THOUSANDS OF CANDLES CAN BE LIT FROM A SINGLE CANDLE, AND THE LIFE OF THE CANDLE WILL NOT BE SHORTENED.

BUDDHA

Candles. We use them frequently. They provide us with light. Some of them smell good. They provide a warm ambience in a room. They are used as symbols. The dilemma that the candles face is that they needs to lighted in order to be what they are meant to be. Without being lighted and a flame burning, the candle is just a lump of wax with a bit of string sticking out. The flame is what enables candles to be what they are meant to be. However, the life of a candle is one of constant strain. How does a candle light up the world without being demolished in the process?

The same dilemma is experienced by us.

St Catherine of Sienna once said, “Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire”. Does this mean we will literally set the world on fire? No, it doesn’t, but it does mean if we are to be truly who He meant us to be, we are called to love in the same way that Jesus loved. This is easier for some than others. We are asked to live an honest life, a humble life, a life loving others, a life of no judgement, a life of saying yes to something more, a life of respect, integrity, commitment, compassion, empathy, courage and advocacy.

This may seem like a lot but really, He is asking us to just be good people. The hardest part is giving into the temptation to be something other than the above human values.

It is natural for us to withdraw in fear the same way that a candle would if it knew its end would be a blob of wax in the face of lighting up.

However, it begs the question of us, if we really let the light of Christ shine in us, will there be much left of us at the end of the process? For us it is the opposite.

If we truly let His light shine through us, then we will become a brighter light in this world. We will be able to shine a light in the lives of those that no longer know how to let their lights shine, maybe even rekindle someone else’s light. So, the next time you look at a candle, stop and ponder.

How bright is your light?

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

• Who is it in your life that is a candle to you?
• How are you a light to those you encounter in your works with the St Vincent de Paul Society?

From: Firewood for the soul, vol. 1, A Reflexion Book for the Whole Vincentian Family
St. Vincent de Paul Society, Queensland, Australia.
Text by: Samantha Hill.