You know those idyllic neighborhoods in the Christmas movies all decked out from house to house? Yea. That's not our neighborhood.
There are some neighborhoods like that in town, but we live along a plain, darkened street. Most all of the houses in the block to our west are rentals and they all desperately need repair.
Even the trees along that block are ugly. They're scraggly and overgrown; not stately oaks or sugar maples, but some sort of ugly tree variety that looks like they stepped out of the lot of a haunted mansion or the trees of the scary enchanted forest in Wizard of Oz. You know the type.
While it's doubtful that many of the people along this block have the money to finance an elaborate outdoor Christmas display (yet many drive far nicer cars than we own - funny thing about priorities), there are a few who add some tacky lights that often remain out there until June.
I've always found it odd that someone has a sudden burst of initiative to put up decorations, but they somehow lose the initiative to take them down in a reasonable amount of time.
Generally, snowy weather is not to blame for that lack of initiative, as snow is hit or miss for Central Illinois Christmases. There's rarely a white Christmas. It's just more the prominence of laziness, but that's besides the fact.
At any rate, we live along a dark, uninspiring street. No Norman Rockwell images here.
I knew this when we built our home here 11 years ago, having lived one street over and observing the neighborhood for a time before making that decision. It's not all bad. It's a quiet neighborhood. Our only immediate next-door neighbors are my parents, and our neighbor directly across from our houses, is a wonderful friend, so I will not further complain.
But at Christmas time, it does bring to mind the line from Red Skelton's, "The Littlest Christmas Tree" where Santa tells of a place that he visited that very night, beyond an iron curtain where he didn’t see one Christmas tree to light his way. He talks about the darkness of that place.
My street makes me think of the darkness of this world.
Don't be fooled. For all of its wonder, all of the Thanksgiving and Christmas time hype, it's a dark place wrought with sinful selfishness.
Someone who was in such a huge selfish hurry this morning, would have ran me right into the pavement as I tried crossing the street at the designated "stop for pedestrian" crosswalk. I guess "their stuff" is way more important than taking the time to be courteous.
~~~~~~~~~~~
So, this weekend, more than likely, Jim and I will add our outdoor display of lights, even though we'll be the only house on the block, shining in the darkness. Some years, it's been meager, whereas in the spectacular "blue trees on the parkway" year, it's been awesome!
For you were once darkness,
but now you are light in the Lord.
Live as children of light
but now you are light in the Lord.
Live as children of light
Ephesians 5:8-9 (NIV)
Here's a look back at some of the displays from our humble beginnings ...
4 comments:
Your home is beautiful, esp. all decorated. I'm sure the neighbors all enjoy it. How could they not enjoy the light that comes from your home.
Your display is lovely.
We put up lights around the outside of the house and I put up a few more decoations, but it's very simple. I spend most of my attention to the inside instead.
I too wish the world would slow down and remember to be thoughtful of ones neighbor, even one who you don't know.
Beautiful, Linda. Happy Thanksgiving!
You know, if this day of rapid advances and technology, there seems to be a constant rush. I still have an old Nokia that I have had for years and years. It works for me. I don't use it much. An occasional text message, and we don't have a home phone, so it is the only way someone can contact me (though most of the time it is in my purse and I don't check it or think about it). Lots of folks ask how I can type out each letter in my message. Why don't I upgrade so that I have access to internet at all times, and can type words rather than individual letters, and my response is that not everything needs to be immediate. It is sometimes nice to just relax, and take time to do a task. I don't text or talk and drive. My car is a vehicle to get me from point A to point B -- it is not my living room couch where I can lounge and chat like so many do.
In Kuwait, there are very few stop signs. Don't stop for the ones that are here. They certainly don't extend any courtesies to pedestrians. I was ready to choke someone last nite, anyone, when I had to deal with traffic no matter which direction I went. So much of it could be managed if folks would show respect for others rather than always believing they and what they are doing is more important than anyone else out there.
Hmmm, yep, you've struck a chord here. I could go on and on and on.
Instead, I will tell you to continue to be that light in the world, or at least the light for your little street. Create your own wonderland inside and out. That's all that really matters.
Wishing you and yours the happiest of holidays! Tammy
Absolutely beautiful, Linda! You would fit well on my street, most houses are decorated like yours:-) I love lots of Christmas lights and I always find it so sad when I drive on some streets that have hardly any lights or none at all. I'm so used to our street being so lit up.
I just turned on my Christmas lights outside tonight, I always wait for the first Advent weekend:-) Some, though, have had their lights on for a week or two already.
Still no snow here, in fact we haven't even had our first snowfall yet. Today it was very grey and raining so at least the Christmas lights cheer things up:-) xoxo
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