SKY LANTERN RELEASE

Last night about 9:30 p.m. my sweet sweeting and I were privileged to take part in a SKY LANTERN RELEASE in Lake Park, Iowa.  If you have never been to one, we highly advise that you seek one out to attend at some time in your life.  It was life affirming, to us, which is a little contrary to the intent.  These lantern releases are planned as memorial events where people can come and release specially made lanterns to commemorate the death of someone dear to them.  The lanterns have small cardboard "wicks" that are lit after which the lantern is held upright to fill with air heated by the lit wick.  When the lantern is filled with hot air, it is released and rises into the sky - hopefully, with very little wind.  Our evening was a bit windy causing the lanterns to float to the northeast rather than straight up over the crowd.  It was still a beautiful event with the lanterns trailing one after the other each becoming smaller as they drifted away.  We saw a trail of lanterns of varying sizes floating and bobbing after each other looking like a group of friends happily on their way to a secret destination together.  This is how we should feel as we release a loved one or dear friend into God's care ... not that we are losing them ... but that they are on their way to a special destination and only they have the directions to get there.  The lanterns seemed to dance to the music in the air (Vivaldi's FOIUR SEASONS and George Winston's AUTUMN).  It was peaceful and hopeful and joyful to us.  We only released one lantern but it seemed that each lantern released took our hopes and thoughts with it as well as those of the people who released them.  It was a very touching and serene tribute ... it left us feeling content for some reason.  Quite a way to spend an evening.