Article: Keep the Lamp Burning

Potential is often wasted when people wait too long for inspiration

Such waiting is not good: Endless waiting periods only create more inertia and fear. Painful memories of past mistakes and failures burden you. You are imprisoned in a dark room even though no one has bolted the door from the outside. What you need now is light! The call is clear. You need to rise from the depths of despair; that first step is most crucial. The rest will follow.

Take a look at the oil lamps used widely in the past. Their containers had to be filled with oil. That required planning; didn’t it? The oil in a lamp is like an investment, a pooling of resources or talents. Having oil elsewhere is not enough. It has to be found in the lamp’s container.

Have you got oil in your lamp?

Having oil in your lamp alone does not give you an advantage. The next question is: Have you trimmed your wick? If it is charred from previous burning, it needs attention because the wick is the channel that supplies oil to the flame. Alertness and preparedness are necessary in order to meet opportunity. Positive readiness is the call of duty. Will that call find you prepared?

Preparedness is good, but the ability to guard your flame from going out is also a must. Oil lamps have a glass covering on top that helps prevent the wind from blowing out the flame. Do not allow the winds of criticism to blow out your initiative to do things. Guard your talent jealously. Do not let the flame be put out.

Remember that the lamp’s glass covering not only guards the flame but also allows it to shine out. That’s the secret. You need to protect your talent. There should never be a withdrawal from competition. I have seen people totally withdraw from any opportunity to use their talent just because they have previously received unjust judgment or unfair criticism. How sad! You should never protect your talent by hiding it. Let it shine out and burn; otherwise it will rust away and grow useless within a short time.

Many people complain of negative circumstances in life. Let me ask those dear friends, “Where should a light shine--in broad daylight or where there is darkness?” Let us shine our light on our loved ones who really need our tender care and help.