Suds

It seems only fitting that a bar of Lava soap sits in the soapdish in the women's room at the DMV.

Better to Light a Single Candle

I've forgotten now exactly how it was that I came across the candles at www.gratefulness.org. I only recall how the idea intrigued me. These past few years I've had a nasty habit of forgetting lit candles, of leaving the house and running errands, returning to find a candle burning on my coffee table. By the grace of God, the house still stands. I banned myself from burning candles when I'm alone in the house.
Virtual candles don't make my house smell like apple pie, but the cat can't knock them over, either. I'll take the lack of bakery scents over the possibility of flaming curtains any day.
Practicioners of religions the world over use candles as tangible signs of prayer; now they can do so without leaving their homes. Practicalities aside, the beauty of the site isn't in the pixelated flames, it's in the message attached to the candles. Users are invited to take a deep breath, compose their thoughts, and focus on the reasons behind lighting the wick. As of this writing, the site tells me that "6,943 candles from 111 countries are shining." Reading through these messages gives a glimpse of the concerns of humanity. This Thursday night a few clicks show me that someone in the Philippines is worried about the exchange rate of the yen. A woman in the US misses her mother, who died of ovarian cancer. People the world over are praying for peace in Iraq.
More intriguing than these, however, are the candles without messages. Some have intials, some have countries of origin listed, but no words to tell you why the candles are lit. I guess some prayers are so urgent that they must be expressed but at the same time so private they can't be shared.
When you have a quiet moment, visit the candle site. Even if you don't feel compelled to offer a prayer of your own, maybe you will feel the urge to do as the site suggests, and "look at messages left by others and hold their concerns in your heart..."