One day this week, the children were at school and my husband was out. It was just me and my cats. I decided to put the Christmas lights on, light my nice smelling candles, put on some Taizé music and tried to catch up with some uni work.
I have two red tall candle holders on my fireplace, but I hadn’t got any long candles to go into them. The thought of my confirmation candle popped into my mind, could I light it again? Should I light it again? I had no clue, but I wanted to hold it in my hand again so I slipped it out of its box. I got a rush of emotion as I remembered how fantastic the night of my confirmation was. My head certainly felt hot as the Bishop lay his hands and spoke to me, the heat spread to a feeling of total elation.
I decided to light the candle, I watched the flame burn, it was different to my other candles. The flame was so still and the light coming from it was irresistible, I stared into the flame, my breath short and shallow so not to create a flicker. The glow was so intense, yet with a rich softness, a ball of concentrated light projected around it. Prayer fell out of my mouth, the light so bright it seemed to extend further than the flame, a colour so golden and so pure.
Time had passed and I blew the candle, it did not go out, I blew it again, it still remained lit, I tried for a third time and finally the flame went out. As soon as it went out I noticed how dark the room now felt. It was as if I’d turned off a light switch, I was astounded, my candle and my confirmation a true gift from God.
‘You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16
Sitting at the well 