I photographed a wedding last weekend.  It was a gorgeous ceremony and this photo was one I took during the service.  I love the unity candle, as it symbolizes the union of two individuals becoming one in commitment.  As the parents of the bride and groom made their way to their seats they pause at the unity candle and each light a candle.  Then, after the newlyweds exchanged rings they go to the unity candle where they each take the candles of their parents and light this center candle.  Then they blow out the original candles and hold hands while a beautiful love song was played.

          What a picture of sharing.  It is the story of two separate people coming together to join not only their lives but the lives of their family and friends.  Whoever named this sure got it right; unity candle.  This is a good time to realize that everything in life is better when it is shared.  A man and a woman share their life and love; they lit a candle and a child is born.  For the next 20 years they share their lives and love with this child.  Then one day the parents find themselves standing in front of 3 candles.  They once again light a candle and take their seat.  Then they watch as the child of their shared love take their candle and join its light with that of another candle; and the light lives on.

          They realize that a candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.  On the contrary, the flame only grows brighter each time it is shared.  Life is not the candle or the wick—it’s the burning, it is found in the sharing of our lives with those God has brought into our lives.  I believe the secret to happiness and the key that unlocks the door to where the true treasures of life are found is sharing.  Few things in life are truly enjoyed to their full potential until we share them with someone.  Happiness is not perfected until it is shared; it’s like a potato salad—when shared with others, it’s a picnic.  Joy is multiplied when you share it.

          Unshared joy is an unlighted candle.  Look around you today; do you see someone who needs a little light in their life?  Do you see a need?  Share your joy with them today, meet that need.  Don’t hide your light or feel ashamed because others have a brighter light than you do; simply use what you have because, a little encouragement just might spark a great flame in someone’s life right next to you.  What have you got to lose, give it a try?

Something to think about:

• There is not enough darkness in the entire world to put out the light of even one small candle.

• It is better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness.

• Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.

• Don't tell me I'm burning the candle at both ends; tell me where to get more wax.

• The ultimate miracle of love is this—that love is given to us to give to one another.

• Pleasure and pain are opposites: when you share grief, you decrease it; when you share joy, you increase it.

• Happiness held is the seed; happiness shared is the flower.

• Plenty of people miss their share of happiness, not because they never found it, but because they didn’t stop to enjoy and share it.

Looking for a light
Rickey Moore