Miracle of the Plant

Photographer: Angeline
Location: Nilai, Negri Sembilan, Malaysia
Model: My sister's Norfolk Island Pine. (Vital stats: about 2 feet tall, the pine, not my sister)

Christmas is a time for family, friends, joy, laughter and sharing. It is the season for nature to enter the living room, and for sweets to go on trees (and in bellies). Tis the season where baked goods become building material, and the gingerbread man doesn't run away. A time where bells jingling is a welcome sound, and tacky becomes beauty and everything is covered in shiny, shiny, shiny! I love Christmas!

Sure, there's the religious aspect too, but I've never found Christmas to be overly heavy on that. My Christmas anyway. Easter seems more appropriate somehow, if you want to talk about beliefs, and sacrifice and what Jesus did for folks.

But back to Christmas.

This Norfolk Island Pine reminds me of Christmas. When I first saw it sometime in July, I immediately wanted to decorate it, put presents by its feet, and decorate the crown with a star. And then I found that it has it's own star at the top. And a gorgeous one at that.

Look at the symmetry, the pattern, the colours!

I immediately smelt freshly baked cakes and cookies, and felt goodwill to all mankind. It had that kind of power.

Seeing at it that way, I feel as though there are miracles all around us, and that we only have to open our eyes and hearts to see it (and our camera shutters).

This plant reminds me of Christmas. And it reminds me of the miracle of the people and celebration that makes Christmas.

And in Malaysia, we have no snow and there's a relatively small community of Christians, but a large number of shopping malls. Folks can complain all they want about Christmas turning into one major merchandising fest, but I believe, that Christmas, or any other celebration, is what we make of it. And I intend to share it with the people I love...