Tale Lights

“Tale” lights messaging peace and goodwill.

Tale Lights

It was a cold December night.  Luckily, we were sort of sitting snug within the cocoon of warmth created by our car.  In a way, it also felt as if we were trapped inside another cocoon; our restaurant parking stall.  We were getting to know that stall way too well!  That wasn’t part of our initial plan.

The plan was simple.  Go to one of our local restaurants, pick up some takeout, drive the hot food home and enjoy it while sitting fireside.  Yet, upon arrival at the restaurant it was immediately clear that the line for drive-up service was seemingly a length longer than a child’s anticipation for Christmas Morning.  That was much longer than I was interested in.  So, I opted to park, walk inside and carry out our order.  I should have paid a more attention to the length of that line!

As we walked past the lined-up cars again, while carrying our just purchased, carefully packaged food, it was hardly a bother.  And, since the food was hot we decided to enjoy it at its best, right up to the time it was gone.  

When our food was gone, the line of cars was not.  And, it appeared to be growing!  So, there we sat, waiting in hope for an opening to leave, until it felt as if we were beginning to grow too.  Roots!

Fearing an ever-increasing depth to our sprouting roots, I decided to start the car, place it in reverse and prepare to take advantage of a slight opening for an escape.  

I know what you’re thinking right now!  Yes.  I am an unfailing optimist!

You know what holiday-time-traffic can be like.  This scene was that.  

And then, in an instant, it was suddenly not that typical holiday-time-traffic scene! Because, as soon as our backup lights flickered to life, they seemingly triggered a chain reaction of goodwill. The rearview mirror showed the lights of the car behind as they immediately twinkled to life. One. 

Then another. 

Then another.  

And, another.  

Within another moment there was backward creeping!

The blocking line of cars, once moving in a unified, single direction became a bifurcated string.  The cars on my left-rear were stalled, waiting for a voice over the order speaker to offer them hope.  The cars on my right-left immediately offered their own display of hope.

The car behind me nudged to life, creeping back in unison with those to its rear.  And, within the twinkling of more than a dozen backup lights, an escape gap was opened!

I looked in my rearview mirror, checked it twice and then carefully maneuvered into the opening.  Once there I stopped the car and touched a button so the moon roof would slide into its hide-away spot.  I reached my hand through the roof, into the cold air outside and gave a wave of gratitude!

It was a cold December night.  Luckily, we were sitting snug within the cocoon of warmth created by the goodness of strangers.  The plan was simple.  Go to one of our local restaurants, pick up some takeout, drive the hot food home and enjoy it while sitting fireside.  

Yet, rather than watching the flicker of flames from a fire, our hearts feasted on the flicker of “tale” lights messaging peace and goodwill.