What A Prize Candle Can Teach One About Shabbat, Humanity, Etc.; And...

Yes, I put a link to Prize Candle's website in the title on my own volition, unbeknownst to Prize Candle until they read this blog entry. Speaking of unbeknownst matters, that my sister had the "brill" idea of digging out the Prize Candle before it was naturally ready to come out is her schtick—she dug hers out and got the "brill" idea to dig out the ring (and she hates that I use the slang for "brilliant" to annoy her!)—in other words, Mom won't know that Michelle had the idea until I either squeal, let Michelle confess, or share this blog entry.

Here are just a few of the lessons (There are many more that I'll probably even think of as I type or that you could add as you read this, for example.):

1. A Prize Candle can be a great Shabbat candle. It has eco-friendly soy wax, a manifestation of tikun ha'olam v'tzedek—and soy wax is kosher. It also saves the work of having to hold a Havdalah candle, since it comes in a glass container—which can be recycled and/or reused later—tada! Another manifestation of tikun ha'olam v'tzedek.
2. Like Shabbat, the Prize Candle (at least if you get it for a gift and/or join the Candle of the Month Club like I did) gives you things to which to look forward—lighting the fragrency candle itself (like sanctifying Shabbat) and waiting for the ring (like waiting to find discovered treasures within kiddush Shabbat).
3. The wax can remind of you of the following verse: "I am poured out like water, And all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It has melted within Me." Just as when wax melts when a candle is lit, so we can feel "like wax" when we're put under pressure.
4. Each of us, like a candle has a wick, is called to be a light. "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."
5. Israel is called to be a light to the nations and has treasure within her.
6. Our days are like wax, melting away. After those days end or earlier, in time either way, our treasure might be revealed.
7. Sometimes (like Michelle dug out the candle and Mom actually even used a knife to see if she could get through the wax that was holding the ring in and down), God digs through our days with pain to reveal our treasure.
8. Like only Prize Candle ultimately knows the value of the ring within the candle, only God ultimately knows what our treasure is worth.
9. Sometimes (and see Lesson 7 above), God uses other people to reveal our treasure.

I think that the most-important lessons have to be Lessons 3-8. So, Jesus; bring the fire; melt me like wax in a Prize Candle, and reveal my treasure which You have created.

PS Mom came home as I typed...and yes, I squealed before I could get into trouble (and Michelle told me that I should've seen the look that Mom gave her).