THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

Every year the Feast of Hallowe’en comes round. Some people think it is a good time to celebrate the heroes and saints of bygone years. Others think that it is a good time to celebrate the witches and spectres of the dark.

It’s close to the time of year when the clocks revert back to GMT, and the sun sets an hour earlier than it did before. We wonder whether the future holds good times or evil times.

This year the annual Hallowe’en celebrations might also coincide with Brexit. Some people will be celebrating. Others will be mourning. How we react depends on what we believe. I suppose that’s the same for Hallowe’en too.

Everyone gets a free choice about what to believe. Even God doesn’t enforce belief in Himself. We get to choose. But what we choose affects how we live, just like it does about Brexit, or Hallowe’en.

If we believe that Brexit is bad for us, then we will be worried if it happens, and we will campaign to try and stop it happening. If we believe that Brexit is good for us, then we will be worried if it doesn’t happen, and we will campaign to try and make it happen.

At Hallowe’en, we can choose whether to celebrate the saints or the characters of the night. What we believe affects how we celebrate.

If we believe in a good God then we will try to live in his ways. If not, then we won’t. We each get to choose, and how we choose affects how we live. How will you choose?

Reverend Stewart Goudie, North West Lochaber Church of Scotland.