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Think On These Things Newsletter>
The Light That Shines a Little Too Brightly
December 31, 2007
The other night when I backed out of the driveway and went
to the store, the street was dark. Porch lights were on of
course, but generally the street was filled with darkness
and shadows. However, on returning, as I was about to turn
into our driveway, the neighborhood lit up in an instant.
In that instant, I had a vision of police cars, stake-outs,
and helicopters.
I recovered quickly enough to miss the car parked on the
street and head into my own driveway. It turned out our
neighbor across the street installed two 100-watt kleig
lights in the middle of the garage above the door. They
also installed a sensor so sensitive (too sensitive in my
opinion) an overweight ant meandering down the sidewalk
would set it off.
Whoever installed them designed the lights to go on just
as the person driving down the street reaches the driveway.
Which means the interior of the car - which hitherto only
had the lights of the dash - turned into center stage with
the spotlights on. I do not know about you, but my tendency
is to look toward the source of the light. Corresponding of
course, to the moment I came closest to hitting the parked
car on the side of the street - nearly missing my driveway.
It is never consistent. When I leave the driveway the
lights do not come on - usually. When the lights are on
when I leave the driveway I ordinarily have not seen a car
pass by. Then again, I do not yet know how long they are
programmed to stay on. But it is certainly annoying. I do
not mind anyone lighting their yard for protection. I do,
though, object to them lighting the entire block.
I had the urge to call the city to see if disturbing the
peace included visual nuisances. I imagined the
conversation:
“Hello, city hall.”
“I just wanted to know if you were aware that there is a
light on a house in the 4400 blk of [Sycamore] street that
is intermittently lighting up the entire neighborhood. It’s
like noon in the middle of summer - all the time! I woke
up, saw the light in the window, rolled out of bed and took
a shower, got ready for work and discovered that it was
2:30 in the morning! That’s not right!”
I hesitate to imagine what the response would be. Mainly
because if there was any action it would probably not be in
my favor. It is hard to forgive someone that is simply
being inconsiderate and annoying. Even Christ had problems
dealing with the moneychangers. He certainly did not
immediately forgive them. I do not think the solution to my
problem would be positively affected by my going over and
ripping the lights out of the wall. My house is not a
synagogue and I am not Christ.
The family across the street does not speak very much
English. I’m not sure how to ask them to simply decrease
the wattage without them misunderstanding. I certainly do
not want to make matters worse by merely trying to come to
a compromise. Which happens when we try to talk to people
of other faiths. If we do not know anything about their
religion or beliefs, a simple question worded wrongly could
facilitate antagonism without intentionally doing so.
Future newsletters will deal further with the issue of
interfaith dialogue. It is an important issue with many
different cultures surviving together in society. I will
also keep you updated on my kleig light situation. In the
meantime, if the power happens to go out at our house,
family members can take turns periodically walking across
the street, jumping up and down and walking back. We could
have lights indefinitely.
Just a thought. Until next time -
Peace be with you.
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