When I was a teen, the youth group from our church held an annual retreat at Gracefield in October and I can tell you that early dusk, rustling leaves and creaky trees can make just about any place spooky!

Apparently I’m not alone. One of my favourite bloggers, Jon Acuff, re-posted an article from his ongoing list of ‘Things Christians Like.” This one is #137, “Holding retreats at locations that could double as horror movies.”

After a few minutes in solitary thought, we were supposed to return to the basement entrance of the building we were meeting in. When I came back there was a single candle lit in the middle of a circle of chairs. (I need to post about youth group “special effects.”) When we all finally came back, we realized that someone was missing. That’s when we started hearing the screaming. It got louder and louder and louder, slowly circling the building. Youth leaders scattered like my grandma at the opening scene of the movie American Beauty.

Jon’s work is irreverent to be sure, but more often than not he hits the nail the head for those of us who grew up (or are growing up) in the church.

Happy Halloween!