2 Candles

This year I placed both of my electric candles in the kitchen window, plugged them in, and decided to leave them on 24/7. Something about this year's Christmas season seems to call for something beyond our normal activities. I sense it everywhere I go. I find it difficult to believe that I am the only one who seeks more from this year. Perhaps all of us are tired of the economic falderal and the downsizing of life. Maybe this year we crave not the shopping and the glare of harsh neon, but the true down to earth basics of love and goodwill.

Oh, I have heard stories of bad behavior among shoppers. But what I see more of this year than in previous years is that desire to reconnect with people who are part of your sphere. To spend time with family and friends, to "do" the traditional actions of decorating a tree and hanging lights not because you have to, but because you want to spend time with people doing something memorable. Even Rahway Street, the icon of miniature golf course decor, has engaged more homes in the display of lights this year - and with less of that commercial 'my lights are bigger than your lights' attitude.

We want to go back to the good old days when life was enjoyable and one could actually retire in peace and the children all came for the day to see the grandparents. We want to move past the uncertainty of the times, beyond the bad job market and the instability of an unpredictable future. And the only way we know of to accomplish that is to hang more lights. Blot out the darkness.

Let the soft glow of colored lights bring us some small measure of vision in the dark times. Let the consolation of connection with loved ones (and yes, even the not so loved ones) assuage our fear of finding ourselves left out in the dark while the rest of the world is inside celebrating. Let the love of Christ pour over us now in the same powerful way that it did so many years ago in a little town, in a stable, in a manger.

Yes, I shall leave my 2 lighted candles on for the duration. Every time I come home, they cheer me up. Every time I leave home, they give me strength to face whatever I am doing. In the middle of the night when I wake, the soft glow of the candles comforts my heart and dispels any disturbing dreams. May the lights at your house do so too.