization of the pumpkin reveals how easily trivial things influence us and how much more we need instead for the truth of Jesus to influence us–the kind of influence that counts for eternity.
Jesus said, “You are the light of the world.” He wasn’t talking about Jack-o-lanterns when He said, “A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lamp stand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven,” Matthew 5:14-16, HCSB.
First Peter 2:12 says to “Conduct yourselves honorably” among unbelievers. The next verses get a bit more specific about that conduct. Verse 13 says to “Submit to every human authority because of the Lord,” and then the passage sums up in verse 17, “Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the Emperor.” (HCSB).
I’m so much more wholeheartedly “all in” when it comes to shining the light of Christ in this culture. I don’t want to be remembered merely as the lady with the pumpkins on her porch. I would much rather be known as one who lives and influences with integrity, and one who can’t shut up about all things Jesus.
Put your pumpkins in a basket, fine. But not your light. Your light is meant to be shining, influencing—pointing a lost world to a saving Christ. We’re to shine by sharing the Gospel of Jesus and, by the way we live, bring Him glory.
Meanwhile, when it comes to squash, I won’t try to tell you what you pump-“kin” and “kin-not” do, but I’ve heard you can even make it into pie.
Wow…now there’s an idea!
Rhonda Rhea is the author of 12 books, including Join the Insanity: Crazy-Fun Life in the Pastors’ Wives Club. Her book, Fix-Her-Upper: Hope and Laughter through a God Renovated Life, is co-authored with Beth Duewel and Rhonda also co-authors fiction with her daughter, Kaley Rhea. Kaley and Rhonda’s Christian romantic comedy, Turtles in the Road, is a hilarious favorite. Rhonda is a humor columnist for many publications and is a TV personality for Christian Television Network. She speaks at conferences and events coast to coast and happily makes her home in the St. Louis area with her husband, Richie Rhea, senior pastor of Troy First Baptist Church. They have five grown children and two grand-babies. Find out more about Rhonda.
