Capturing Christmas Glory

Our house has no front windows. It didn't occur to us when we bought the house that this would be a big deal, but we have discovered over the last 10+ years that it is sort of a big deal. You can't see anything that's going on in front of the house without running upstairs.

It's a weird feeling.

One of the first things we did was to replace the solid double doors at the entry with a single door with decorative side panel windows. Two slim slivers of glass, faceted decorative glass at that, through which light can come in and we can peer out.

I feel like a peeping Tom when I look out these windows, bending down to put my eye up to the little bits of glass that give a true view, trying to see who rang the doorbell, or if my kids are home yet.  Unlike the peeping Tom, I'm peering out, not in!

This morning, I rounded the corner from the dining room on my way upstairs and I saw the facets of my beveled, leaded glass windows glowing with what was either a beautiful sunrise or the entire neighborhood on fire--I couldn't tell which!  I ran over, and assumed my peeking stance, craning my neck to get an angle where I could see--THE SUNRISE!!  The whole sky from east to west, north to south was a glorious show of apricot and flame set in lavender and grape! Tiny patches of blue sky looked on from above while the sun painted the morning gorgeous!



I leaped into action as any good shutterbug would do and grabbed my camera, hastily adjusting my settings to hopefully capture this visual delight, this artwork of God.  I ran out, still in my pajamas, oblivious to who might see or how my bare feet recoiled at the cold concrete, snapping away while the show continued.  I knew I had to capture it while the moment lasted because it would be so fleeting.  It changed as quickly as I could press the shutter release, and changed again before the next shot, and again, and again.  The earth was turning, the angle of the light was changing, losing color with every thousandth of a degree of rotation.

Mere minutes later, the same sky looked like this.

It was still beautiful in its own soft pearl and pewter way, but that moment of splashing apricot glory was over.  I was so glad that I had come around the corner when I did!  So glad I took the time in the busy bustle of getting everyone out the door for work and school, to call She-So-Sweet to "Come see!"  So glad I paused to ponder the Godlight that was pouring itself into my earliest moments of this new day!  To pause and ponder . . . to share . . . to capture . . . to keep . . . to hold . . .to carry with me.

I want to pause and ponder the nuanced and fleeting light of the Christmas season too.  It comes upon us with a sudden flurry, and will be fading into memory in such a short span of weeks.  It would be so easy to fancy myself too busy to stop and notice.  I want to grab my camera, (both the digital and the spiritual one), and capture all the moments where the glory of Jesus shows up. I want to click and click and click to keep and hold, to share and to carry with me all that His glory means.

I don't want to miss the colors of Christmas!  I don't mean the red and green colors . . . 

I mean . . .
. . . angelsong and lamb's wool colors . . .
. . . shepherd's awe and peace with God colors . . .
. . . starlight and Holy love colors . . .
. . . the virgin's Baby and good tidings of great joy colors . . .
. . . "I once was lost and now I'm found" colors . . .

I. want. to. NOTICE.

"But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart."

Luke 2:19 ESV

Tell me how you "treasure up all these things!"

Share a captured moment of Christmas glory with me!

Joining the fun at Faith Barista JAM today!  Thanks Bonnie!

~ and ~

Belatedly getting on board with Ann's Walking With Him community