Today's artist, Sir Roger Deakins (b. 1949), is a prominent English cinematographer and also a photographer. His black and white photographs have been published in a collection entitled, Byways. You can see a nice sample of his work here. When I saw this particular shot, I was first attracted by the gulls rising above the horizon, but then began thinking about the sign. I was raised Anglican, but am far from devout. Still, I wondered how and where this expression would fit, in what context. A flight of fancy, you might say, but as always, under poetic license. Birthday Party for Jesus It begins in Bethlehem with Jesus losing a game of Musical Chairs, then landing in a manger, but the Invitations have already gone out, delivered to Shepherds by Angels, while Magi look to one Bright Balloon floating high in the East; for Jesus, all are friends, but it is they, the Magi, who bring the Birthday Presents, Gold, Frankincense, Myrrh, since they are said to be kings and can afford to buy gifts; and for Jesus, the Virgin Mother is also to be praised, at least by some, for it is her Birthing Day, and mothers everywhere are in need of a similar nod to their awesome power; for Jesus (His Mother, too), friends enjoy Pony Rides on camels in the backyard of the stable, then play Pin-the-Tail on the Donkey, as well as Pin-the-Tail on the Ox; and for Jesus, despite small stores of grain with which to bake bread, there is no actual Birthday Cake, but as a start, the wives of certain English Shepherds plan to make one their way, with currants and sultanas soaked in brandy or rum, and a thick layer of marzipan; for Jesus, Carollers go from Inn to Inn singing Happy Birthday To You, while his friends make a wish on a Candle that holds an Eternal Flame, and they call their wish a Prayer; and for Jesus, who always looks ahead and beyond despite his young age, every friend goes home with a Goody Bag that is filled with a small (though possibly infinite) supply of fresh unleavened Bread and a pouch of Wine for the tongue, including the abiding presence of something called the Spirit; because for Jesus, 'Happy Birthday' is hardly the whole story, or perhaps it is, because for Jesus, it is to Him and in Him that every friend returns, not just one day but every day, to celebrate.
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Interesting Deakings work, thanks for sharing
Thank you, Alan - A fitting tribute to the one whose birth is celebrated on this day! Merry Christmas!