Gary's views

Gary's weekly views

Each week an article by Gary has appeared in the Plympton Plymstock and Ivybridge News in South West Devon. The articles are published here

HOUSE BLINGING

You either hate it or you love it and personally I love it. No, not marmite, but house-blinging: the fashion that has spread across the pond from America to decorate the outside of our homes in twinkling Christmas lights and regalia as we approach the big day. From the gleaming Santas wobbling in the garden, the reindeers and elves pulsating on the walls, the dripping roof lights, the flashing stars bedecked over trees and shrubs, it is all so wonderfully over the top. Jan and I find a different way home from every evening engagement, just to enjoy the displays put on by increasing numbers of households. It all adds to the special feel of this special time of year.

If I could adorn the entire front of our house with massive flashing lights, and power up every tree in the garden, I would. Unfortunately I do not possess the technical knowledge to know how to do this. Anyway, house-blingers of Plympton, Plymstock and Ivybridge, I am with you in spirit.

Some of you will be concerned that this obsession has little to do with the true meaning of Christmas and in one sense that is so. But then, huge turkey meals and binge drinking, hurriedly scribbled cards from people you sit next to at work, and the giving and receiving of presents that you would never buy for yourself in a thousand years has precious little to commend it either. How lovely, a fibre glass gear stick cover, just what I always wanted. None of this has much to do with the birth of the saviour of the world!

But turning on the gaudy lights marks this time of year as being exceptional, and also as a celebration we make together, not just as families, but as communities and as a nation. There are plenty of voices out there telling us that we should tone down our Christmas celebrations, that it is not politically correct. Complete nonsense of course.

For those of us, who wish to worship the baby born in Bethlehem, the baby that grew to be our redeemer, it is our responsibility to make the time and space to do that. We can easily step back from all the bling to give our personal thanks that 2,000 years or so ago the people living in darkness received a great light.
The flashing Santas do not prevent us from doing this. Go for it

posted by Nigel on Monday, January 08, 2007