Candlelight
Tonight, after baking brownies, I enjoyed a guilty little pleasure as I cleaned up after my culinary exploits. I turned out all the lights in my apartment except for the small night light in my kitchen and the green glow from my microwave's clock in order to light a single vanilla-scented candle. And with (practically) the light of a single candle, burning brightly against the shadow of darkness, I realised that it is totally possible to do chores under the faint light emitted from it -- not to mention so much more pleasing than basking beneath the fluorescent glow of the overhead lights. As I scrubbed dishes, I couldn't help but be amused by the dancing flame flickering back and forth, struggling to provide just enough light, burning brightly from the melted wax.
And yet, a little random thought entered my head, and I couldn't help but think that, in many ways, our society is just like the little candle. It seems that so many people these days seem to feel like they're all alone, shrouded in the darkness by economic woes, personal finance, relationship problems, you name it. And the only way they know to keep the flame burning is to keep on burning wax, to consume like there's no tomorrow, to constantly keep burning brighter and brighter to push back the night and the darkness, to keep the nightmares at bay, to keep the hope of light alive just a little longer. Keep living, keeping moving, even if it isn't necessarily better or forwards.
What's so sad is that people don't truly realise just how many other candles are immediately surrounding them, doing the same fiery dance. And if every candle in the world -- or even all of them in just a small area -- tries to burn as bright as they can, soon enough, the combined efforts of everyone will cause a fire-storm of unbelievable proportions.
If we willingly, genuinely, openly, honestly shared the light with one another, we wouldn't have to try so hard. Two candles working together can be so much more than just a single candle in the dark. Together they can share and brighten each other so that they both don't have to try so hard.
Physically speaking, I want a second candle. Abstractly speaking, I'm glad I have so many.
And yet, a little random thought entered my head, and I couldn't help but think that, in many ways, our society is just like the little candle. It seems that so many people these days seem to feel like they're all alone, shrouded in the darkness by economic woes, personal finance, relationship problems, you name it. And the only way they know to keep the flame burning is to keep on burning wax, to consume like there's no tomorrow, to constantly keep burning brighter and brighter to push back the night and the darkness, to keep the nightmares at bay, to keep the hope of light alive just a little longer. Keep living, keeping moving, even if it isn't necessarily better or forwards.
What's so sad is that people don't truly realise just how many other candles are immediately surrounding them, doing the same fiery dance. And if every candle in the world -- or even all of them in just a small area -- tries to burn as bright as they can, soon enough, the combined efforts of everyone will cause a fire-storm of unbelievable proportions.
If we willingly, genuinely, openly, honestly shared the light with one another, we wouldn't have to try so hard. Two candles working together can be so much more than just a single candle in the dark. Together they can share and brighten each other so that they both don't have to try so hard.
Physically speaking, I want a second candle. Abstractly speaking, I'm glad I have so many.