Good Evening, God
“It is better to light one candle than to curse the dark.” This may be an old Chinese proverb or it may be the creation of Peter Benenson when he founded Amnesty International. But I have been experiencing the wisdom of that saying for 3 whole days now.
I was encouraged by Pilar Gerasimo, author of The Healthy Deviant: A Rule Breaker’s Guide to Being Healthy in an Unhealthy World. So, first thing in the morning, even before making coffee, I sit for 3 – 5 minutes looking at a lit candle. I found it so uplifting that I have added it to my Centering Prayer times.
Why? Well, seeing a live flame transforming an old cotton wick into light, seems to apply to Your relationship with us. In anycase, I am enjoying it. And, it also makes me think about stopping my “cursing of the dark”.
Sigh. It is so easy to judge. So easy to feel that I am totally Right. And from there it is a short step to feeling that those who are Wrong are somehow wicked and evil. WOW! That is really NOT loving my neighbor as I love myself. In fact, it feels as if I have been caught up in evil . . . or at least darkness.
So, tomorrow I am going to suggest to the Prayer Group that I am part of that we resist judging. Ideally, we might try stepping up a level to unconditional love and lovingkindness. As I heard in a sermon the other day, we are called to be rebuilders of the breaches in the wall.
I am hearing, God, what You said in Ezekiel 22:30 “I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one.”
Help us to hear . . . help us to respond.
Story teller,
A Moment with God 
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