The Four Candles =
burned slowly at the 9.11 Memorial. Their ambiance was so soft =
you could almost hear them speak . . .
=
The First Candle =
said, “I am PEACE, but these days the world is so angry that =
nobody wants to keep me lit.”
So Peace’s =
flame slowly weakens and goes =
out completely.
=
The Second =
Candle adds, “I am FAITH, but these days, I am no longer =
indispensable.”
Then Faith’s flame =
gradually diminishes and sputters out.
=
Sadly, the Third =
Candle whispers, “I am LOVE and I just haven’t =
the strength to stay lit any longer. People put me =
aside and don’t understand my importance. They even =
forget to love those who are nearest to them.” =
Waiting no =
longer, Love gives a last gasp and is =
extinguished.
=
Suddenly, a =
child enters the room and sees the three candles no longer =
burning. The child begins to cry.
“Why =
are you not burning? You are supposed to stay lit until =
the end!”
=
Then the Fourth =
Candle speaks gently to the little child, “Don’t =
be afraid, for I am HOPE, and while I still burn, we can use =
my flame to re-light the other candles.”
With shining =
eyes, the child took the Candle of Hope and lit the other =
three candles.
=
We must never =
let the Flame of Hope go out of our life. With Hope, no matter =
how bad things look (and are), Peace, Faith and Love can still =
shine brightly in our lives and in our world
~~
Dr Bob Griffin =
[email protected] =
www.grif.net
"Jesus =
Knows Me, This I Love!"