A candle.

A Candle 

A candle flickers gently in the  breeze,

yet the light holds on as if to tease.

To draw you close, to let you see.

The written words that speak to thee.

The gentle wind caressed my cheek,

like the gentle touch of spirits 

to the inner voice does speak.

This little light keeps dark at bay,

it goes not out and with me stays.

Like love, it touches deep within,

and brightens corners seldom seen.

Brings out in us the very best,

and helps us face the greatest test.

It whispers to us I am the light,

I will be with you,

I will not go out.

Light and Dark

have you ever been afraid of being alone in the dark?  I remember summers spent with my grandmother (Gran). She lived in the bottom house in a tenement building with four flights of houses two on each landing. In those days many homes did not have inbuilt toilets. My Gran's was at the end of a passageway that even during the day seemed dark. How I dreaded the thought of going there in the middle of the night or even late at night. It was not really all that far from the front door to the door of the toilet but to me, it seemed like a very long way. I really wanted my Gran to accompany me and wait outside the door to walk me back. There were no lights that could be switched on, so the compromise was that I was given a candle and a candlestick. From the light of this little candle, my fear dissipated. My Gran frequently said to me, "When you see the candlelight remember I am never far from you."

Light has played an important part in almost every world religion, in some more than others. For most, it symbolises the presence of the spirit of God, present and always near.

There will be many who have never had or experienced the fear of the dark in the sense that I have described above because we live in an age where we can get light at the touch of a switch. It is a fact that some people who live in towns have never experienced anything near total darkness and for some, the joy of a starry night is unknown because of the ever-present light pollution we live with.

There is, of course, another kind of darkness that we all at some time or other experience. The darkness and loss that come to us when a loved one dies. Or the darkness that fills our life when a deep and meaningful friendship breaks down. Or that feeling of darkness that overtakes us when we find yourself in a helpless situation where we long to help another and feel helpless to do so.

There is also the most horrible of all darkness that is brought about by the actions of others causing wars and hatred. Or the terrible darkness brought on by famine or earthquakes and such. 

We often feel helpless do anything about such horrors and we become aware of another kind of darkness.

Then, for some, the dark night of the soul. When we have lost faith we once had, or the light of life itself seemed to have left us and all we can feel is despair.

It is at such times that it is wise to prepare ourselves. Lighting a candle has always helped me. It takes me back to the happy times and I hear again the voice of my Gran as she tells me the light of the candle is to remind us we are not alone.

To light a candle in the good times of life and in its light to consider again the things that help us to hold on in the bad times. To see again the faces of friends. To remember the lessons learned from loved ones. To feel the inner strength that comes to us from the still small voice within, whether that is the voice of your God or your inner energy, some call it their Chi. Whatever, in the good times, prepare yourself for the times that yet may come.  The candlelight speaking words of strength and words of comfort lifting us from dark to light.