FLAME

Friday morning,

A candle alight in my quiet kitchen,

Peaceful, reflective,

Challenging:

Old and new words come to mind,

“This little light of mine,

I’m gonna let it shine”;

“Jesus bids us shine with a pure, clear light,

Like a little candle burning in the night”;

“There let it for thy glory burn,

With inextinguishable blaze”.

 

How can I shine for You?

Fan into life this flame

And cosset its fragility,

Cupping hands around it

Against fierce draughts

Of doubt, scorn, belittling,

From others, or myself.

 

Shelter me, so I can grow

Tall and straight,

Bright and beautiful,

A tiny, flickering tongue of light,

Pure, serene, transforming to

An incandescent flame, blazing a trail

To burn away injustice and fear,

Bringing shining truth,

Warmth, life, solid hope

Into the blackest night.

 

O Light of the world

Who started so small, became all in all,

You are the one I follow.

Jesus, kindle my timid heart,

Lighten my darkness, steady my steps,

Create me as illuminator

Of dark and desolate places.

Your fire in me, Lord,

Shield, but send out.

Seven is my favourite number which holds many Scriptural resonances. So here are seven numerical snippets from my life: 1. I was born in 1967, in a village in Warwickshire, England, and grew up singing in the choir and bellringing in our village Anglican church. 2. I made a first true Christian commitment at age 14 through my school Christian Fellowship. 3. I studied Modern and Medieval Languages for 4 years at the University of Cambridge. 4. In 1993 I married Nick and we have 4 children. 5. I am English and have lived in France since 1999. I hold both British and French nationality and am bilingual. 6. 7 things close to my heart, in no particular order: Fair Trade commerce, cats, green tea, the ocean, Highland cattle, languages, and The Chosen series. 7. In July 2021 I created and began to lead a monthly online Christian poetry group, TRELLIS*, under the umbrella of the UK Association of Christian Writers. (*standing for Trust, Risk, Encouragement, Listening, Love, Inspiration, and Support) What a blessing now to join this inspirational Red Thread Poets group. Praying for the manifold blessings of the Spirit on us all, as we write our beautiful poems and songs full of heavenly inspiration and power.