"It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown"
is celebrating 50 years this week! If you are like me, you have watched every airing
(this Friday on ABC). It is one of the most iconic shows of our childhood. Yes,
Charles Schultz knows the way to one's heart during every season...
Linus
begins this story writing a letter to The Great Pumpkin letting him know that
he will be waiting in the pumpkin patch on Halloween night, waiting for his
visit where he will bring lots of presents & toys to all the good girls
& boys. Once again he forgoes tricks or tricks to have something less tangible
but more real in a sense. He has faith & persistence and in turn Charlie
Brown's sister Sally has faith in Linus (and a crush). Everyone thinks he is a
fool for believing in the Great Pumpkin but Linus never relents. While the
others from the Peanuts gang are going door to door & then to a holiday
party, Linus (and Sally) brave the cold. His sister Lucy still asks for treats
for her 'stupid' brother at each house. (Secretly, I believe she admires his
gumption!) Linus, back at the patch, believes since The Great Pumpkin values sincerity
above all else, he will surely visit this
most sincere pumpkin patch. When Snoopy shows up instead, Sally blows up, the
others give him the business. Lucy rescues him shivering at four in the morning
and tucks him into his warm bed. (She values family above all else I believe.) After
Charlie Brown criticizes him on their leaning wall the next day, by his
reaction we know Linus will once again be out there next year waiting and
hoping. Just like at Christmas, Linus isn't into this for the gifts, he knows
it's more important to flex those faith muscles. He has no regrets; yes, another
quality that could never truly fit into a sack meant for toys alone.
At this time of year, which face it, has
become the beginning of the Christmas season, we can never have enough early
reminders about the importance of faith in our daily lives. Believing in
something less tangible than presents, but more important to our hearts, is a
skill we can start honing now. When Christmas rolls around (in 2 months!) our priorities
can be firmly locked in place. Our strong faith can be percolating in our
hearts and our perspective on life and love will be most sincere. After all,
that is what The Great Pumpkin values above all else!
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