Amid the hustle and bustle . . .

Last evening was Christmas Eve, and we went to the church for the traditional service. We've been rushing and hustling through the seasonal events, and this was no different. Leave the house at 4:30 for the 7 o'clock service, join the choir so Mitsuko can give voice pointers at 5, eat onigiri (rice ball) dinner around a table we'd put up (and took down again as soon as we were done). And someone grabs me and says please let the Chinese student sit with me, after all, we're both foreigners, so I can help him (he didn't speak English, and my Chinese is also non-existent, so . . .).

And part-way through the service, with the lights turned off and candles lit, as we were singing, I happened to see a little one. Probably about 4 years old, down below the waist line of all the people standing, but . . .

Peering up and around, mouth a little agape. And those eyes! Shiny and wide, with the candlelights twinkling in them.

I think I joined in the song with a bit more verve at that point, and looked around myself at the wonder of the day.

Happy Holidays, one and all!