The fire of fear and the fire of faith

faith fear

I was burning a jar candle in my office today, and when the time came to walk away from my desk I didn't blow it out; I simply put the lid on top. The flames dimmed lower and lower, until they disappeared. The fire was out.

This got me thinking about how both fear and faith can be the same way. When given oxygen, they both burn brightly. When the oxygen is gone, they disappear.

Fear's oxygen is a nail-biting, hand-wringing "what if" energy. It focuses on the unknown and desperately grasps for any hint of a sign that things are going to be okay.

Faith's oxygen also has "what if" energy, but this time on the side of possibility for growth and good.

Without oxygen, both of these dim. When we choose not to wring our hands live in a panic, Fear's light dims until it finally snuffs out.

Likewise, without the oxygen of possibility and peace, Faith grows dim. We have to feed it that oxygen of exploration and curiosity.

What's keeping your fire burning right now (of either sort)? What do you want to either change (if you're not quite content with your current flame), or double-down on (if things are going well)?