CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

WHAT'S WITH THE LIGHTS AT CHRISTMAS? WHAT'S THE SOURCE OF THEIR INSPIRING PRESENCES? WE ALL INSTINCTIVELY FEEL THEIR APPEAL. MILLIONS TWINKLE IN THE SURROUNDING DARKNESS SYMBOLIZING THE CHRISTMAS SEASON. ICICLES OF WHITE, BLUE, GREEN, RED AND YELLOW DRIP FROM GUTTERS AND EAVES. BURSTS OF BULBS VIVIFY BUSHES, CANDY CANES, REINDEER, SNOWMEN, SANTA CLAUS', DOOR WAYS, WREATHS AND TREES. A HALO OF WARM AIR SURROUNDS ME AS SEALED IN MY AUTOMOBILE I CRUISE THE ROUTE TO MY HOME AND GAWK AT THE INNOVATIVE DECORATIONS AND ILLUMINATIONS SPEEDING BY. WHY DO I , LIKE OTHER RESIDENTS, SET OUT THESE LIGHTS?

I REMEMBER CHILDHOOD TRIPS TO THE 'SUBURBS' AT HOLIDAY TIME TO SLOWLY DRIVE BY THE DECORATED HOMES. MY OOH'S AND AAH'S BETRAYED MY YOUTH AND MY CITY UPBRINGING. ONLY IMPORTANT AND WELL-OFF HOMEOWNERS (NEVER WALK-UP RENTERS) COULD AFFORT SUCH LUXURIOUS DISPLAYS OF DECADENCE. A SECOND CHILDHOOD TREAT WAS A TRIP DOWNTOWN TO JOIN THE GAGGLES OF GAWKERS ADMIRING THE ANIMATED AND MOTORIZED DISPLAYS IN STOREFRONTS AND THE THOUSANDS OF INCANDESCENCES MILE LONG PROMENADE. THESE MAGICAL SPECIALTIES OF LIGHT AND MERCHANDISING LIFTED MY SPIRITS AND THOSE OF OTHER CHILDREN AS WELL AS ADULTS.

MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF SPARKS MAKE EDISON PROUD TODAY. WHAT IS NOW AFFORDABLE IS COMMON. OR IS IT? VIRTUALLY ANY LAWN MAY BECOME A DISNEYLAND, ANY TOWN CENTER A FAIRYLAND, ANY HOME AN ENCHANTED CASTLE. BUT WHAT IS THE PERENNIAL APPEAL ( INNER THRUST) THAT PRESERVES SUCH WONDER?

THE EVANGELIST JOHN IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, JOHN III VERSE 8, ILLUMINATES THE REASON. CHRISTMAS' BABY JESUS, GROWN-UP, SAID, " I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD: HE THAT FOLLOWETH ME SHALL NOT WALK IN DARKNESS, BUT SHALL HAVE THE LIGHT OF LIFE. " NO DECORATOR FOR WANT OF ILLUMINATION WANTS TO BE LEFT IN THE DARK OF THAT PROMISE..