Monday, December 22, 2008

Wee Gifts

Early one morning, I looked out the kitchen window and saw a tiny, flickering light through the Snow-laden Trees.

As I focused, wondering, more winking lights began to glow...all in a straight line.

As the Dawn progressed, the origin of the tiny lights became clear.  My neighbour lights candles, every morning, along the sill of her window. 


During these long Winter nights, ushering in the Dawn by lighting candles seems so appropriate to me.  I have taken to lighting candles along my kitchen window every morning; a sort of Good Morning, to my neighbour, if you will.


Candles warm my soul.  They emit only a small, flickering Fire, with very little warmth...but it is Light. 


That Light shines strong; the objects surrounding candlelight glow soft and welcoming.


One can almost be excused for thinking the weather outside is not so extremely cold, after all, with the candles cheerful light.


Candles are synonymous with Christmas, to me and many others. Cathedral or a small home or a cave...it makes no matter...candlelight gives cheer, for a very small price.


And they are the first thing I think of, during a power outage.  The lights from the candles create long shadows, emphasizing the silence which occurs when appliances and electronics shut down. What might be eerie becomes cordial and gracious.


It is during power outages when I think of pioneers who lived by candlelight. Those candles were made by hand, each one infused with the loving energy of the person who made them. Someone who made good candles, ones which did not sputter and cough, would be well in demand, I would think.


You see, my homemade candles never seem to work well.  I admire the handicraft of those who have the patience and the creativity to make their own candles, which burn smoothly and without smoke.


On the Coast, I had many places from which to choose candles. I have not found them here as yet.  But the other day, perusing a shelf in a store that had little choice for candles, I voiced my concern to a lady standing close to me.


And she said...I make candles. I sell them here and there...

I smiled, knowing once more my wants were being answered by the Universe. This happens more and more these days, where my desires are quickly filled.


After we exchanged telephone numbers, and I wandered deeper into the store, I mused upon how I am no longer surprised when my needs are almost instantly met. A mere thought, a tiny desire is all it takes, it seems.


And sometimes...sometimes I just receive a gift, when I don't even know I want or need it.  


Such as the candlelight shining through the Trees, on a deeply cold and dark Winter's morning.


Merry Christmas and a Wonderful Joyous New Year to you all!



10 comments:

  1. Have a good Christmas Marion.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Merry Christmas Marion! :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous1:56 p.m.

    What a beautiful post! Thanks for sharing such beauty and warmth.
    Have a wonderful Christmas and may the new year bring everything your heart desires.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Lovely post Marion. I always associate candles with Christmas too. To me they are a symbol of hope and peace for the coming year. Just came across to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas Marion and a happy, healthy and prosperous 2009.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Merry Christmas Marion. May the new year be filled with wonder and joy!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hope your holidays are going well.

    In times of forced darkness or gloominess I always reach for candle and matches. Right now I have 5 or so burning in this room. They are an instant form of comfort and magic.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Popped in again to say I am passing on the Lemonade Award to you. Details are at http://thevegandiet.blogspot.com/2008/12/lemonade-award.html .

    ReplyDelete
  9. We received some bees-wax candles as a gift;I am anxious to try them out.

    When we lived in Oregon, along the Columbia river north of Portland, we used to take some wax down to the beach, drive sticks, wine bottles and other objects into the black sand to make molds for candles. Build a fire, melt the wax in an old pot and pour into the sand mold on the beach. Have a spot of wine, then dig them out when cooled. If you are real tricky you can put ice into the hole pour in the wax and make ice candles as well.
    Drill a hole into the candles later to add the wicks and whallah . . . cheap candles (we still have one that has been burned and re-filled with wax over the 30 years since.)
    The best of the next year to you both. May you have many pleasant surprises in your first spring there.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous4:10 a.m.

    Happy New Year! I am tidying up my blogs and I happened to notice that I have a link to your blog on my blog, but you do not link to me.

    Please link to me if you will be so kind.

    Losing Proposition
    http://LosingProposition.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete

Google