When I Was Exposed
I know I have been gone for a bit. I have been putting the finishing touches on a very special book while tending to my parents, wife, and son. In that time a group of friends from church invited me to be apart of a writing group.
Rachel prompted us this week to write a little story from the perspective of an inanimate object. So here is my submission to my friends:
The Chandler cut me from his infinite threads
In warm wax he bathed me again and again
Leaving a bit of the divine exposed to the outside
He formed me for the light of the world
He sold me into slavery
To souls wandering bravely in the dark
By a spark upon a stick
my wick was lit
and I began to burn
My flame danced slowly through the night
With every second spent I faced certain death
Illuminating this little corner of the world
By my dying light a child met the Magi
By my painted glows projecting shadows
His father and mother shared their story
This child would be King of Persians and Greeks
Hispanics and Hindus and Hebrews and Medes
And the entirety of all the earths progeny
In the final minutes of my wax and wick
I watched as they prepared to flee to Egypt
Then my flame flickered and died as I gazed into the eyes
Of the Infinite Light dawning on the World.
It is winter in our mountain town and the scarce seconds of light are sacred time during this season. As I began to write I was mystified by the wax and wick as an analogy for our material and spiritual being. I hope you will sit with and contemplate this allegory. Leave me note with your reflections and perhaps even a photo of your own flickering flame in the night. May our own burning bear witness to the coming of the King.
Until next week,
-Steven
PS. If you enjoyed this work, please consider subscribing to this Substack. Paid subscribers will receive a copy of my forthcoming biblical devotional focusing on the power and poetic beauty of the sacred texts.
Thank you Nick, Emilie, and Rachel for our conversations and encouragement.