I wanted to wish all my friends and contacts a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.
I have been spending time in Washington, D.C. visiting my sister and photographing the monuments and memorials. A couple of days ago I was at the U.S. Capitol to photograph the Capitol Christmas Tree (this year’s White House Christmas Tree was a dud).
Besides the Christmas tree, there are two other temporary changes at the Capitol if you look closely. One, you can see the scaffolding on the Capital lawn preparing for President Obama’s inauguration ceremony next year. Two, the Capitol flags are at half-staff as a sign of respect for the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.
I will leave it to the Peanuts character Linus to explain the true meaning of Christmas. In this classic cartoon, Linus recites from The Book of Luke to tell Charlie Brown the true meaning of Christmas.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night, and lo the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were so afraid, and the angel said unto them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger."
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.
Merry CHRISTmas!
Happy Travels!
Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography
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