It seems we run through the holiday season with the hustle and bustle of everything, but in the end we end up right back at the beginning. We buy our presents and make our food. There are family gatherings with smiles and tension from problems past. At the end of the day though we go to bed, back to our normal lives and are left with a pile of stuff. Some of these things with sentimental meaning and others with none. Some presents left in the box, knowing deep down we will re-gift it because we would not be caught dead wearing that monstrosity. We lay waiting for the next confetti loaded party.

After the season we walk away with the same problems, the same short comings, and the same family that we started with. There may have been healed relationships or forgiveness, but we know those same petty troubles may come around again. I have been asking myself what happens after this emotional seasonal high? What happens when we resume our normal activities and jump right back into the swing of things? What happens after Christmas? Do we just¬? go into seasonal depression until the sun is out and buds bloom?

I think these questions tell me it is all fake. I don’t think things really get answered during holidays. There is too much media hype and “what gift should I get them” stress to really address life. I think it is great to put aside everything, and have family and friends gathered around a tree. But how many people go home feeling alone and caught in an endless loop of holiday high to weekdays alone.

Everyone loves to love. Everyone loves to be loved. It is a natural human desire to have relationships. Sometimes we get caught up in the experience of the holiday to really caress some of our friendships. In the end, I think this is what relationships really need. They need time, not the swiss army knives of holiday presents. Friends need an open ear. After a couple of recent events I have realized, it is easy to miss out on a great conversation during the holidays. One question, one caring comment, or one extra phone call after the holiday tide has settled, can really reveal what is on someones mind.

I was driving home yesterday and I got off the expressway relieved once again to be on familiar ground. I drove through our small downtown area and I was observing all of the houses that values have doubled since the Christmas season invest of inflatable lawn ornaments and fake icicles (I miss plastic mangers). I slowed to a stop at a red light and looked up to see lights flashing. After a closer look I noticed it was more then just flashy lights. There was some choreography involved. This house, which was not the best kept, had a Christmas light show for all to see. Parked next to a $750,000 mansion for sales this tiny shack over shadowed its glamorous neighbors with flashing porch pillars and glowing snowflakes. It is not common when parked at a stop light to beg for it to last longer, but this Christmas spectacular intrigued me enough to make me want to stop and watch for the loop in the light pattern to occur.

It all started with this electrical engineer (video the right). He made a Christmas light show at his house all by means of being an electric nerd. While lights show have been around for a while he made it public domain. Flashing lights had to be his passion. I find this story very interesting. For some reason I have been thinking about the “American Dream” a lot lately. I think this man better represents the American dream then the one commonly portrayed. It is said that you have to work to achieve this dream, but there lies more in this dream then freedom and money. Carson Williams of Mason, Ohio put his passion to the test. He found he was not the only person who liked flashing lights. Since his light show in 2004 (which was used in a Miller Light commercial), Carson has made his own company that specializes in custom light shows. You can view his website here. Some of his works include the Symphony in Lights at The Northfield Stapleton Mall in Denver, design for The Promenade Bolingbrook, located Chicago, IL and design for Yorkdale Shopping Cneter, located Toronto, CA.

I think this is really what people strive should strive to do in life. God calls us to work and work is hard. Ever since the fall of man kind that has been the case. Why not spend time doing something that is a passion, instead of striving to make as much money possible regardless of the pain and depression? I think America gives a great chance for anyone to do this.