377 days, Blog #133 pondering Christmas lights

I drove home from the theater tonight and tried to notice all the Christmas lights instead of the dreary rain turning into snow.  I started by realizing all the windows that showcased decorated trees even though the corner of my living room is just cold and empty with only the skirt and stand waiting for the day when weather and daylight cooperate with an opportunity to bring home a tree (hopefully Saturday).

Credit {lillith}via Flickr Creative Commons

 Then I started to notice all the color and twinkly shapes as I drove down the dark (and if you aren’t from around here, let me tell you it’s dark) road.  I thought about how many houses had these lights and distracted one from the yucky wet weather and the gloom of a rural highway on a not quite winter yet evening.  Then I remembered my  favorite Dr. Who Christmas special (quite possibly one of my all time favorite Christmas specials – I don’t watch Rudolph or Frosty.  I watch Dr. Who and The Vicar of Dibley).   The message and oft repeated phrase is that this holiday signifies that we are halfway out of the dark.

Well, we aren’t quite there yet… but isn’t that really what the beauty of having lights at Christmas is?    At the very least, it is good to remember and think about that instead of all the other garbage of the holiday season.  A chance to pull ourselves out of the dark.