And what a sight it was. The family in this house, in this quaint neighborhood, took the genre to a new level of artistry, using the already interesting, multilevel shapes of landscaping, pottery, iron works and exquisitely framing tall thin trees, with lights carefully selected and meticulously placed, to create a brilliant gift to those fortunate enough to live nearby or discover it in their journeys.
One can even imagine its glow as a beacon of love. For truly, it takes love to express such beauty for all to see freely.
This home, so illuminating, can be seen as a brilliant expression of the Light of the Christ Consciousness, and the message that that brings – the one we should be celebrating, and honoring in our own lives, in our daily actions and in our communities:
Emanating Light – Is that not the essence of doing unto others as you would have them do unto you?
Couldn't we call that "PRE-EMPTIVE KINDNESS"?
I am also reminded of the concept of Christ as the "Light of the World" – not only as a guiding beacon for others to better see, but as an individual way of looking at the world, along the lines of the adage, "Angels can fly because they take themselves so lightly."
To me, that Light speaks of Forgiveness, the ultimate healer.
I speak of the Forgiveness that begins at home. Long before there were organizations that receive donations and help the needy, "charity" meant "leniency in judging others". The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition includes among its definitions for the word charity: "Christianity. The theological virtue defined as love directed first toward God but also toward oneself and one's neighbors as objects of God's love."
"I forgive myself completely for being so judgmental" – is a powerful starting point.So this artistry, this beautifully lit home, has taken my mind – always busy with gathering news, retrieving memories, connecting dots, assigning priorities, sorting time, keeping on track, holding together multitudes of responsibilities, adjusting, adjusting, adjusting -- has taken my mind and given it a higher focus, attached with my heart, to ponder the universal truth I too often forget, the truth that is the reason we have this holiday season.
All is healed with the Thought, brought forth as Action: Treat others as we wish to be treated.
Christians acknowledge Christ as the bearer of that knowledge. That is the gift.
That same concept, in different words, is at the heart of the world religions. The message is the same. The mistake is in getting distracted by everything else.
All this from looking at some very carefully placed light bulbs.
I am reminded of Percy Bysshe Shelley's Defense of Poetry, in which he describes the role of Poetry in the world: "A Poem is the very image of life expressed in its eternal truth."
Thus this moment, with this poetic lighting, and all that was brought forth because of it, has been added to the wealth of encircling memories that constantly enliven my relationship with my daughter, and we are once again enriched with hope.
I am so grateful that my daughter had brought me to this glorious creation of Christmas color and light. This is a moment we will never forget.
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