I am considering the theme of the Months of October and November in 2010 as months of trust, and I will explain why. The Month of October is marked by ventures “into the unknown.” October 11th is Columbus Day, which reminds us of the pioneer spirit of exploration that brought European civilization to the Western hemisphere. I have had Native American friends share that they never asked to be “discovered,” which certainly makes sense to me. However, the past is a closed book that can’t be changed, and all we can really deal with is the present. The 31st of October is Halloween, also a venture into the unknown in many ways. It evidently developed out of ancient pagan roots, and some people are very frightened by reports of modern occult practices. To some extent I believe that one will find what they look for, and so I myself prefer a lighter and moderate view:  to enjoy a good time of masquerade and feasting, and to avoid involvement with and references to dark pagan practices. 

     I would term the month of November “a time of transition.” The first of November is All Saints Day, a Catholic holyday ending the wild night of Halloween. The 2nd of November is Election Day, a time of potential change in accordance with the choice of the people. November 7th ends Daylight Savings, a veritable “shift in time.” November 16th (or 17th ) is “Eid ul-fitr,” the celebration feast ending the Islamic month of Ramadan and its daily fasting. The 25th of November is Thanksgiving, a remembrance of the Pilgrims’ celebration of their change from poverty to prosperity, and their gratitude to the Lord for that change. And the 28th of November is the First Sunday of Advent, the first anticipation of the coming of the Christmas Season.

     As one ventures into the unknown and anticipates transition and change, confidence is essential, for fear and anxiety can cripple the possibility of discovery and growth. Trust is essential, and that is a delicate commodity, especially in these modern times. Recently I was reminded of this. I maintain policies with several insurance agencies, one of which sent out notification letters that they would be running credit reports on its policyholders and also their family members. I found this unsettling, for it seemed to me that the policyholders’ payment history was what was significant rather than their family members’ credit history. I also must admit that it concerns me to think of my family’s personal information being traded across the internet. The agency included the name of the company providing the information, and invited policyholders to contact them. This felt comforting, and I decided to do so. However, after I started answering question after question of confidential information that they required, I began to feel that I was revealing far more private information than I would ever receive back from them, and so I stopped. I still have mixed feelings about the entire situation. Somehow I felt exposed and threatened, not because I have not been careful with my own finances, but because past experience has shown me how inaccurate information and misuse of information can hurt a person. And after hearing dire reports of personal information being lost or secretly sold, I guess I’m just not as trusting as I might be. For a number of years now I have maintained an identity theft policy.

     I wish to venture into the spiritual arena with all this, for whether other people may or may not be compiling files of facts about me behind my back, God knows it all. He knows the number of hairs in my head, and the welfare of every sparrow. The writer of Hebrews says that nothing is hidden from Him, but that “everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to Whom we must give an account.” For us life may not seem as simple as it used to be, but for God, it is all the same. There is a comfort in knowing that ultimately, only God’s opinion counts, and I guess that is because I trust Him, more than I even trust myself. God knows each one of us completely, and one day each one of us will pass on from this present life into eternity and face Him. It would make good sense to talk to Him about it today.