December in Hot Springs

Lights, lights, everywhere. In fact, it was so bright that one night as I was driving home from a meeting I was stopped by the police. "Was I going to slow?" I wondered.

I rolled down my window. "Sorry, officer. I did not see your lights until the truck flashed his lights at me."

"The reason he flashed his lights is because you were driving without your lights, "the officer told me.

No lights! I never noticed. I was too busy admiring the brightly lit store fronts and electric poles along River Street. I guess I saw no need to add my lights to the mix.

It is another December in our small town. We had a Christmas parade, concert and a cookie cruise. The town was filled with people watching, eating, shopping. Earlier in the day we had a meeting with folks of every political persuasion. All were gathered to listen to a common concern, "save our water." It is a good feeling to see those of opposing views on many issues be in agreement on protecting our water from contaminated dumping in our garbage sites and from fracking into our aquifers.

In the midst of the festivities we attended two meetings about and by the EIS regarding the on-going battle to save our VA. The battle continues but is somewhat on hold during the celebratory month of December. There is still some quiet planning on the side, but most of the room in our lives centers around the music and lights of the Christmas season.

Our local artisans have a holiday marketplace each December showing off their hand-crafted items, from homemade jams and jewelry to quilts, dolls and scarves and mittens. Admission into the market is a donation to our local food shelf. There are booths to visit, friends to greet, food to eat, charities selling goodies, music, sleigh rides and, of course, Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus.

Then there is a  Christmas play directed by a local writer and director and acted by local talent, both young and old. On and on it goes. The community is filled with the holiday spirit of sharing and giving. It is a feeling of warmth and few "bah, humbugs."

It is our sanctuary, for a time, a place of forgetting the stresses of much of the rest of the world. We have our spot of serenity. It is not that we are unaware of the tragedies unfolding each day. The news follows us, but for some time, during the month of December, we can forget for a while and enjoy the tranquility, friendliness and lights that brighten the early darkness of the season.

It is a time of renewal and hope. The shining lights are a reminder of that hope. "It is better to light one candle......." This is our reminder to remember, "better to light one candle than to curse the darkness."

It is the darkest of winter months, but we have lit the lights to help us remember. We are the heartland of America. We have the lights to hope.