Dancing With Fireflies

Have you ever tried to catch fireflies? You know, those flying flickering “night-lights” that come out just after the sun has slipped away and the muggy heat of a summer’s day has begun to melt into the coolness of evening?

I remember as a little girl waiting with my brother for the sun to go down and heading into the tree-lined alley by our house to wait for them to emerge and begin their nighttime dance.

We’d wait breathlessly watching for the first bulb to flash – we called them “lightening bugs,” and they were one of our favorite things in the whole world.

One by one their lights would begin to flicker. We’d shriek with excitement and run to join in their magical dance. We’d dash from light to light giggling with delight as we tried to capture some of their magic.

The ones we caught were placed in one of mom’s mason jars so that we could observe their dance up close. We loved to watch our temporary captives. It was like holding magic in our hands.

We held the jar in front of our faces mesmerized as we waited for each brilliant flash of light. After a few minutes we’d run to our parents to share our treasure with them. And then finally, a bit reluctantly, we’d release them so they could fly away and share their magic with someone else.

I’m older now, at least in body, though not in spirit. I’ve watched my own children dance with the fireflies on cool summer evenings and bask in the magic of their dance. As I watched them, time stood still and I was transported back to my own childhood. Years were bridged as the past and present connected in one glorious moment.

I believe that in a way our lives are a lot like those magical dances with the fireflies. Life is, in and of itself, a wonderful, crazy, adventure, but there’s so much more to be enjoyed if we do more than go through life as spectators.

I believe that life is meant to be lived, embraced, enjoyed, and shared; and the memories released to share their magic with others - past, present and future – as time stands still in glorious moments of connection.

So take a minute, “dance with the fireflies” and capture some of the magic.