By Winnie Bolton
There’s an old German fable that recounts a farmer having three sons.
The farmer couldn’t decide which son should have his farm, so he gave each of them a simple chore:
Whoever could fill the barn to the brim with no space left would receive the farm.
The oldest son found every car, truck, plow and farm implement from miles around and jammed them into the barn, yet the barn had some space left.
The second son then tried to fill it with stacks of hay from top to bottom but still some space was left.
The third son brought in a large candle, put it in the center of the barn and lit it.
Every barn corner was flooded with light.
This son had obviously made the best use of the spacious dark barn.
When I was a kid growing up in a suburb of the “Big Apple,” I remember the little Franciscan chapel around the corner from us.
On the side alter, there was a lit candle inside an open glass shaped cone and under it were inscribed the words: “It is better to light one little candle than curse the darkness.”
Somehow to a child’s mind those words spoke volumes and whenever later in life when I felt like complaining about things not going my way, I would reflect on that one little candle glowing peacefully, unshaken by all the noise that was apparent outside the doors of the little chapel.
We have already learned to live with uncertainties knowing that in life there are no guarantees. In getting through the rough spots and outrageous developments that occur in our lifetime, we would do well to light that little candle, wipe away the tears of regret, disgust or frustration and look for the unfailing light that has been surrounding us constantly.
Then we can get on with what has to be done.
And maybe instead of asking God to perform miracles, we could turn our prayers upside down, asking God to help us help ourselves.
