Saturday, October 31, 2009

Is It The Great Pumpkin?

On Halloween Night the Great Pumpkin rises out of the pumpkin patch and flies through the air with gifts for all the good boys and girls!

Linus VanPelt has become part of the Great Pumpkin cult. He believes based on some shadowy group that reports on the appearance of the Great Pumpkin each year. He has not seen the GP himself - yet he believes.

He believes that as long as he sits faithfully in the most "sincere" pumpkin patch, he will be rewarded by the Great Pumpkin. He believes so sincerely that he is willing to forgo "Tricks or Treats" with the rest of the children on Halloween Night. He believes so sincerely that he is evangelistic - working to communicate his faith to Sally Brown. He believes so sincerely that he endures the ridicule of the other children and the formidable threats by his sister, Lucy, that she will pound him.

He believes even after the severe disappointment of another Halloween without a reward from the GP. He blames himself. "It must be that my pumpkin patch was not sincere enough." "Maybe it is when I slipped and said, 'If you come...'"

His faith is so important to him, he prays to the Great Pumpkin and says, "If you don't exist, don't tell me because I don't want to know."

Linus VanPelt is a true believer. He has faith in faith. "If only I am sincere in my faith, I will be rewarded."