Thursday, December 5, 2013

Letter to St. Nicholas


Re-blogged from The Cloistered Heart, 2011: 

Dear Saint Nicholas,

My wish this year is not like what I’ve asked for before.  I'm not writing to ask for candy or trinkets.  This year I have but one wish:  I want to be a candle.

I want to stand tall and firm, carrying the Light of Christ even when winds and storms lash about me.  You see, good St. Nicholas, the world has grown terribly dark.  We talk of peace and sing of peace, yet rumors of wars swirl all around.  We’re busy and distracted, we have no time left over to pray.  We get confused about what is truth and what is not; we redefine sin and call it “choice” and “entertainment,” and there is more darkness around than I could tell you about.  In fact, there’s more darkness than I can even see.  It can be hard to peer into darkness, and I feel sometimes like a child at night who wants to cover her head with blankets and wait for morning light.  I need the light; the world needs the light.  So I want to be a candle.

Like a pillar of flame standing beside the Tabernacle in a monastery, lifting firelight fingers high in adoration, I want to offer praise to God.  Like a sanctuary light gently calling attention to the fact that Jesus is with us, I want to keep vigil by His side and call attention to Him.  I would like to flicker softly, as a gentle reminder of His presence, no matter where I may be.  So I want to be a candle.

I know I am asking a lot.  I know that in order for the Flame to increase, a candle must decrease.  A candle gives itself for the Fire; it gives its all.  That’s okay.  You see, I want to live my life for God.  I am not so good at the doing of this, but with the grace of God I’m getting better at the wanting. 

And I want to be a candle….

“The light came into the world, but men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were wicked.  Everyone who practices evil hates the light; he does not come near it, for fear his deeds will be exposed.  But he who acts in truth comes into the light, to make clear that his deeds are done in God.” (John 3:19-21)




reblogged at thebreadboxletters.blogspot.com.


This post is linked to Catholic Bloggers Network Monthly Linkup

public domain photo 

12 comments:

  1. You are already a candle, Nancy! Thanking God for the blessing of your friendship as we try to live our lives for God. Happy St Nicholas' Day!

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    1. Sue, I thank God for you too :), and that we both want to carry His Light!!

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  2. Nancy, this is very beautiful!
    And so are you...a bright candle of Christ, that's for sure.
    blessings..Trish xx

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  3. Love this Nancy! Your best ever! I love the part about the candle decreasing so the flame may increase, and asking for the grace to get better at the wanting. God bless you!








    gless you!

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    1. Thank you so much, Anne! Often when I see candles, I think of how they're burning up for the sake of the flame. It's an analogy that really helps me.

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  4. That is mind-blowing for me! I would love to begin wanting to be a candle. Everyday I realize that I have huge "carve outs" of my life that are just for me. As long as I have that in my heart, I'm a cold, lifeless stick of wax!

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    1. Jamie, the thought of the "carve outs" is wonderful. I have them too. And only He can melt them; only He can set us ablaze. And He CAN. Thanks be to God, He CAN. !!

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  5. This is awesome Nancy! Jesus help me to be a candle, too! And I so feel the same when you said, "I sometimes feel like a child at night who wants to cover her head with blankets..."

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    1. It's so tempting to just want to hide away sometimes, isn't it? Thank you, Monica!

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  6. Nancy, I loved reading the comments of the others. You are a wonderful inspiration to so many others. And you always share the joy with your readers. I was thinking in a much smaller way how I need to bring the joy to my family as St. Nicholas did, especially after seeing my beautiful red maple tree crumpled by the terrible ice and sleet storm we had through the night. I was so sad to see so many of the things we planted and cared for all these years, twisted and cracked and broken. I was in a foul mood for a good 30 minutes when I realized that this is NOT how St. Nick would act. The nasty mess outside is filling my head, but I'm trying to keep hold of the candle of light. Thanks for the inspiration!

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    1. Patty, I am SO sorry to hear about the ice damage. We've experienced that, and I am holding my breath even now, looking at what is happening outside my window. We had a dreadful ice storm ten or so years ago that took down wonderful old trees all around - including 2 in our yard. Our house was without electrical power for 6 days that time. So I understand the foul mood!

      Thank you, Patty.

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