Our neighbor’s house sits below street level. They put lights on it this year, on the side facing away from the street.
The neighbor below them, on a flag lot down a long drive, put lights on their home, also.
We live on the corner lot of a quiet street; Main Street compared to our neighbors but a very quiet street compared to most.
We put lights on our house, too.
What moves us to do this? We know that few if any people will see our lights yet we put them up just the same.
It must be that we do it for ourselves. It must be that as much as we want our neighbors and those few passers-by to delight in our offerings, it is our internal desires that are most satisfied by these displays.
It must be that we do it for ourselves. We do it because it moves us.
I’m not sure, but I think this has something to do with the true self; that hidden, best part of us only seen by the precious few who also understand the risk and opportunity of being known.
DAVID BERRY is the author of “A More Daring Life: Finding Voice at the Crossroads of Change” and the founder of RULE13 Learning. He speaks and writes about the complexity of leading in a changing world. Connect with him on Twitter at @berrydavid.
