The Candle, The Wick, and The Mind: A Lesson in Reigniting Your Inner Flame.

This morning, as I lit a new candle, something unexpected

caught my attention. The wick stubbornly refused to stay

upright. Every time I tried to light it, it would curve back

down into the melted wax, snuffing out the flame before it

could fully burn.

I didn’t want to toss the candle away, it was brand new,

filled with fragrant wax, just waiting to brighten the room.

But no matter how I adjusted it, the wick kept bending

under the surface, hidden in its little pool of wax.

Then I thought, let’s see how deep this wick really goes.

I grabbed a toothpick, gently dug around the wick, and

carefully trimmed the excess. I used the toothpick to prop

it up just right, steady, upright, ready to hold a flame.

And just like that, the candle lit beautifully, releasing its

glow and sweet aroma throughout my kitchen

As I watched the steady flicker, something inside me

clicked.

This candle was teaching me about myself.

For years, I’ve felt that same stubborn pull downward in

my own life, my thoughts, emotions, and old patterns

pulling me back beneath the surface every time I tried to

shine.

I’ve carried a deep “wick” a deep-rooted part of me

designed to burn bright, but over time, it got buried

under layers of experiences, old stories, and emotions that

didn’t align with the truth of who I really am.

Just like that wick, my inner flame would light for a

moment, during a new idea, a spark of joy, or a burst of

inspiration, but soon enough, it would dim, sinking back

under the wax of limiting beliefs, old wounds, and fear.

But here’s what I realized in that simple moment with the

candle:

Sometimes, it’s not about throwing away the whole thing.

It’s about gently digging in. It’s about reaching in with

care, like I did with that toothpick and finding ways to

lift yourself back up.

The toothpick became a symbol for me. It represents the

tools and practices that help keep me upright:

• Breath work, prayer

• Scripture reading

• Gentle self-reflection

• Somatic healing

• Shifting thoughts with intention

• Releasing emotions with compassion

These practices aren’t harsh fixes. They’re gentle prods

steady hands helping me hold my light high.

And just like that candle, when my “wick” stays lifted,

my life glows. My thoughts, my beliefs, and my emotions begin to align, not with old conditioning, but with the truth of who I am. Who Christ says I am.

And then, my fragrance, fills the room, ripples out into the world, and arrives to the Throne Room.

You’re not broken because your flame has gone out

before. You’re not defective because old patterns pull you

under sometimes.

You’re simply a candle waiting for a little tending.

A gentle reminder:

You have Jesus within you to burn bright. He is the igniting Force.

He can trim away what no longer serves.

He allows to steady yourself with tools and support.

Because when your wick is upright, He can light,

naturally shine, steadily, beautifully, and fragrantly.