There was a blackout, so I went to the closet and fumbled around to find the candles. I lit four of them. I was turning to leave with the largest one in my hand when I heard a voice, “Now, hold it right there!”

“Who said that?”

“I did.” The voice was near my hand.

“Who are you? What are you?”

“I’m a candle.”

I lifted it up to take a closer look. There was a tiny little face in the wax, and it said, “Don’t take me out of here.”

“What?”

“I said, ‘Don’t take me out of here.’”

“What do you mean? I have to take you out! You’re a candle and your job is to give light. It’s dark out there and I need you.”

“But I’m not ready,” the candle pleaded. “I need more preparation.”

I could not believe my ears. “More preparation?”

“Yes, I’ve decided to research this job of light giving so I won’t go out there and make a bunch of mistakes. You’d be surprised how distorted the glow of an untrained candle can be…”

“All right, then,” I said. “You are not the only candle on the shelf. I blow you out and take the others.” But right then I heard the other voices: “We aren’t going, either!”

I turned to the candles and said, “You are candles and your job is to light dark places!”

“Well, that may be what you think,” said the first one. “You may think we have to go, but I’m busy. I’m meditating on the importance of light. It is very enlightening.”

“And you other two?” I asked. “Are you going to stay here, too?”

A short, fat, purple candle with plump cheeks spoke up. “I’m waiting to get my life together. I’m not stable enough to go out there and shine.”

The last candle had a female voice, very pleasant to the ear. “I’d like to help,” she explained, “but lighting the darkness is not my gift. I’m a singer. I sing to other candles to encourage them to burn more brightly.”

She began a rendition of “This Little Light of Mine” The other three joined in, filling the closet with singing….I took a step back and considered the absurdity of it all. Four perfectly healthy candles singing to each other about light but refusing to come out of the closet.

Someone sent me that parable years ago. I don’t know the author. But I thought it appropriate for this time of year when we see so many candles everywhere as part of the seasonal decorations. Candles are used in Advent and Christmas to remind us of the coming Light of the World. This should be a time of increasing Light in our lives and the lives of those around us. So how can you let your light shine?

  • Share the love of God with someone with an act of kindness or a gift.
  • Invite someone to your home to share a meal.
  • Invite someone to attend a special worship service with you.

By your words and your actions, let it be known that Jesus, the Light of the world, came for all people. There is more to Him than the story of His birth. He is the one who lived a perfect life, offered it to pay for the sins of all people, and rose again victorious on Easter to bring life and immortality to light. He wants you to shine His light into your world this Advent and Christmas season.

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.