When the garlands of November come early

Listen, I’m all for seasons. I like to give them each their due.

And I’m thankful for almost everything — my family and friends, of course. I’m also grateful for the honey I ladle on my morning yogurt, the gecko that lives amiably upstairs and never asks me for anything, the pillow on my bed that is the perfect weight and texture for my persnickety head, a solid, really sweaty morning workout.

I love a giant family meal, too. I look forward to the planning and preparation, the table sagging with food, the happy memories made and shared. I even like the cleanup because I usually have good music and great company with me in the kitchen.

So, you’ll never catch me overlooking Thanksgiving, the holiday that combines them all.

And yet…

This past Saturday I did the unthinkable. Nearly two weeks before Thanksgiving, I put up my outdoor Christmas lights. That would have been a somewhat egregious but still explicable faux pas given the unseasonably toasty weather on Saturday and the very seasonably blustery weather in the forecast ahead.

But it got worse. Much worse.

I dug those lights out and hung them under the cover of sunshine. I made no eye contact with the neighbors as I hauled out two Christmas trees too. I needed them so I could connect those lights to the rest.

Then, the next day, after I took down our lucky Packer flag following the big game, I figured I might as well hang our giant wreath. When I dragged the wreath out of the basement, I spied the porch garland looking all lonely down there. So, I brought it up too and hung it on the flower boxes that had barely given up their begonias.

If you’re wondering if anyone knows where the love of god goes when the garlands of November came early, I can tell you this:

The love of god is still right here.

It’s in the dark, obedient yards patiently waiting for lights, and it’s in the yards of people who just could not wait to spread a little Christmas joy.

It’s in the first resident of my house in 30 years who was brave enough to help me hang Christmas lights.

It’s in all of you.

I think we could all use as much light as can muster in this old world, and patience too. It’s all good.

I hope you all have a joyful November