Florence and the Lamp

I see Florence Nightingale and her lamp morph into Jesus and the upside-down chandelier again. (See my last blog, Finding the A/R/Tographer: The Journey Begins by Turning on the Light.) Half-asleep I hear a man say, “The question we have involves the seven spirits . . . ” [Apparently, YouTube had continued playing videos while I slept last night.]

Then, Pastor Ivor Myers explains the candlestick was an article of furniture called the Seven Branch Candlestick found in the sanctuary. It’s actually one candlestick with seven flames or seven spirits. Each flame represents the seven spirits of G-d. Pastor James Rafferty explains the seven spirits of G-d by reading Isaiah 11:12:

And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. (KJV)

My understanding is The Father (G-d), his Son, and the Holy Spirit make up the Holy Trinity. When Jesus departed from earth, He sent these seven spirits, which make up the one Holy Spirit into the earth . . . The Holy Spirit’s job is to enlighten and help us see (Dare to Dream Network, 2017).

When my eyes open, I see 3:14 on the clock and hear “John”. So, I open the Bible on my phone. I read John 1 (pronounced first John).

Me: I don’t understand. [I hear ‘wrong John’.] So, I read John 2.

Me: I don’t understand. [I hear ‘wrong John’.] So, I read John 3.

Me: Nope, I don’t get it. [I hear ‘wrong John’.]

Me: Oh’ Look another John! [Maybe this should be called John zero or John the original – I don’t know.) So, I read John 3:14-16:

And Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so, must the Son of man be lifted up; That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (KJV)

Well, that just opened up more questions.

1. Why would anyone want to lift a serpent up in the wilderness? Doesn’t the serpent represent Satan? [And if the serpent is venomous that’s a horrible idea . . . I don’t think they had antivenom.] Answer: The bronze serpent on a staff is a symbol.
2. Why did Florence Nightingale and the lamp turn into Jesus and the candlestick? [I feel like my brain is suggesting Florence was Jesus. I don’t want to be blasphemous, but that’s what happened in the dream.] Answer: It is the presence of the Holy Spirit living within the person.
3. Why do I only see Jesus and the candlestick, where is G-d? Answer: God in three dimensions.

Reflecting on the evidence

1. The soldiers in Scutari wrote letters home about Florence Nightingale and her lamp. Create what you think might have been said or drawn in one of those letters.

References

Appell, V.S. (2023). Why do some Jews write “G-d” instead of “God”? ReformJudaism.org. https://reformjudaism.org/learning/answers-jewish-questions/why-do-some-jews-write-g-d-instead-god

Beck, M. (2022, July 21). Finding the A/R/Tographer: The journey begins by turning on and into the light. Time Traveling Nurse. https://wordpress.com/post/timetravelingnurse.blog/722

Blasphemous. (n.d.). Oxford Languages. Retrieved July 25, 2022 from https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=blasphemous+definition&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

Dare to Dream Network. (2017, August 22). Woman in the Wilderness – Salvation in Symbols & Signs. YouTube. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LByFJdqT9WM&list=PLZE9r6f37K0AJPuImVU9DX-Y1Ntikqv0R&index=52

Eisenstein, J.D. (2021). Sanctuary. Jewish Encyclopedia. https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/13171-sanctuary

Florence Nightingale Summary (N.D.) Britannica. Retrieved July 25, 2022, from https://www.britannica.com/summary/Florence-Nightingale

Howell, A.S. (Producer & Director), Beck, M.S. (Executive Producer & Writer), & Matthias, A. (Writer). (2020). The Year of the Nurse and Midwife: What would Florence Nightingale say Today? [Film, Educational Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGEK13Lvn0s&t=44s

King James Bible. (2022). Blue Letter Bible Online. https://www.blueletterbible.org

Lion and the Lamb Ministries. (2016, September 13). Why did God use a Bronze Serpent? [Video]. YouTube. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_IXZoV-jhog

Lion of Judah. (2020, November 20). In Order to Change your Life, Allow the Holy Spirit to Live in You [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/results?sp=mAEB&search_query=in+order+to+change+your+life+allow+the+holy+spirit+to+live+in+you

Oleksiuk, J. (2013, May 24). “Holy Trinity” explained in 3 minutes. [Video]. YouTube. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AQkFlzFJ3kA

Special Thanks

Rebecca Niles, PhD, RN, CNE reviewer and editor for Florence and the Lamp.