For a birthday celebration, the right number of candles are placed in a cake and lit. Lights are turned low and the well-lit cake is carefully carried into the room as "Happy Birthday" is sung. The person carrying the cake tries not to breathe on the candles, not to sing too vigorously at the flickering lights. The one celebrating is supposed to have the chance to blow out the candles, so they have to stay lit until the cake is set down in front of them.

A flashlight can be carried into the storm, swung around, and still provide a circle of light. But carry a candle into the wind, and it is out in an instant. A candle needs to be put inside a lantern with glass to let the light shine through and holes to let the smoke escape.

For an oil lamp to burn clean and bright, it too needs a glass cover that keeps moving air from the flame. The reservoir is filled with oil, the wick is turned to the proper length and lit, and then a glass cover is placed to let the light shine out and keep the flame from wavering. With just enough wick showing and good protection, an oil lamp burns clean and bright.

There is a South Asian style lamp with a shallow bowl for oil and "V" shaped indents for the wicks. For these lamps, the fuel is ordinary vegetable oil and the wick cotton cord. The lights burn clean as long as the wick is exactly the right length and the reservoir is kept full. Refill it too fast, and the oil will flood the flames. Let the wick burn too far, and the flame goes out: it has to be gently moved with a fingertip. This can be done while the flame burns as long as one is careful and gentle.

In our houses, we flick wall switches and expect the lights to shine bright. But for many over the centuries, and for us in power outages, flames provide light, and these have to be tended carefully.

The ancient Hebrew prophet Isaiah spoke of the work to bring justice as like the tending of a weak and flickering flame. In the book attributed to him (some parts of it were likely written later by some who followed in the original Isaiah's tradition) the prophet spoke of the power of God's servant to bring justice. He wrote, "[My servant] will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice." (NRSV, Isaiah 42: 2-3)

For us, the first surprise in this passage comes with the statement that the justice-bringer will not be out in the street shouting. In our day, a lot of those who are working to point out the injustice of our society are in the street protesting or standing with a megaphone outside the parliament buildings. Bringing justice seems to require a loud voice.

And this kind of powerful voice is needed: in order to draw enough people to a cause, you have to make your voice heard above the dominant message. In order to get the structure to listen, you have to get their attention. In order to get an institution to budge, you have to push hard.

But in order to have people who suffer injustice experience the healing of a new society, something else is needed. Inadequate employment, unaffordable housing, systemic discrimination bruise the strength and hope of a person. The one who suffers does not need to be shouted at. The one who is wounded needs a gentle touch, support, encouragement. For their light to shine as bright as it can, they need protection and nurture.

What Isaiah reminds us is that it is not good enough to change the system if those affected do not experience healing and renewal. Faithful justice seeking will work at the meta level, but will also ensure that no one is left behind. Protest and challenge, yes. But nurture and protect as well so that the most vulnerable live the difference.

Cathy Hird is a farmer, minister, and writer living near Walters Falls.