Penning Photography Daily

Sometimes, I just have to stop what I’m doing and grab the scene before me.

This is one of those times.

I was leaving church after singing for the funeral of one of our members, and listened to several folks remark on how the lights of the decorations were so pretty this year. Simple, but full. In addition to several evergreen trees, there were rows of poinsettia plants of various colors. Tying these into the manger scene, at far left, are hundreds of white lights. Evergreen wreaths and giant red bows on the columns, and the scene was perfect.

What struck me as I left, was what happened when the lights inside the church were all turned off, with the exception of the tiny white lights of the decoration, and that light that was streaming through the many windows and the stained-glass cross. The combination took hold of me and had me swiftly moving to my car to get my camera, just in case the decoration lights would soon be turned off.

The sunlight cast wonderful shadows from the pews on the carpeted main aisle and elsewhere. I noticed a large shaft of light, coming from the altar windows at top left, that was nearly reaching the manger scene.

It’s the day before the Feast of Epiphany in the Western Christian churches. We celebrate the presentation of the Baby Jesus to those three Wise Men who came to give homage to the newborn King. There’s quite a few good songs about the gifts of the so-called Magi, the three who brought offerings of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

The play of light in this sacred space caught hold of me and wouldn’t let go until I had it recorded.

I’m glad I had my camera with me.