4 candles burn, the ambience so soft one can almost hear them talking;
The first said “ I am peace…the world is full of anger and fighting. Nobody can keep me lit” Then the flame of peace went out.
The second said “I am faith…I am no longer indispensable. It doesn’t make sense that I stay lit any longer”. Just then a breeze blew out faiths flame.
Sadly, the third candle said “I am love…people don’t understand my importance so they simply put me aside. They even forget to love those who are closest to them.” And waiting no longer the third candle went off.
Then a child walked into the room and saw the unlit candles “why are you not lit? You must remain lit to the end” and the child begun to cry.
Just then the fourth candle spoke “don’t be afraid. I am hope and when I am still burning we can light the other candles. With shining eyes the child took the hope candle and lit the other candles.
The greatest of these is love, but the flame of hope should never go out. With hope each of us can live with peace, faith and love.
Madiba’s life and his memory as we saw it live just recently offers that hope. I join my friends from South Africa in their loss and all this team whom I am sure feel his loss deeply as indeed does the entire world.
Milly Lwanga
