“You are the light of the world–like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.”
Matthew 5:14 (NLT)
No matter whom you are, where you are, what you do and whatever you have, there is a unique gift and contribution you can give to humanity and this is a divine light. It is these contributions from us all that become floodlights that dispels the darkness that covers our world in the form of simple and complex challenges. In many cases it involves no elaborate or costly technique or specialized knowledge to alleviate the sufferings of others but rather some insights and a decision making process.
The choice to give to a worthy course can serve to tackle many challenges in life, ranging from governance, poverty, health, education, environment, food security and others. God has placed each one of us in a place of decision making in line with the expected outcome of those goals we either individually or collaboratively live for. It is for this deep reason that we all need to lead from where we are by contributing to the welfare of the society where God has planted us, indeed this will go a long way in raising our national standard.
The greatest milestone we need in this realignment is to overcome greed, selfishness and ignorance, instead embrace the pillars of giving, serving and contributing. There is no one way and no one answer to any problem; there are many answers and potential solutions that need to be worked out case by case, situation by situation by people who are driven by the desire to transform their world. These people are the candle lighters who step beyond personal gain and make waves, creating ripples and flames that light the future.
The burning candle depicts the in build empowerment that exists in human beings to deal with everyday challenges of life in the world, but one has to make the choice to activate this power and put it into play for it to be useful. A candle is a simple yet useful source of light. One candle has the power to share its light to countless others yet remain strong and part of the total light just like individuals who share their resources with those who desperately need them and remain happier and most rewarded.
God is calling us to be candle lighters who compassionately and effortlessly bridge the gap from different forms of human suffering hence building a more caring world. It is compassion turned into an adventure of lighting candles in the dark and watching hopeless lives transformed into productive members of the society and being grateful of having been part of the inspired givers.
‘I am only one, but I am one. I can’t do everything, but I can do something. The something I ought to do, I can do. And by the grace of God, I will’. Edward Everett Hale
By Zippy Kiruthu
From Her Book-The Burning Candle
