Life is a Celebration

 

As I walked away from our neighborhood park, I saw this display on the curb. It appeared either the aftermath of a street party from the night before or the preparations for one soon to come. The stereo was complete and ready to go. All that was missing were friends and neighbors, laughter and dancing. I saw a party waiting to happen.

It gave me pause to think how it really takes little to make life a celebration. Friends, neighbors, family, perhaps a little music. Things don’t have to be elaborate or complicated. We see people coming together in such ways in the harsh circumstances of the past days. In hurricanes and fires, in all kinds of loss and trauma, we see people finding strength and power in each other. Strangers become friends, nameless neighbors become family. It may be a while yet before there is dancing, but the celebration is on the horizon. Hope is glimmering when they look at each other and it seems that the sun will rise again after all. That in itself is a party.

I heard these words read at a wedding this past weekend. The philosopher writes, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Those words keep rattling around my head as I read of all the destruction and loss touching the lives of so many. Having others with us in the hard times gets us through. Getting through is a cause for celebration.

Peace.