A few years ago, I bought a beautiful red Christmas candle which has rested in my cupboard because I hated to deform it through use. Recently I decided it was time to burn that candle. After all, what good is a candle that's never used? So I took it into my little prayer room and lit it for the first time before I began my morning prayer. The pathetic candle
At least I tried to light it.
The silly wick kept sputtering and refusing to give me a flame. When I finally got it started, the flame gave a pathetic little fire and stayed lit for about one minute before again sputtering out.
That lovely red candle has continued to refuse to burn the way a proper candle should. It's pretty all right, but almost useless. Like the salt in the Bible that goes flat, it's unfit for the use intended by its maker.
