Waiting, Crosswalks, and Igniting Magic

Shadowbloom

On magic

“Is it okay,” asked fox, “that I didn’t wrap your present?”

“I couldn’t find a box big enough,” she continued, “to contain how much I love you.”

Thoughts while making

When I was a kid, Christmas morning had a built-in torture.

My brothers and sisters and I called it “waiting.” For stockings. For presents. For breakfast. So much waiting.

There was one thing, however, we didn’t have to wait for: to go to the bathroom.

No, not like that!

Somewhere in the night, when all were fast asleep (or trying really hard to sleep, I promise), our front bathroom would be transformed.

Fresh-cut pine boughs and brightly wrapped chocolates would appear. Shiny tinfoil treats, striped candy canes, and sparkly tinsel spilled over the countertop. Little ceramic Santa mugs overflowing with goodies were ready to welcome.  

Opening that bathroom door was always one of my favorite things about Christmas morning.

In a word, it felt magical.

I’ve been thinking about magic today.

These days, if we use the word at all, it tends to be thought of as something that exists away from us. Perhaps in a different time or on a Netflix series.

But, today, I saw it right here in Portland.

- The car in front of me stopping at the crosswalk for the mom and daughter.

- The guy with the sign telling me to “Take it easy, friend.”

- The gentleman holding the door open for me.

- The talkative clerk with the smiling eyes at Whole Foods.

Each one of these sweet souls chose to breathe a life into that spark that sits ready + waiting; igniting that option we all have to do good, to be kind, to be the first.

In other words, they didn’t wait. They created. They conjured. Without promise. And in so doing, they made magic – transforming ordinary moments, ones that could passed like a thousand others – into something heart-warming and extraordinary.

Where will you light magic in the days ahead?