When I heard a radio ad about the annual Zombie Walk in Vancouver last week, I got to thinking about how some people get their 'kicks'. I, for one, don't get it. To me there's nothing lovely, attractive, beautiful or compelling about dressing up like the 'walking dead' with blood smeared all over my face and body.
I considered posting a picture of the heinous costumes and make-up, but I couldn't do it. Not even to give you an idea of what this looks like. It's just too...gruesome and truthfully, the pictures sicken me, as I'm sure they're meant to.
I find it incredulous that people actually enjoy playing around with the ugliness
of death, deformity, mutilation, gore and decay. Where's the attraction? Innocent fun? Really?
One of the rules for the Vancouver Zombie Walk states: 'Though we big kids all see the fun in it, small children may not, and if
you see any children reacting fearfully, please do not add to their
distress. Just move on and let their parents explain … do NOT
accidentally be the douche who gives them nightmares for a week by
leering in their face.'
So what, exactly, do the
parents explain? What would I say to my grandkids if we didn't know this
was going on and happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time? Ah,... kids, this is just some big people having a bit of fun. Just try to forget what you saw...put it out of your head so you don't have nightmares...?
I ask myself, what is this - an example of the human spirit's propensity for being drawn to the darkness that seeks to destroy them? A preoccupation with death as the ultimate experience, perhaps? Or is it to engage in an 'other-world experience'? Something out of the ordinary?
Maybe they're just trying to find a way to connect with the physical death that inevitably will come at some point for each of us.
For some reason, I'm drawn to things that are intrinsically beautiful and lovely. I'm also drawn to the power that exchanges ugliness for beauty. To experience this kind of power is the ultimate experience. No greater power exists than the power of Jesus, who lived to bring healing, joy, life and hope to those who needed it most. I'm counting on coming out of the grave, too...but not in the form of a zombie. I'm coming out with a glorious new form - pure, clean and glorious.
Today I went online to Bible Gateway to prepare for a women's group I meet with. I read an interview with Dr. Mark Batterson (https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2014/09/god-still-performs-miracles-an-interview-with-mark-batterson/), about his book, The Grave Robber.
In his book, Dr. Batterson talks about the life that Jesus gave wherever he went; his power and miracles that are still in evidence today, if we have eyes to see them. He says, 'I offer an important warning at the beginning of the book: don’t seek
miracles. Seek Jesus. And if you seek Jesus, you’ll eventually find
yourself in the middle of some miracles. Why? Because that’s who Jesus
is. That’s what Jesus does'
Now THIS is out of the ordinary in a BIG way! Zombie Walkers, try The Grave Robber on for size!