Have you ever entered a room lit entirely by candles? The soft, warm glow immediately calms your heart and makes you feel comfortable. The interesting thing about a room full of candles is that they all glow together, they do not compete with each other. They compliment each other and, together, make the room brighter.
James Keller, a Catholic priest born in 1900, once said “A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.” When we have the hope of the Lord in our hearts, we allow His light to shine through us. That light is then used to encourage and inspire others which ignites a flame in their hearts as well. Soon, we all glow together and brighten the space around us!
Light conquers darkness. The two cannot exist in the same space. When light is brought to a dark place, it reveals what is hidden. Sometimes it casts lights on secrets or lies the enemy has convinced us to be ashamed of, other times, it casts light on things that we thought were unimportant or insignificant. Those are the things God can use for our good and His glory. By shining light on the hidden things, they no longer have a place to hide in us anymore.
Living organisms thrive in the light! I’m certain there are some exceptions, but everything that comes to my mind requires light to live and grow – people, plants, animals, the weeds in my flower bed… all seem to flourish in the light! You and I do too! When we allow God’s light to shine into the dark places of our hearts and minds, we experience restoration and renewal. The light replaces the dark areas allowing new growth and makes us radiant.
While it is true that “a candle loses nothing by lighting another candle”, it falls short of reminding us how much we gain – lighting each other’s candles makes the whole world brighter!
Be blessed!
Jennifer
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it give light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16