I saw the light
A "miraculous story" in Caracas on Christmas Eve
I must have been six or seven years old and Venezuela back in the sixties was a very naïve and innocent society, oblivious to and protected from all the dangers that were all around us back then. Middle Class families in Caracas had the privilege to have all that was needed to give their children a splendid Christmas experience; we had the custom to give gifts to everyone we liked and loved, not just to family. I mean my mother would buy gifts for me to give to my friends, neighbors and cousins that were around my age; and she and my father would give Christmas gifts to their brothers, sisters, nephews, our neighbors and other close friends. Just so you get an idea of the Christmas spirit then, we had two maids, one was called Narcisa who was with us before I had turned one and I loved her dearly. So, my mother would buy gifts for them both and their siblings that we knew.
Caracas, Altamira 1959
The tree was a sight to remember, think that families back then were large, and my parents each had 7 siblings each, so Christmas trees were packed with a few dozens of gifts large and small. On Christmas Eve, after dinner families all over Venezuela, no matter how affluent or poor they were, did the same, they opened the gifts they had received from family and friends. After kids went to sleep because Child Jesus would come that night and bring all good kids the best gifts ever.
Christmas tree in my house 1966
That particular night I was extatic with excitement, just like every Christmas Eve before Child Jesus was coming. We left cookies and milk for Him and I left my “Carta al Niño Jesus” (EN.: Letter to Child Jesus) which was my wish list of the gifts I wanted for this Christmas. My father came to my room and read me a story, of course I don’t remember the details of anything, something extraordinary was about to happen that night.
I was sound asleep. Our rooms were off a hallway next to the living room where the Christmas Tree was. From my bed I could see the reflection of the Christmas lights on my mother's door; how they changed colors, and the brightness illuminated my room. I must have been awakened by some muffled noise, I opened my eyes and looked at my mother's door, how the Christmas lights from the tree reflected from the shiny white. I was fantasizing about the gifts when a gush of white light that overpowered the tree’s lights illuminated the door, the pathway and my room. I was dumbfounded.
“Child Jesus is here now!”, the thought sprung to my mind. That must have been Him. Trembling I got up trying to be as silent as I could so I could surprise Him. Slowly and silently, I went to the hallway and stuck my head out. There they were… the presents in all their glimmering beauty. But Child Jesus was gone. My chest was about to explode. Walking with a mix of wonder and utmost respect, touching the stockings where He had picked up the letter I had left; I couldn’t believe Child Jesus had touched my stocking and I had seen His light.
The next day I told Miguel, my best friend and neighbor how I had seen the light of Child Jesus. I don’t remember what gifts he brought me that year; the best for certain was seeing his light.
COMING SOON NEXT CHRISTMAS EVE…
The Names of God
One thing is for sure, there is a Presence that permeates like morning dew over all reality. It is imperceivable to our senses. However, throughout history poets, historians, philosophers, and thinkers have called it by many names, we have fought and destroyed in its name too much… but it is our story that prevails, not the Presence's story… and just maybe it does say something about us, creation and the Universe.
You and your decisions are crucial.
