This tea time I stood and watched the sun setting from an upstairs window. It began with delicate strips of pink on a deep blue sky. A lemon hue rose from the horizon as the pink strips deepened to salmon and then red. I know that scientists would willingly give me a factual explanation for this phenomenon but I'm no scientist. It felt as if this was a beautiful light show for my eyes only, in which case it must surely be classed as a miracle.
On Tuesday evening we will be lighting the first candle for Chanukah. This festival is about the power of light and about miracles.
As I explained in
last year's post,
miracles don't have to be as huge as the parting of the Red Sea. Watching my daughter heal after major surgery, seeing my grandson complete his first term at school in spite of his diabetes and all the restrictions this places on his life, meeting and sharing special time with old friends - these are the miracles that I'm talking about.
I firmly believe that it doesn't matter if we're celebrating Chanukah, Diwali, Christmas, the mid-winter solstice or a similar festival. Surely what matters is that we're all hoping for the same thing, for miracles that make our lives a little easier, for a light that illuminates our darkness.
I explained in a bit more detail what Chanukah is about in a post in 2011. You can read it here:
Festival of Lights.
Oh how I agree with you - it doesn't matter what stories we tell to make sense of ourselves and why we're here. It only matters that we treat each other kindly, whatever our stories.
ReplyDeleteI knew you'd agree, Jo. Our chats often come down to this one point, that all we want is for everyone to be kind to each other. Isn't it a strange world.
DeleteHi Ros .. how very true and how wonderful you were able to watch the sky in all its glory ... I love your Chanukah .. and all those little pieces of goodness, periods of healing, realisation that we can survive through as your little grandson is experiencing ... a great post - with happy thoughts to you and yours - Hilary
ReplyDeleteThanks, Hilary. It is all too easy to forget about those good things if we're not careful, isn't it.
DeleteAmazing how the pirits can be lifted by small (or cosmic) things. A Simcha!
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing, Carol. I especially love the small moments of wonder :-)
DeleteYou're right!! And your candelabra is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Melody. My Dad bought it for me many, many years ago.
Deleteyour sunset description is poetry. Indeed, we all look inward and outward and seek the light. All the best to you in this special season.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Joanne, and to you.
DeleteThe first paragraph of this post was "poetry in motion"People can be SO kind.I have snapped my Achilles tendon .After a meeting today many friends offered me a lift home.I too believe in miracles.Spending time with special friends is a miracle in itself.
ReplyDeleteThank you. How painful. I hope your tendon heals very soon.
DeleteHappy Chanukah! May you continue to have everyday miracles.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Anne, and may you have those everyday miracles too... like turning sticks into beautiful decorations!
DeleteI agree. Miracles happen around us every day, if we only open our eyes and hearts to appreciate them.
ReplyDeleteHappy Hannukah!
Sadly many people's eyes and hearts have trouble opening wide enough I'm afraid.
DeleteVery nice post! Happy Hanukkah!
ReplyDeleteThanks Shelly
DeleteThe first miracles we see are in nature. I only have to look at little snowdrops pushing their way through the snow in the garden to be reminded that miracles happy. There is wonderment in the skies as you say Ros and sometimes the colours are amazing. I wish everyone were tolerant to other people's religious beliefs the world would be a safer and happier place. Lovely post .
ReplyDeleteI love the miracle of nature, Anne. It's truly amazing, isn't it.
DeleteI so agree, Ros. And if we can share a little light with those around us at this time of year, that is even more special. A beautiful post. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Val. The world needs all the light it can get right now.
DeleteWhen I had my first child,I held her up(in swaddling) outside on a clear
ReplyDeleteevening,looking at the stars and said.Thank you universe for this miracle.
What an amazing memory. Thanks for sharing.
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