One Little Candle ...

“It is better to light just one little candle,

Than to stumble in the dark!

Better far that you light just one little candle,

All you need’s a tiny spark!

  

If we’d all say a prayer that the world would be free, 

The wonderful dawn of a new day we’ll see!

And, if everyone lit just one little candle,

What a bright world this would be!

 

Let’s all light one little candle,

Why stumble in the dark?

When the day is dark an’ dreary

And your way is hard to find,

Don’t let your heart be weary,

Just keep this thought in mind …

 

And, if everyone lit just one little candle,

What a bright world this would be!

 

What a bright world

This would be!”

          ~ “One Little Candle”

            ~ Music by George Mysels,

        Lyrics by Joseph Maloy Roach

               ~published 1952

     ~ Recorded by Perry Como

          & various other artists

 

“One Little Candle” is the theme song of the television show of The Christophers, a Christian inspirational group that was founded in 1945 by Father James Keller. The name of the group is derived from the Greek word christophoros, which means “Christ-bearer.”

 

The mission of The Christophers is to encourage people of all ages, and from all walks of life, to use their God-given talents to make a positive difference in the world. The mission is best expressed in The Christophers’ motto: “It’s better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.”

 

The glow of a small electric votive candle pierces the darkness of a December evening a week before Christmas 2020 in the West End of Allentown, Pennsylvania, a day after 11.3 inches of snow blanketed the region.

 

As I shot this image, I thought it was particularly fitting as the world prepares to celebrate Christmas in the midst of the covid-19 pandemic.

 

Gold Nugget ...

“Taking pictures is like panning for gold. You do it again and again, and sometimes you find a nugget.”

          ~ Raghubir Singh

           ~Indian photographer

             ~ 1942-1999

Talk about autumn gold! I spotted this painted rock etched with the phrase “Gold Nugget” in the shadow of the Kittatinny Ridge, also called Blue Mountain, along the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor (D&L Trail) at Lehigh Gap, Slatington, Pennsylvania on an October afternoon.

This painted rock is likely part of the The Kindness Rocks Project, which was founded by Megan Murphy of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, who wanted to spread encouraging messages to strangers by writing them on rocks she found on the beach. The practice spread and launched similar projects across the United States.

The grassroots project encourages people to leave rocks painted with inspiring messages along the path of life. People are encouraged to take one, share one or add to the pile. You can see just how much impact she’s made when looking up #TheKindnessRocksProject. Learn more about how to join the movement at http://thekindnessrocksproject.com.

The Lehigh Gap is a crossroads where the Lehigh Gap Nature Center’s trails connect two historic trails – the Appalachian Trail and the D&L Trail.

The Appalachian Trail, a foot path, follows the ridge on both sides of the Lehigh Gap, running 1,245 miles south to Georgia and 930 miles north to Maine. Running from Wilkes-Barre to Bristol, the D&L Trail passes through the Lehigh and Delaware rivers and their canals in Pennsylvania.

 

Circling Centre Square At Christmastime ...

“It’s better to light just one little candle than to stumble in the dark, better far that you light just one little candle, all you need’s a tiny spark. If we’d all say a prayer that the world would be free, the wonderful dawn on the new day we’ll see, and if everyone lit just one little candle, what a bright world this would be.”

 ~“One Little Candle”

 ~ recorded by Perry Como, 1952 and the theme song of “The Christophers,” whose motto is, “It’s better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.”

Let the Christmas season begin! A charming horse-drawn carriage circles through Centre Square during the festive Winter Village November 28, 2020 in historic Easton, Pennsylvania. The base of the Easton Peace Candle that towers over the square can be seen at left, as wooden huts festooned for Christmas beckon shoppers to stop by.

Easton was established in 1752.

The Winter Village welcomed everyone to shop at cozy wooden huts featuring city retailers and restaurants, stroll around the circle enjoying treats and take a spin around the ice skating rink. Filled with the Christmas spirit, people could shop at Easton’s more than 30 downtown retailers in search of treasurers to place under the Christmas tree. The event welcomed visitors November 27 through December 31.

As part of Easton’s coronavirus economic recovery plan, the Winter Village features a synthetic ice rink and socially distant vendor huts for Christmas shopping.

The Easton Peace Candle is a tower-like structure erected every Christmas season in Easton. The approximately 106-foot tall structure, which resembles a giant candle, is assembled every year over the Soldier’s & Sailor’s Monument, a Civil War memorial in Centre Square. It is typically assembled in mid-November and lighted over Thanksgiving weekend and disassembled in early February each year.

The Peace Candle was first erected in 1951, and has been erected almost every year since then, having been replaced a few times due to damage or disrepair. It is dedicated to the Easton area men and women who have served or are serving in the United States armed forces.

It has been said to be the largest non-wax Christmas candle in the country. Although conceived with the hopes of restoring Easton’s pre-20^th century reputation for elaborate Christmas decorations, city officials also believed a candle would serve as a symbol of peace for all religions and denominations.