What about the flame of the candle? With the fire? With the – light? When it is lit, we must nourish it so that it becomes so strong that it does not go out again. Once it is nourished, then we must protect it. A roof against the rain, a shelter against the wind, a fence against all the wild monkeys and dogs that might otherwise overrun the fire. This is the only way. Only with protection, with separation, can the light shine in this world. In this world, mind you. Even if it would be extinguished here, in this material world, it would not be destroyed, but would burn invisibly for our eyes further and further. Forever. But the roof must not be too solid, the walls must not be too strong and the fences must not be too dense, because the light must shine! It must radiate outward, it must delight and warm and attract and gather people. It must give hope and warmth. It must be the pine chip, with which in them also their fire is rekindled and is nourished and is protected and it again shines and delights and beams and attracts and again becomes the germ for further lights.
That is being in the middle. My exterior serves the light and nothing else. My exterior serves the protection of the fire. It has no other purpose and by serving the fire, it must be permeable. It must let the light radiate outward and not fearfully hide it from everyone. If we abandon our light to extinction or hide it too much, then darkness reigns. For each one of us. In this world, mind you.