Park the car and take a peek, or you might miss this gem of Christmas spirit.
I heard about this one through a friend's Facebook post, checked it out for myself and felt compelled to share it here. It's no Lighthouse on the Bay, but then again, I didn't have to shell out $20 and view something loaded with corporate sponsorships.
What I saw instead touched my heart and filled me with the real joy of Christmas. And, yes, it's worth the trip. The show is at a private residence in Brooklyn, MD (yes, Maryland, not New York!) along a bustling thoroughfare called Ritchie Highway.
My YouTube video is also homespun. I literally sat in my car and recorded it on my phone. I only recorded 6 minutes of it, because I thought it would be worth it for anyone anywhere to see it. If you want to see more, get in the car and go already!
Placement of the show is pure genius. Across the street from the home is a large parking lot for a large strip mall. The masses could converge, drive through style, turn on their radios and enjoy the show. Just be sure to turn off your headlights.
What I loved most about this show is that the traffic is whizzing by as the show progresses. If you are in one of those cars, you might notice house lights blinking furiously, but miss the whole thing entirely. If you take the time to stop, park, look and listen, you get to see Christmas cheer unfold in the hustle and bustle of life.
The show starts at 6:00pm sharp. But, you don't have to worry. Get there when you can. The show runs through for 25 minutes and cycles again until 10:00pm, so you can see the show when it suits you. Thankfully, the light show runs nightly until January 6th, so you can still have a little Christmas well into the New Year.
Even in the midst of unspeakable tragedy in Newtown and elsewhere, amid the muck and mire of ordinary life, there is light. The Saunders Light Show demonstrates that there is compassion and generosity, and yes, hope for us all.
“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord."
- Luke 9-11
