the candle on my desk

The candle on my desk

In my study, fancy words for the garage, I like to write with a lit candle on my desk. I actually have the little flickering flame in between my two screens. Most of the time my focus is on the screen and I am unaware that the candle is there right in front of me, but when I am aware the light attracts and distracts me. Today I had an accident you can see from the picture – oops!

There is a power in the flame even though it is small the brightness draws your eye to its centre. A candle of the size I use is unlikely to bring me warmth yet I feel less cold when I focus on the flame. I find the same applies to visibility, in the dark at night the candle on my desk is not helping me see the words I write or read. You might wonder why I bother, why I waste the wax or burn the wick. Where is the gain?

It is true my candle is not keeping me warm or helping my sight but I’m not asking that of it. I light the candle to remind me of the presence of God’s light. For more years than I can say I have worked on the basis that God’s light is all around. There are some wonderful Psalms – The lord is my light and my salvation – You, LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light – Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path – The unfolding of your words gives light…

Along with you my mind is not filled all day with Psalms reminding me, leading me to God’s light, so I light a candle. I place a very real and unambiguous reminder that catches my sight and my attention every few minutes. I look at it, forget what I was writing and think God is light, and in God is no darkness at all. Moments later I am back with one of the characters in my novel.

What draws your attention to the light of God?