Dilli and His Flaming Rival

taken on 25 June 2012

Looking at the candle gel brings to mind the importance of humility in a person. 


There was once a candle named Dilli. He was old and was soon running out. Placed in a corner of a shelf, he was kept out of sight and forgotten. There, he waited patiently in the hope of being fully utilised some day. But in the meantime, all he could do was to accept the emptiness of its glass once filled with gel wax. 


The owner of the room bought a similar candle. This new, young chap was full of himself, and indeed, his glass was complete with gel wax. He was all ready to burn bright and show the brilliance of its burning wick. Arrogantly, he gave a conceited glare at Dilli in the corner and conveyed how mighty and superior he was over Dilli. 


One night, the owner lit the new candle and placed him at his bedside. The draft from the air conditioner blew down upon him from above and put out the flame at once. The owner lowered the fan speed of the air conditioner and lit the candle again. But the flame was soon snuffed out. Frustrated at how easily the candle flame is extinguished, the owner condemned this new candle as useless, and took Dilli from his corner to replace the new. Dilli's wick was by then well tucked near the bottom of its glass. The owner lit Dilli and because Dilli was almost empty and the towering side of the glass provided him good shelter, his flame burned steadily, unaffected by the draft from the air conditioner. The owner was well-pleased with Dilli and kept the fire burning till Dilli was completed exhausted. 


Hopefully, this story of Dilli and his arrogant rival can give us a glimpse at an important attitude we can learn today. 


When we humbly acknowledge our deficiencies, we may then begin to be unhurt by the criticisms of others about ourselves. 
When we accept the reality of our emptiness, we may then begin to wholesomely desire to live to the fullest so that our lives may count, regardless of our limitations.
When we live with the awareness of our limitations, we may then begin to perceive the presence of God's hand working in our lives, blessing and loving us at every moment.


It is only when we are emptied of ourselves to God that we may begin to rely more wholly on the protection and providence of God. Just like Dilli depending on the side of its glass to shield it from the wind. 


When we have witnessed and pondered in our hearts the faithfulness and love of God in our lives, we can, coupled with prayer, increase our faith in Him. Then we can rely on God more. Then we may begin to love what is humanly impossible to love. Then we may become better instruments of God. And in all these, find the fulfilment because now, our lives count, not in the eyes of the world, but in the eyes of this same God whose first love resonates more audibly within the walls of our hearts. It all seem to begin from humility... 


26 June 2012, Tuesday