C is for ...

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS!!!

“Those Christmas lights light up the street
Down where the sea and city meet
May all your troubles soon be gone
Oh, Christmas lights, keep shinin' on”

These are lyrics from Coldplay’s song “Christmas Lights” and I find these specific lyrics quite endearing. For whatever reason, I have always had a fascination with Christmas lights and decorations. It doesn’t necessarily matter what kind, color or anything in specific, I just love all the lights, variety and warmth it brings during such a hallowed season.

Ever since I was a little girl, we have always put our Christmas tree and decorations up in mid-November. I even petitioned to leave the tree up year-round and just re-decorate it each month based on the holiday that was at hand. (That idea quickly got shot down, bummer!) Putting up the tree and seeing the lights always brought about a calming and relaxing presence for me. I used to go lay UNDER the tree (before the presents were there) and look from the bottom of the tree to the top and absorbing in all the color that exuded from our Christmas tree.

Another of my favorite Christmastime memories was when we would go out riding throughout the county and towns looking at the Christmas light displays in many neighborhoods or towns. Many of the sights would often include started with the historic homes in the Oakwood area of Raleigh, before cruising down to the larger mansions and then always a ride thru Cameron Village to look at the multi-colored street of trees (sadly, they no longer exist). I always was amazed at the lighted trees that used to be placed in the middle of lakes or ponds – as a child, I could not figure out how that actually worked, particularly with no one getting electrocuted!!

While I still do enjoy all of the local light displays, the best light display I have seen is a good little drive from our house – quite literally, “over the river and thru the woods” but more like “over the mountains and rivers and thru the woods Dollywood here we come!” If you want to see millions of lights in a small confined area, you need to take a trip to Dollywood. The entire park turns in to a sea of color for the Smoky Mountain Christmas celebration. The best part is taking the train ride (in the dark) throughout the park and up into the mountains while glancing back at a park full of color. It looks like you are looking down on a rainbow, rather than looking skyward for one.

Even though we still have several more months until the 2014 Christmas season, I encourage you to take a moment to ride thru your neighborhood, town or city or take a trek to see some Christmas lights. People take a lot of time to put up some festive displays and why should you be a Scrooge about it? Christmas is the season of all seasons, so be joyous this 2014 year. And while looking deep into the twinkling of the lights, always remember the true reason for the season is Jesus, and without Him, there would be no reason to celebrate Christmas and in reality, there may be no us. Enjoy your Christmas and light it up!


“Oh, Christmas lights, light up the street
Light up the fireworks in me
May all your troubles soon be gone
Those Christmas lights keep shinin' on”