Work Place Chaplaincy Scotland Blog

Burning the candle at both ends

Burning the CandleAs the days begin to get shorter, needing more light in the evenings we don’t normally reach for a candle, but a light switch, these days.

Today we say “burning the candle at both ends” to mean living life at a crazy and unsustainable pace. It may be working, partying, or anything in between, but especially involving late nights and early mornings.

It originally meant literally burning a candle at both ends. The 'both ends' weren't the ends of the day but were the two ends of a candle.

Candles were valuable (hence the phrase “not worth the candle”) and it was considered very wasteful to burn one at both ends.

We want our lives to be meaningful and helpful; bringing light to our family, work and community. We can’t do that by wasting the precious resource we have been given – ourselves.

We all know what it is like when we are ‘just wasted’, because we are doing too much for too long. You can’t keep that up for ever, but many of us still try and some even think its normal!

‘Burning the candle at both ends’ for long periods just doesn’t work. It’s not effective or efficient and it’s a waste of our lives and to repeat, you are much too precious for that. Look after yourself and know and practice what restores you as well as what wears you out.

Anyway, burning a candle at both ends is really messy! As Blue Peter would say, “don’t try this at home!”

Does anyone remember the Two Ronnie’s sketch about a man going in to a shop and asking for “four candles”?

From Chic and Geoff.

geoff.findlay@wpcscotland.co.uk, 07933167480

chic.lidstone@wpcscotland.co.uk, 07814093240

Chic and Geoff 2018

 

 

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