Melting Candle

So the other day I saw this thing called a “rekindle candle.” This is what it looks like:

The whole vocation of this candle is that when the candle melts, the wax drips down into the pre-wicked container, and it cools into a brand new candle. It recycles all of the leftover wax! It’s a pretty awesome concept. I can dig it.

Last Wednesday, me and Reagan went to McDonald’s to get ice cream (because who doesn’t love $1 ice cream), and it was $2.14. I was about to break a five, when I realized I had a lot of coins in my cupholder, which included: eight quarters, a dime, and four pennies. Perfect! I didn’t have to break my five dollar bill, I got rid of some of my change, and I got an incredibly delicious ice cream cone (which I downed in literally three minutes).

Oh yeah, another story! A few days ago, I was about to play an app with some of my friends, but I was really tired. Like, REALLY tired. But I love playing games, so I was forcing myself to stay awake (I also hate being left out of games). But, I also hadn’t read my Bible yet, and I knew I needed to do that. So, I turned my phone off, got out my Bible, and read the entire Old Testament with the utmost avidity!

Wrong. I actually decided I would play the game first, THEN read my Bible. That way, I wouldn’t fall asleep on my friends… So, between the candle, the ice cream, and the app/Bible struggle - they all involved leftovers: the extra wax, the change leftover from earlier purchases, and the time left after I play my game. Yet, one of these ideas wasn’t a good one.

That’s right. I should’ve broken that five.

Definitely kidding. I’m talking about putting my earthly desires over my spiritual needs when I chose not to read my Bible, which I NEEDED to do. I ended up falling asleep on something that draws me closer to the Spirit. Reading my Bible gives me a connection to God that I don’t feel as easily with other “spiritual activities,” so how could I have chosen a stupid app over my God?

I guess it’s because I am more drawn to people and events I can see rather than the ones I can’t see… but that’s the point of faith. I guess it could be because I’m young and want to use my small attention span as an excuse… but that’s what prayer is for. I guess it may also be because our generation is too dependent on technology and (like my preacher said) being instantly connected… but that’s what the power button is for.

Thankfully, no matter how many times I give God my “leftovers,” He never gives up on me and He always gives me second chances. He is a forgiving, beautiful God. I just pray that I can learn how to give God as much time as He wants from me, then use THOSE leftovers to serve Him here on earth. I am STILL amazed by God everyday (I am also amazed by the melting candles, but nothing compares to God, of course).

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

-Matthew 6:33 (NIV)