LIFE IN A NORTHWEST TOWN

(December 9, 2007)

Another snow forecast today.  Soon, flurries will come.

The fire is lit, warming the entire house.  A cup of steaming cocoa awaits on the corner table and my giddy 8 year old sits at the edge of the sofa.

"Push play, Mom," she says, beaming a wide smile as she bounced herself on the cushion.

We are waiting for the movie "Polar Express" to come on.

(Today, she has invited me to sit down and watch it with her.  Inside her ever-wondering mind, she must have known that I needed a break.  I took the offer, dropped what I was doing, grasped her tiny hand and let her lead me to where the T.V. was).

Then, the screen brightens, colorful images appear and two sets of eyes wait in anticipation.

                                             _______

I don’t know if it’s just me but when I watch a movie, not only do I listen for dialogues that would help me spriritually, I also tend to take note of the track songs being played. 

"Polar Express" has one called BELIEVE by Josh Groban.  He sings:

Children sleeping, snow is softly falling.

Dreams are calling  like bells in the distance.

We were dreamers not so long ago.

But one by one we all had to grow up.

When it seems the magic slipped away

We find it all again on Christmas Day

(CHORUS)

Believe in what your heart is saying.

Hear the melody that’s playing

There’s no time to waste.  There’s so much to celebrate.

Believe in what you feel inside

And give your dreams the wings to fly.

You have everything you need.

If you just believe.

(END CHORUS)

Trains move quickly to the journey’s end.

Destinations are where we begin again.

Ships go sailing far across the sea

Trusts in starlight to get where they need to be.

When it seems that we have lost our way

We find ourselves again on Christmas Day.

(CHORUS)

Just believe.

                                                          _______

Hours later, the movie ends.

"Isn’t it great, Mom?" she asks.

I nodded, smiling at her, the song still playing in my ear.

As I type the song’s lyrics down, I randomly highlighted the verses that most struck me.

I read, putting all the bold verses together, weeding out the rest of the song.

Shaking my head, a sigh of content comes out of me.  There it was…the answer to my doubt.  My 8 year old led me to it.  And I have her to thank for.

Indeed, it is true that answers come when you least expect it.  They may come from an 8 year old, a movie or while crossing the street.  What matters is the decision of when to believe.

This season, my wish for you all is that may you find your answers as well…whatever they may be.  May you be surrounded with peace and joy, love and contentment.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE AND GIVE YOUR DREAMS THE WINGS TO FLY.