Back when I was doing a couple of hours of after school piano teaching most nights, I used to light this candle lantern by the front door to greet the children.
This week's chapter of '52 Tiny changes for a quieter Life' suggests lighting (or switching on!) a candle and just sitting still and watching the flame for a couple of minutes. Good idea! I'm looking at my battery operated candles to choose one. Some of them don't flicker, but the older ones do. They also have the advantage of a remote control to switch them on and off.
Meanwhile there is always our metal suncatcher to watch as it slowly twirls in the slight draught;
Simeon said 'He is a light to lighten the gentiles' when he saw the baby Jesus at the Temple,
Jesus said 'I am the Light'
John, in the very first chapter of his gospel wrote 'the Light came into the world, and that Light was life to all mankind'
and
'The Light came into the world, and the darkness conprehendeth it not'
(I'm quoting from memory... but I reckon I'm pretty close)
I love the triple meanings inside the word comprehend,
as in 'understand' or 'encompass' or 'include'.
Jesus, God the Father, the Holy Spirit as a Light, a lighthouse, a torch, an inner fire keeping me going...
Like a candle flame
Flickering small in our darkness
Uncreated light
Shines through infant eyes
God is with us, alleluia
God is with us, alleluia
Come to save us, alleluia
Come to save us
Alleluia!
Stars and angels sing
Yet the earth sleeps in shadows
Can this tiny spark
Set a world on fire?
Yet his light shall shine
From our lives, Spirit blazing
As we touch the flame
Of his holy fire
I love that song!
ReplyDeleteIt's to good to only sing it at Christmas
DeleteYour post made me think of Psalm 36:9: “In Your light we see light.” I love the thought that we don't have to create the light ourselves. We only have to turn towards Him. Which sounds wonderfully simple, until I try to sit still for two minutes! 😊
ReplyDeleteLight becomes so important as the days grow longer and colder
DeleteI love real candles, the warmth and the glow of them is so cheering.
ReplyDeleteMe too, but sadly I can't have them any more because of the oxygen of the fire risk with using oxygen. The artificial ones are getting better and better.
DeleteAs the days draw in candles really come into use again. All summer they were ignored.
ReplyDeleteI've just boxed up all my real candles 🕯 to take to take to the charity shop sometime.
DeleteWalking home from a late night at work the other night, the light was just fading, and I noticed a living room with a lamp and a couple of flickering candles. It looked so welcoming, and I thought it would be nice to come home to that in the evening.
ReplyDeleteSime of my led rechargeable candles work on a timer to come on automatically! Unromantic but lovely all the same
DeleteBy the way, the Rosamund Pilcher book I was trying to remember is 'September'.
DeleteAnd now, as the nights grow ever longer, light becomes especially precious.
ReplyDeleteI have a lantern in my garden bed, next to the roses—they are still in bloom. They will keep blooming until the first frost.
This lantern glows with candlelight, and its gentle flickering is truly beautiful.
Warm wishes to you, from Viola
I think I might try substituting an led candle for the tealight in the candle lantern.
DeleteI love that song. Candles are very comforting!
ReplyDeleteIt is just such a gentle song
DeleteP. S We've e got a gorgeous Diwali display in the library with fake LED candles. They are so soothing!
ReplyDeleteWhat a good idea to have led candles on your display
Delete