Candle-making
A recent visit to the Tidewater region of Virginia reminded me of the way people made candles in America’s colonial days: by dipping string wicks into vats of melted wax, over and over again, with periods of cooling in between to let the layers set. Eventually, those layers of wax made a nice round candle.
When I returned to Texas, my pastor preached from Romans about how baptism is a symbol of immersing ourselves in Christ, so that he covers us and surrounds us. Baptism is a one-time event, but we need to continually be immersed in Christ . . . so he can continue to cover us and surround us.
Sure, a plain old wick will burn all by itself. But it would be pitiful as a source of illumination! To shed any light, it has to be covered by all that rich, fragrant wax. Layer by layer, between the inevitable periods of cooling, I want to be completely surrounded by Christ.
My Scottish mother used to sing a little song to my kids: ”Jesus bids us shine with a pure clear light, like a little candle burning in the night; He looks down from heaven to see us shine, you in your small corner, and I in mine.”
May you shine brightly, purely, in your little corner!
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16
The candle analogy is a really interesting one to bring to baptism. Normally, I’ve thought of baptism as cleaning off layers of dirt–sin and shame. But thinking of it in this way, suggests that Jesus does more important than just cleanse us. He adds something to us that makes us more fully human.
Comment by mgoodyear — November 4, 2007 @ 12:50 am