Lighting candles

Today is All-Saints day. It is a day for acknowledging loss. Those who have suffered the passing of loved ones during the year bring a candle to the front of the church to commemorate the loss.

Losing a loved one is painful There is a void where that person used to be. Losing a loved one can be more tangible than other types of loss.

How do we acknowledge the loss of less tangible things? How do we commemorate the loss of innocence, the loss of self confidence, the loss of safety, the loss of belief? How do we explain to others the loss we feel? How do we talk about something that we cannot touch or grasp?

Today on All Saints Day, I light a candle to acknowledge my loss of self confidence. I light a candle to acknowledge my loss of safety. I light a candle to acknowledge my loss of belief.

Do you see the candles I light? If you can’t maybe it’s because they are as illusory as the losses I feel.