I hope each and every one of you had a wonderful Christmas. So, what did you get for Christmas? Hugs from loved ones! I recieved… a box, a rake, 3 rocks and sand. In the right perspective, it is a ……… A Zen Garden
Now we can get ready for 2012. I am projecting 2012 will be the year of enlightenment. The Chinese have 2012…as,
the year of the Dragon.
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Now for today’s little story… Shine!
A small candle was being carried by a man who was climbing stairs. Along their way up to the top, the candle asked the man, “Where are we going?”
“We’re going to the top and give signals to big ships on the ocean,” the man answered.
“What? How could it be possible for me with my small light to give signals to those big ships? They will never be able to see my light”, replied the candle weakly.
“All you have to do is keep burning and leave the rest to me”, said the man.
When they arrived at the top of the lighthouse where there was a big lamp with a loop behind it. The man lit the lamp with the small candle and instantly, the place shone so brightly that the ships on the ocean could see its light.
Moral: All you have to do is shine. Sometimes our little bit of brightness is all that is needed to spark a light bright enough to help others. Remember that it only takes one candle to light a cathedral full of candles. Perhaps you are the spark that ignites a light that guides a life to safe shores. It only takes a flicker to bring on enlightenment. Our enlightenment may not seem bright to ourselves, but to others it may guide them from their darkness, so shine on.
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Candle Lighter Award
I was nominated for …
from autumnsunshine and gabrielleangel
thank you and bows (~_~) humble
Shine!
I like this little song, It reminds me of my brother, Alan, because when he is around children he teaches them to sing this song by singing it over and over.
shine on!
zendictive 
26 comments
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December 26, 2011 at 6:50 am
Jackie L. Robinson
‘It only takes one candle to light a cathedral full of candles.’ How lovely this is….stopping to imagine, to embrace, to step into the energy of it. Beautiful post, Art. I hope you’ll share more about the year of the dragon in your future posts. xoxo
December 26, 2011 at 6:55 am
zendictive
Morning Jackie
I am sure I can make a whole post out of
the year of the dragon (grin) Janurary first
and I just loved this little story, “Shine” I had thought about adding to it to make it longer but then again, a good zen story allows the reader to contemplate the possibilities (~_~) xoxo
December 26, 2011 at 7:23 am
California Kid
Glad you had a nice Christmas Zendictive. Now you can go play in your Zen garden everyday and bring some good things in your life. Looking forward to reading your great posts in the coming year of Enlightenment. Peace!
December 26, 2011 at 11:00 am
zendictive
thank you California Kid
I will probably break the seal on it today (~_~)
happy holidays to you and yours
December 26, 2011 at 11:38 am
California Kid
Hi Art. It would be nice if you posted some photos of your new Zen garden with some of the rake patterns you make in it.
December 26, 2011 at 9:12 am
Pocket Perspectives
Art, that is a wonderful little-big story….just wonderful…. isn’t that a lovely image to think of each person as a candle…being held with reverence….. being careful to keep others’ and one’s own candles lit….and to keep lighting other candles from it. It’s a beautiful image. I am so thankful that even though at times I thought my own light was gone…and that it might never light again….that my candle must have had a tiny, tiny, tiny little ember….and now it seems to have light again…I am soooooo thankful to have been offered a positive reflection(s) of light from a friend(s). (rfaf ) And…one of my favorite words and visual images of light is…. “shine”…whether from the sun, reflecting off a leaf, a puddle, the river, a wet rock…I just love the visual resonance of…. shine…
oh my goodness….your post set off lots of thoughts and feelings of thankfulness…
December 26, 2011 at 9:22 am
Pocket Perspectives
oohhh…ps…do you know the song by Josh Ritter…Be a Light in My Lantern…. it’s a beautiful song…a bit full of angst..but for those in the midst of sadness, it offers a light….there are repeating lines near the end…
“So if you got a light, hold it high for me
I need it bad tonight, hold it high for me
Cause I’m face to face, hold it high for me
In that lonesome place, hold it high for me
With all the hurt that I’ve done, hold it high for me
That can’t be undone, hold it high for me
Light and guide me through, hold it high for me
And I’ll do the same for you, hold it high for me”
The youtube of that is embedded in this post…with a beautiful lantern there too … “Be a light in my lantern”
http://pocketperspectives.wordpress.com/2011/04/05/be-a-light-in-my-lantern/
and from rfaf….more lanterns
http://reflectionsfromafriend.wordpress.com/extra-special-pages/lantern-my-religion-is-kindness/
As I wrote…my own candle/lantern seems to be lit again..and I’m thankful….
December 26, 2011 at 10:56 am
zendictive
Kathy
wow, thank you for sharing this little tune
I loved the little candle story and I know it could shine on its own but I had to add a little extra (you know I always do, can’t help myself (grin))
let your light shine… (~_~)
December 26, 2011 at 9:37 am
Julianna
Love the candle story (and the Zen garden perspective) – and the energy behind the whole post! It seems there are so many negative-toned blogs out here (even ‘spiritual’ ones), that I’m relieved to find others that are imbued with positive, anabolic energy. Thanks for sharing it!
December 26, 2011 at 10:58 am
zendictive
bows (~_~) humble
thank you… I hope you enjoy several of these zen tales that I hope are filled with positive… I can’t think of any that are negatie and if you find one here, point it out and I’ll pluck it like a weed (grin)
Art~
December 26, 2011 at 9:42 am
saikrishnaviru
I must say, it was very very inspiring 🙂
December 26, 2011 at 11:03 am
zendictive
Thank you and happy holidays (~_~)
December 26, 2011 at 10:05 am
willowdot21
I shall be a beacon of light and I shall light the darkness! I shall hold my candle high for all to see. xx
December 26, 2011 at 10:59 am
zendictive
you already do shine bright willowdot (~_~)
December 26, 2011 at 10:29 am
♡ The Tale Of My Heart ♡
I would like to Wish you Happy Christmas and wonderful years ahead 🙂
December 26, 2011 at 11:04 am
zendictive
and to you (~_~) happy holidays to you and yours
December 26, 2011 at 1:02 pm
rumpydog
A wonderful message. I once had someone tell me (a wise recovering alcoholic): I remind myself each day that I may be the only Big Book (AA text) that some people ever read, so I want to make sure they get the right message.
December 27, 2011 at 9:48 am
zendictive
very wise (~_~)
December 26, 2011 at 2:25 pm
lizziecracked
Beautiful !! I love this post – and the message. We can all shine! Thank you for the way you shine 🙂 Peace
December 26, 2011 at 3:29 pm
life is a bowl of kibble
This year I had two devastating events happen in my life. With just a few words from a friend I found the strength to push on. It was not the words, per say, it was knowing that someone cared enough to try to bring some sort of piece back into my life. This is funny because I wrote about him today and have him as a guest. Strange how life comes full circle. I love your stories and look forward to them every time I plug my dinosaur into life. I just got to get a new computer one day.
December 26, 2011 at 8:30 pm
Linda Vernon
This beautiful little story is a salve to my heart tonight. I have a little more hope and a little more strength. Thank you.
December 27, 2011 at 1:06 am
granbee
Art, thanks for being us that 2012 will be year of the Dragon. Being largely of Welsh descent, this is extremely meaningly to me. I always love any candlelighting images and symbologies. Tiny sparks do reflect off others, are magnified by others, beam on to llight up large portions of the world. You are so wise to remind us of this here. Much light and warmth and happy raking to you in 2012, Art!
December 27, 2011 at 5:06 am
Savy
It takes on candle to burn bright and the rest follows…. For Christmas I spent it with a couple of good friends.. It was a gift to be with them…
December 27, 2011 at 6:12 pm
Fergiemoto
So lovely! Hope you are enjoying the holidays!
December 28, 2011 at 8:13 am
Sue Dreamwalker
Thank you ~Art. I hope that yours was a Brilliant Happy Christmas with family as was mine… I enjoyed family time of togetherness away from the techno world, And I lit a few candles too, and sang songs with guitar and drum… I played the drum LOL.. so I wish you a Very Happy New Year Art to you and yours.. and I hope I have time to keep up with your wonderful blogs..
I may not get to comment on them all.. But I read them on my phone, Im trying to cut my PC time down.. althought that is proving difficult with so many Excellent bloggers on my List to visit.. So Thank you again for all your most welcome comments upon my pages and May you be blessed with Love and Happiness for 2012..
~Dreamwalker
June 30, 2012 at 2:11 am
WordsFallFromMyEyes
Yeah. I must say, I feel ready to shine. 🙂 This is another great Zen tale.