BETWEEN THE LINES: STRINGS OF HOLIDAY LIGHTS MAKE EVERY SEASON BRIGHT

Drive down any street in Cape Girardeau and you'll see colored lights on dozens of houses illuminating the night sky.

The city's Convention and Visitor's Bureau holds its annual contest to see who has the best lighted display in town. The Downtown Merchants sponsor an annual Parade of Lights.

People like Christmas lights -- and a lot of them.

So do I, but there aren't any on my house. It's not that l don't like outdoor Christmas lights, it's just that I don't have the lights -- or the extension cords -- needed to create a holiday display. Nor do I have the initiative to string them along my roof on a cool, wintry day only to take them down a month or so later.

But I love to drive up and down the streets looking at other people's Christmas lights. I don't know exactly what it is about them, but lights are special.

And it doesn't matter where you put them. String up lights on a tree or bush or just around your door frame and it looks like you've transformed your home into a holiday delight. Lighted decorations make every season bright, whether its Christmas or not.

Of course, there are some people who simply went overboard when stringing up their outdoor lights. Too many colors and flashing lights could give a person a headache, not to mention the glare it creates for the neighbors. There are some limits to the number of lights I can handle in a holiday display.

For someone who's enthralled with the festivity and beauty of colored (or just plain white) lights, I don't really have that many in my holiday decorations. As usual, when I pulled out the string of lights from last year's Christmas tree none of the bulbs worked. I plugged them in and nothing happened. I tried another outlet still no lights.

When I strung the new strand of lights on my little tree, it looked beautiful. Of course, that's just my opinion, but even without the ornaments the tree already looked festive.

Maybe that's why candles are so popular -- they make everything more festive. Just a little light from their flame makes everything seem cozy and hushed. I have plenty of candles in the rooms of my house. Not only do they make the room seem warmer, but they're great to have in case of a power outage.

A flickering flame from a single candle can put a different perspective on things. It makes life seem simpler and more beautiful. That's why I love Christmas candlelight services, they bring the best of the holiday season together: Carols, the story of Christ's birth and candlelight.

Edith Wharton once said, "There are two ways of spreading light; to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it."

I can think of no better time than now to be reflecting light -- whether it comes from outdoor displays or the candles in your home. Make your day a little brighter, and maybe someone else's too.

Laura Johnston is a staff writer for the Southeast Missourian.