As Halloween approaches, many kids will don their favorite monster gear in the hopes of giving folks a good scare. As for me, I’ll admit I shrink from big-screen images of zombies and vampires.

But I’ve discovered the truly terrifying monsters are the invisible ones we battle each day.

There is the monster of greed, which we tend to think threatens only folks with fat bank accounts. In truth, though, the poorest person in the world can succumb to this monster’s wiles by clinging too tightly to material goods.

This monster may be preying on you if you have sufficient clothing, but you are always craving more; or if your cupboard is crammed with gourmet goodies, but you fail to donate to food drives.

I confess that I wrestle with this monster all too often, especially when I take a trip to the mall and everything seems to be screaming, “Buy me! Take me home!”

But here’s the good news: Instead of feeding this monster, you can start to banish it from your life with every generous act you perform.

The malevolent monster called fear churns out a whole list of “what ifs” about our health, our jobs and our families.

I may be seated calmly on the back deck when suddenly this cunning creature strikes: “What if the X-ray comes back with bad results? What if you lose your job?” And on and on the monster goes, practically slobbering with glee when I surrender to its temptations.

The Lord’s Prayer is a powerful weapon against fear. The words “thy will be done” remind us God is in control and “deliver us from evil” is a direct request to banish monsters from our lives.

Also, whispering “Lord, I trust in you” every time fear strikes will weaken this monster over time.

Oh, let’s not forget the vanity monster! I know it’s creeping up on me whenever I look in the mirror -- for what seems like the 50th time -- before leaving the house.

Vanity tempts women to spend ungodly amounts of money on creams and potions that promise to wipe out wrinkles. Men battle their own version of this monster when they obsess over body-building and other physical endeavors in an effort to keep old age at bay.

We banish vanity by praying for a humble heart.

We needn’t wander around in sack cloth and ashes, or give up all athletic pursuits. But it helps to acknowledge that aging is inevitable and the most important beauty can’t be glimpsed in a mirror.

Whatever your inner monster may be, keep in mind that you are in control. And if you give it energy, it will grow stronger.

But if you maintain a faithful prayer life and read the Bible each day, you can send all the monsters shrinking away.

You see, no monster can withstand the light of Christ.

__

Lorraine's latest books include two mysteries, "Death in the Choir" and "Death of a Liturgist," plus a biography of Flannery O'Connor, "The Abbess of Andalusia." Her email address is lorrainevmurray@yahoo.com