File #8 - the Stubborn Flame
A gathering in a small sunlit room for a naming ceremony. Parents, grandparents, close friends - all there to welcome a new little person to the family, with love and laughter threaded through every moment.
At one point, it was time for the candle lighting. A small, simple candle that was meant to symbolise the child’s place in the world, the light they will bring to everyone around them.
But I couldn’t light it. Not at first. The wick refused to catch, the flame flickered and died, the matches were fast running out, and the parents exchanged a glance.
But instead of letting it spoil the moment, we all paused. We laughed a little, I tried again and everyone encouraged.
Finally, the candle stayed alight, steady and bright. And in that little struggle, the moment became more alive than it would have been if everything had gone perfectly. The baby cooed, the parents smiled, and the room felt full of warmth and togetherness, more than any flawless ceremony could have created.
It reminded me - over and over - that ceremony is never about perfection. It’s about presence, patience, and the small, real things that make the day yours.