Four Candles

In their famous sketch, Ronny Barker, the customer, asks for ‘four candles’. Ronny Corbett, the shopkeeper, takes out four candles. Barker repeats his request. Corbett’s confused. Barker rephrases his request… He wants ‘fork ‘andles’ – ‘(h)andles for forks” (garden forks)!

Here’s my four candles:

And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never knowing who to cling to
When the rain set in…
…Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever did

Elton John’s “Candle in the Wind” is a tribute to Marilyn Monroe (later Princess Diana), a picture of her short, eventful life.

Elton’s Candle speaks of vulnerability, fragility, and uncertainty.

The proverb ‘It’s better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness’, attributed to various sources, was popularized by Peter Benenson, founder of Amnesty International, during a Human Rights event in 1961.

He was saying that it’s better to do something, no matter how small, rather than simply complain about it. The candle circled by barbed wire has since become the organization’s emblem…

Peter’s Candle – the small light of proactive efforts, bringing light to the darkest circumstances – represents hope.

St. Francis of Assisi said, ‘All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle’. In darkness, a small light can have a significant impact. I remember that Jesus said ‘I am the light of the world’, speaking of the spiritual light that he brings.

Francis’ Candle speaks of the continuing power and impact of light in a dark world.  

Leo Tolstoy said, ’Just as one candle lights another and can light thousands of other candles, so one heart illuminates another heart and can illuminate thousands of other hearts.’

I remember that Jesus also said, ‘You are the light of the world’I’m required to be that candle, spreading hope and illumination wherever I go.

Leo’s Candle speaks of my responsibility to not only shine my light, but use my candle to enable the lights of others to shine.