Flame and Light

Soul Soothing Journey

Flame and Light

“God brought me here.” Both men said to themselves. One was smiling while adjusting his tie and exiting his luxurious vehicle while the other one dropped his bike to the ground and noticed another hole in his shirt.

“I fought, and I fought, and I fought, and here I am.” Each man said. One while walking into his new 2-story house while the other one began to set up a tent in the woods while struggling to accept his new living situation.

“I prayed, I listened, I obeyed; and this is where God led me.” One man cried with gratitude while the other cried with disappointment.

Months later, neither man prayed, neither man listened, neither man obeyed. Both men just lived.

One day, both men bought a candle, lit the candle, and watched the fire dance in place. One man enjoyed the scent, while the other enjoyed the bit of light during the early-night darkness.

As the candle burned in the silence of the night, both men began to wonder, “what is life about? What is my purpose and how valuable am I, really? If I died today, would anyone care? Would I be remembered, missed, or talked about in a joyful way? Did God ever really care about me? I mean, look at my life. Dense, no purpose, no meaning…”

Each man then moved forward and blew toward the candle, but instead of the fire dying, a flame jumped out. Each man, startled, jumped back and watched as the flame burned still on the floor. It didn’t spread, it didn’t grow — it just slowly danced in place.

Both men then leaned in toward the still flame on the ground and blew forcefully to put it out; but another flame danced its way out and made its way next to the candle.

Each man, with deep curiosity, stared at the flames to notice something peculiar. All 3 flames had a different shade of light burning at the center. Something about these flames seemed lovely, friendly, and beautiful. As if little spirits lived at the center of each flame.

Both men had the same desire — to touch the flame, to pick it up and allow it to dance in the palm of their hand. Each one leaned in and slowly placed their hand on the ground next to the flame while using the other hand to try and guide the fire onto the open hand.

The fire felt warm at a short distance, but not as if it would burn. So, as odd as this was, it felt safe to continue.

Each man moved in closer and lightly pushed the flame onto the open hand. The soothing warmth and the liveliness of the flame dancing on the palm of their hands caused the men to laugh.

With each second of laughter, another flame was born. Before the men knew it, there were flames of dancing fire surrounding them. Each flame with a glorious light of its own, creating a masterpiece of beauty all around.

“Your laughter creates light.” The sound of the flames seemed to say.

“Your laughter creates light, a masterpiece of art in each day. Your presence livens hearts, in our disastrous world today. Your value is priceless, your worth is beyond exceeding, do not compare yourself to others, for you are each a valued being. Each with your own light, each a separate flame, each creating a masterpiece, a canvas of souls of goodness and pain. If your presence was taken away, hidden, or non-existent, then the world would miss out on your light, your flame, your addition — to the work of art that we all are, that you spread and you create, you’re a gift to this world without a doubt or any mistake. So, let your soul be free, let it wander, let it be — because your worth and purpose is not based on circumstances, it’s just there for you to accept freely. Extend your light, speak fruitful words, and love others and yourself without expectations — because there’s nothing needed more in life than the spread of flames with adoration.”