A second point for reflection is meaning of a life. Eddie saw his life as worthless ? he had lost those he had loved and worked at what he saw as a dead-end job, yet he comes to discover that everything had its purpose. How many times in our lives do we search for meaning? As women, caught up with responsibilities of family and home, we can sometimes feel invisible. There are also times when paid employment can seem devoid of purpose, a means to a paycheck but little else. For us who believe in God, we trust that there is a plan for our lives. As Philip Yancey states in Searching for Invisible God (Zondervan Publishing House, 2000) ?God promises to use any circumstance to serve his ultimate will.? The seemingly mundane, even painful, aspects of our lives are woven together with extraordinary moments to create unique tapestry that God has designed especially for us. As difficult as it can be at times, we should embrace our lives and realize that every breath we take is imbued with mystery of God. We are all a part of a great plan that we haven?t even begun to understand. Hopefully, like Eddie in Album?s book, someday it will all be clear.

The other four holidays of Celtic year celebrate spring and fall equinoxes and winter and summer solstices. Each name contains word "Alban" meaning "Light of".

Alban Arthuan (Light of Arthur), like winter solstice celebrations all over world, celebrates return of sun following shortest day in year. It's no wonder church adopted these holidays as birthdate of Son. From ancient Celtic and Norse mythology we enjoy such holiday traditions as holly and mistletoe, yule log, Santa Claus in his aspects of Father Christmas or Holly King. Supposedly, King Arthur was born on winter solstice (and he, too, will come again).

The spring (vernal) equinox is celebrated as Alban Eiler (Light of Earth). The equinoxes were considered a time of balance, not only between dark and light, but between worlds as well and, therefore, a time of high magical potential. More mundanely, this festival signified time for spring planting and fertility rituals.

Alban Heruin (Light of Shore) is celebrated as Midsummer's Day with games, picnics, and all manner of light-hearted fun. The antics of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by Shakespeare well capture spirit of this festival, including interaction between our people and those of faery world.

Finally, Alban Elued (Light of Water) is observed at autumn equinox and, like spring equinox, is a very sacred time when line between worlds is thin and magical possibilities abound.

Much more seems to be known about four fire festivals (which are still celebrated in many traditional ways) than four solar festivals. Were solar festivals mainly druidic sacred times in which lay participation was minimal (it would seem that some of neo-druids have taken this view and make rather more of these dates than Irish and Gaels do)? Or could solar celebrations pre-date druidism, belonging to Stonehenge builders, and have fallen slowly into disuse? This seems a possibility since Celtic calendar is lunar based, rather than solar.