Like the flame, love may look differently in various stages and phases of life. It adapts, changes form, and thrives within the spaces we create for it

One aspect of a candle lantern that isn’t immediately obvious is its intricate ventilation system.

This system, while not only always instantly noticeable, plays a pivotal role in sustaining the flame, regulating its oxygen supply, and ensuring that there is room for bold holding on and release.

A candle lantern shows us how to both hold on and let go in the way that it keeps the flame safe but also allows it to breathe. This happens because its height lets air flow, fostering a delicate balance within the lantern, much like a dance of holding on and letting go happening internally.

Within the lantern, nestled in this space of tension and release, the flame, sustained by a precise and intricate ventilation system, radiates a soft, enduring glow. It embodies a give-and-take rhythm, moving between stability and change, and yet, still shining on.

The ventilation operates efficiently, ensuring the flame’s warmth and light by allowing just the right amount of air to enter through lower vents, while excess heat and smoke are released through upper openings, mimicking a steady breathing rhythm.

Like the flame, love may look differently in various stages and phases of life. It adapts, changes form, and thrives within the spaces we create for it. And just like the fire in the lantern, love thrives in that exact space where holding on meets letting go. In that balance, the flame’s movement becomes a depiction of steadiness and calmness existing together.

Here in this journey of life, just as in the core of the lantern, amidst all the holding on and letting go, there still exists the opportunity for love to grow. Even here, there is room for love to rise and continue to be illuminated in life. - Morgan Harper Nichols