Lighting Your Life

by Carol

"A kind of light spread out from her. And everything changed color. And a world opened out. And a day was good to awaken to. And there were no limits to anything. And the people of the world were good and handsome. And I was not afraid any more."

                                                           John Steinbeck, East of Eden

Nearing the end of our December theme of focusing on light,  I have a question for you to ask yourself. It's not an original question - I stumbled upon it while following a blog trail.  I read a post by Mary Snyder, an author and a travel coordinator for women, called "The Six Lights of Friendship," She asked,"What kind of light are you?" 

Mary was using a magnifying make-up mirror one morning  and realized that it "made (her) tiny lines look like major crevices." She reverted to making up in natural light that tended to "show things just as they are." That lead her to think about friendship and the types of friends who light her world.  I loved her concept and thought of a few more examples of my own.

Mary asks if you are a spotlight who hides behind the glare while pointing out the flaws in others or a laser pointer with too narrow a focus? Are you a flashlight who leads the way out of darkness but then fades quickly, or a lighthouse that alerts others to danger? Candlelight friends hide your flaws, but don't push you much, while lamplight friends provide warmth.

As I sit in my living room under the comforting glow of my Christmas lights, I'm thinking about my Christmas light friends who bring a peacefulness to my life, and make me feel loved and cared for - the ones who call just to see how I am doing.  I think also of my nightlight friends, like those generous souls who stopped over after the blizzard last year to make sure I had a working furnace and adequate food. 

I think about my friends who are beacons - those who illuminate the way by example - who teach me how to be a good person and to live my life intentionally. I try my best to earn their friendship and live up to their examples. I think too, of those who are like my back porch sconces, guiding me home to my true self, always reliable, always welcoming. 

I am so filled with gratitude for all the wonderful friends who are a part of my world: those friends who grew and developed with me, as well a those who were my village while bringing up our children. I am grateful for the friends who support me through illness and hug me through tears, and for those who encourage me to reach for my dreams. I am so fortunate to have so many love lights sparkling in my life and I try every day to reflect that love back upon them.

So take a moment today to think about the type of light you bring to your world. Find the true light of love within yourself, cast its warm  glow out over those you love, and bask in the its reflective radiance!

Merry Christmas to my wonderful friends near and far. I cherish each and every one of you!