Candles

As you know one of the most favorite things I like to do is to ride over to the Star of the Sea Catholic church and go inside to the dark foyer, put on the light so I can see my way in and there stands the huge wrought iron stands with maybe one or two candles lit. I find the long tapir lighter and wonder what it is made of as it disintegrates as you light the candles. So far I haven't burned the church down but I have made the foyer glow with the beauty of candlelight. I have taken to light twenty candles, and on one of my visits a church worker stood by and watched me closely. I think he was wondering if I was the mad woman of Chalet and was going to use up all the candles and not pay for them. He didn't say a word, nor did I as I placed my donation into the little opening in the wall. I know my donation will keep the church in candles and maybe encourage a few more to reach out and join me in hope that the God we were introduced to so many years ago has not forgotten how much need we have in our world. Although I am not a practicing Catholic, I have never forgotten the old traditions that brought love and peace into my world. I have always found that lifting my thoughts up has a way of changing my attitude and hopefully makes me a better person to cope with a cross or two I have had to carry in my own lifetime. After lighting the candles I go inside and sit for a moment. The altar light is on, there is no one in the church, silence prevails and as I sit there sending my thoughts up pass the round colors of a glass window showing Christ ascending into Heaven, I think of all the needs and wants and remember that it is not my will . . . 'but thine be done' . . . and I know that we cannot cure the ills of our world but it sure makes me feel better to sit in silence and let my thoughts roam as I ask to keep faith, hope and charity in my life . . . it isn't always easy to do. On the other hand there is humor in lighting candles at home as my poem will attest.



Romance comes to mind/as they glow in the dark/making a room soft in light.
I lit them in measure/spending as if I had treasure/ burning them night after night.
What nobody knew/was the house I rented/ put up with a cat a bit demented.
It never went out/no matter what shout/and left its scent everywhere/
so candles were used/ to hide this abuse/ and friends thought I had not a care/
they thought me romantic and came with candles to spare.


It is true, and to this day I have candles to burn. How handy they come in when we have a storm and the lights go out. They bring romance to a dinner set for two; they bring solace too. So today, go out and buy a candle or two. They come in all sizes and colors and can only bring delight once you fire them up and look into the flame and catch a little spark of life. The start of a new week . . .um. . . seems I just said that yesterday as time flies by in the wink of an eye. Get out there and do what comes naturally as you make a small detour and head for a church with candles to light. Make your world a brighter place. Hugs to all.