CANDLE & THE WIND
LT COL NOEL ELLIS
17/IV/2022
It is Easter Sunday; we wish each one of you a very
happy and a blessed Easter.
It was after ages that we were going to attend the
‘Sunrise service’. A nice feeling crept in; it was a new day with a new hope
that was about to begin. Though all these days one has been an early riser but
after retirement one just doesn’t feel like getting up so early. No office, no
work keeps yours truly quite busy otherwise. It was different today.
Cool desert breeze was blowing as we moved to our
church. It is getting quite hot in this part of the country, forcing us to stay
indoors mostly, before one caught the “Loo”.
We had carried our candles for a ‘candle light
march’ before the sun would rise over the horizon. The first candle was lit by
the pastor and then the flame was passed on to all who had gathered together.
In a matter of seconds, the courtyard where we were standing lit up. All the
faces which were not very clear started to glow with the radiance of the
candles.
One remembers using candles, during our childhood
when there used to be long power cuts. We even studied in candle light. As we
moved to the Army, the candle was replaced by the lantern and petromax. Mech
forces were a little lucky to have a battery placed in their tents with a spare
headlight bulb glowing or an inspection lamp to light up our evenings in
wilderness.
The congregation sang a hymn in praise of the Lord
who had Risen today, Hallelujah.
The next item on the agenda was a candle light
march to the place where the service had to be conducted. My attention got
focused on this candle and the ‘light’ it was emitting. ‘Candela’ is the unit
of light we were taught in school.
The flame flickered due to the wind, so we cupped
our hands over the flame to keep it burning. The flame emitted many colours.
There was yellow, blue, black, ash and smoky colour, plus the various shades of
pale and amber which were now clearly visible. The cupped hands lit up showing
browns and red with veins standing out. As the flame wavered when it caught a
gust of wind, it would die down to just the tip of the wick & then flare up
again as the wind subsided.
There was a nice smell also emanating besides the
waxy odour, as people were carrying scented candles. But the smell of a just
extinguished wick can never be forgotten. The trail of smoke shoots in wavery
patterns, till it is lit again.
The melting wax started to drip on one’s fingers.
People had modified the candles. Candles were strung through paper cups for two
things. To cover the flame for it to keep burning and also to collect the
molten wax if it suddenly dripped. Some had pierced the candles through small
cardboard pieces to collect the flowing wax.
In all this one observed that a flame of a candle
once it comes to life is not easy to extinguish. If the holder understands the
wind direction and speed, they can keep it lit till the candle gets consumed.
It showed its will to fight against all odds. When
a fellow member overtook you, he could alter the stable flicker of the candle.
When a lady ahead of you readjusted her dupatta, chances of the candle blowing
off were imminent. With guile and a little concentration, one could keep it lit
for the entire duration of the march and service.
The candle gave some life lessons. If you get the
right support, you could keep enlightening the world. A little care and common
sense could keep the light of your life burning for a very long time.
Sharing and helping others to light their candle
from yours can spread light around you in geometric progression. If you keep
the flame to yourself the chain gets broken. Keeping the knowledge one has
gained to oneself is like keeping your candle with you, it is better to share.
As the sun rose, the intensity of the light of
these candles started dwindling. With quite some time having elapsed since the
time they were lit; their sizes too had reduced to the very end. They burnt
themselves to give us light and show us the way.
As they reached the end of their wicks suddenly
there was a struggle which one saw in the flame. It became erratic, it
flickered irregularly. Then with a jerk the candle went off.
Thank you candle for making me recall my younger
days and also give me many lessons of life. Today we lit a candle of peace.
Will you? I wonder!!!!!!!
JAI HIND & A HAPPY EASTER
© NOEL ELLIS
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