Out of darkness

It is safe to say that I don't see day light now, it is the dark hour! Cycling through the wind and rain, gritted teeth and cold hands, it's like the edge of an abyss...dark and brooding!

The lonely roads, now devoid of all the summer bikers, filled with mere like puddles. Dressed in full high vis (yes...feel like a real knob...but safe..right?!) with my lights burning a path through the pitch, I still enjoy the battle.

The cold frontages of the houses all shut up and the Christmas lights all turned off makes the town feel deserted, heartless and desolate. Rain pelting my face, water splashing up my legs from the puddles, dark, unfriendly, malicious roads. In this harsh reality springs the benevolent Christmas Tree outside the church. I stop the bike....my heart soars...here it is....that feeling again....from the wellspring of my childhood...the wonder of the Christmas tree! I have a picture of me when I was six, my eyes like saucers, my little face alight with wonder and behind me.....the Christmas tree. I have always felt like this.

Smiling and warm inside I ordered my coffee in the usual way, the very nice Croatian guy behind the bar smiled at me, turned around and held out a little hand made parcel. Tied with a little orange ribbon and dressed with a sprig of spruce, the gift of some hand made biscuits for me....me...some chap that comes in...out of how many? Filled with the deep joy that he and his Lady had made, I held out my hand and said the only thing that I could think of....."Thank you my friend, Merry Christmas to you and yours!" . In truth, my heart was filled, starting with the tree and now this gentle display of friendship.

For some it will not be a Merry xmas, death has stolen some of their loved ones from them, poverty looms for many, ill health makes life difficult, but when such simple gifts bring such joy....hopefully the rest of us can enjoy it! Remember those who don't have such luck but try and give a smile this Christmas.

A smile, I find, always lights up the dark!

:)