It's cloudy, slightly cool, and very breezy, my favorite kind of day! Ben Stein was recently quoted talking having different beliefs, yet accepting others' and respecting their faiths without judgment and intolerance. He spoke about the different legal battles that have been publicized, when those with a different belief system have presented such intolerance that God has been rejected from our schools, our government, and our communities, all in the supposed name of, that’s right, tolerance.
I watch the wind blowing through the trees and can't help but be reminded of the small flicker of a candles flame, as it is extinguished by the seemingly gentle wind. There is so much light in this world; sacred light, that begins to feel so rejected we tuck it away under various bushels, and press it firmly into the safer, secret spaces in our hearts. I see the reason, and I can feel the attitude echo in my own heart everyday. Where are all the Candlesticks?
In times of such cloud and uncertainty, should we not embrace each other? No assistance needs to be given to the hardships, which already so efficiently depress our spirits and hopes. We all have different light. No matter our particular belief system, we have brightness unique to our own soul, and we can uplift and enlighten and encourage each other, in even the simplest ways. We can hear, and be heard. We can speak what is in our hearts and lighten another's burden. We can lighten our own burdens and celebrate our differences.
One day, in the first days of running my new salon, a customer came in feeling faint and asked for some water. It was a slow day, and I sat next to her on the couch for the next 3 hours of what began a friendship for which I am so grateful everyday. We laugh so hard we cry whenever we see each other. We adore each other’s husbands and Jordy and I can't possibly get enough of her 2 absolutely beautiful boys. I am so intrigued by her everyday. She has a heart I've never encountered, and her boys have inherited her sincerity and selflessness at an unbelievably young age. She has devoted her life and her profession to lightening the burdens of others. Janna and I come from two very different backgrounds, religions, and cultures, yet we have never felt any threat, awkwardness or hesitation in sharing our deepest ambitions, desires, ideas, values and beliefs with each other, and we have always found the other an intent, intrigued listener. We find new respect for each other each time we interact. I have never felt any judgment or skepticism in the slightest from her when I've expressed my beliefs or ideas and I try to follow her example and will continue to try to be more and more like her.
I told Janna the other day of my thought, to perhaps follow Ben Stein a little, and use my personal blog to start publishing some of my everyday thoughts, ranging from a simple message of love, to a profound thought I might normally tuck away in a secret place to be read by some future generation or never to even be expressed. As we spoke of what fun it could be, especially if we could persuade others to follow with their own wonderful thoughts of hope and ideas about the world, and what walls it could help tear down, even if just for one person or ourselves, we came up with the idea for this blog.
We hope you find comfort here, laughter, inspiration, acceptance, and hope, and we hope most of all you could find it in someone you perhaps thought before you had nothing in common with. We hope we can all find the courage, here or somewhere else, to put away our bushels, and bring our light out from our secret places, that perhaps our community, if even just our small network of people, may find their lives, burdens, and daily countenances, just a little bit lighter.
Please visit us and help spread any good report or praiseworthy messages! www.candlesandbushels.blogspot.com
love stephy
