One Woman's View: Light up the world at Christmas
Contributing writer
Among all the delights of the Christmas season, one in which I take much joy is the use of lights. To forestall snide remarks, I will admit up front that I do not practice the Golden Rule here. Tampa probably knows me as Scrooge Vajnar because mine is one of the few homes which are not decorated for the holiday. I rationalize that each person has his own holiday hobby. Mine happens to be small gifts for the neighborhood kids, and that is where my time is spent.
Even if I do not get decorating done, it is a great pleasure to drive slowly along the residential streets in any town and see the bright lights and decorations. Even in tiny Tampa there are some spectacular displays, and larger communities have even more homes to light up the season.
I think the affinity for light at this time of year probably pre-dates Christianity. In pagan times festivals at the time of the winter solstice commemorated the coming of relative darkness to the world and pleaded with whatever gods there might be to bring back the time of light. These festivals took on special importance in northern Europe, where winter days were especially short and bleak and summer brought the time of the midnight sun.
The early missionaries who evangelized Europe had no qualms about appropriating pagan customs for Christian purposes, and I see no reason why we should. In Christian terms the candles and lights can represent Jesus Christ as the Light of the World. It seems fitting to greet his birth with a profusion of lights.
Fashions change in holiday decorations as in everything else. In my childhood everyone went for as much color as possible. The recent trend is toward more and more clear lights and/or icicle lights.
While the clear lights can be very effective, I am glad not everyone bans color. Variety truly is the spice of life. There are a couple of homes in Hillsboro which use the clear lights beautifully. One is the yard just north of where Main Street reaches its dead end. The other is the home on D Street which for many years has spelled out "Christ Is Born" in clear lights behind their manager scene.
Many of my Tampa neighbors make artistic use of icicle lights. Because of its multiple gables a home in the south end of town is outstanding. On the other hand, some homes along Main Street mix clear and colored lights to lovely effect.
I still think all clear lights would grow monotonous, and I'm thankful for the decorators who are not slaves to fashion. Perhaps the best displays use a blend, contrasting colored and clear lights.
You may think I am spending a lot of space on a relatively trivial subject. There are two reason for this. For one thing, after about 20 Christmas columns, there are not many startling and new revelations to unfold. Besides I have been pondering this variety in decorating styles as a symbol of God's varied creation.
When people get creative, each reveals a unique personality. Some burst with lavish color; others prefer chaste clarity. Some strive for simplicity; others cram Christmas lights onto every square inch of their yards. Some opt out of decorating altogether and use their time to bake goodies or warp gifts.
I am sure all these different approaches meet the approval of Him whose birth we celebrate. After all, God made forests and mountains and prairies and deserts. Each has a singular beauty of its own. He made people all shades of black, brown, yellow, and white. He gifted His children with different talents and different tastes.
As I revel in the lights of Christmas, I hope I don't pass judgment on displays but just appreciate each for what it is. I hope I carry this lesson into the new year and appreciate all God's children for their own unique attributes.
As we take joy in the Christmas lights. Let's be sure to remember the Light of the World and give Him first place in our hearts. May God bless you all at this special time of year.
SRS services available
SRS representatives will be available from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday and Jan. 18 at Marion Senior Center, 309 S. Third.
Applications and information will be provided to Marion County residents.
No appointments are necessary.
