Night Lights Votive

Fragrance: Oud, Ylang Ylang, and more

One thing about the darkness, the light always finds a way to shine through. And just in case the moon and the stars wouldn't be bright enough, God made fireflies.

They seem like magical little beings that are so prepared and self-sufficient that they bring their own light. They even use their light to talk to each other and communicate in an unspoken language only they understand. 

In my innocence and ignorance when I was a young child, I would either put some in a jar so I could look at them longer and take them in the house. Or (I'm ashamed to say) I may have stepped on some to see the pretty light smear. Until I was heartbroken when I was told that if I kept doing that, then there wouldn't be any more pretty lightning bugs. I'm still sorry about that. I stopped doing it immediately when I realized. I was probably younger than 5 years old at the time, and I didn't know better. 

Whatever may come, let your light shine. Don't hide it under a bushel or let anyone put you in a jar, or even try to put your light out in their ignorance. Your light is how you communicate with others. Jesus is the light within you, and that light shines brighter than any darkness. And it speaks to others about the One who lit that spark within you. 

Sometimes you have to become acquainted with the darkness to appreciate the light. I have been to Beijing for a number of months, and lived in Guangzhou for a year. There, the night lights are as bright as New York City or Las Vegas multiplied. You can't see the stars or the moon because of the lights, even when the smog clears, which is rare. So when I came home, it felt unusual to be able to see the moon and stars again. You don't realize how much you miss some things until you don't have them. And when you have them again, you appreciate them more.