H,
Prayer is our connection to
everything else. There is nothing bigger than it in terms of connecting or
re-connecting to God. It has taken this bad color in our recent religion; an outward
flourish instead of any inner sense of being and living. It has become like any
other chant to any unknown god.
everything else. There is nothing bigger than it in terms of connecting or
re-connecting to God. It has taken this bad color in our recent religion; an outward
flourish instead of any inner sense of being and living. It has become like any
other chant to any unknown god.
Yet the abuse of something
does not negate its ultimate truth.
does not negate its ultimate truth.
Of course the last thing you
want to do when your fire is dim is show it to God. We all have the fallen
virus in our bones and blood. When He (the generic “he”, of course) comes
calling, we run and we hide. On one level it is the dumbest thing to do. It is
like having a fire about to go out in winter and running away when you see a
flame coming toward you to replenish your smouldering wick. It is also the most
sensible thing to do. A fire coming towards you is still a fire coming towards
you. Fear and dread my still be the most logical response to the fiery presence
of the living God.
want to do when your fire is dim is show it to God. We all have the fallen
virus in our bones and blood. When He (the generic “he”, of course) comes
calling, we run and we hide. On one level it is the dumbest thing to do. It is
like having a fire about to go out in winter and running away when you see a
flame coming toward you to replenish your smouldering wick. It is also the most
sensible thing to do. A fire coming towards you is still a fire coming towards
you. Fear and dread my still be the most logical response to the fiery presence
of the living God.
Especially if He is unknown.
We are Christians because we
believe that He can be known. We relate to the idea of God with us in every
sense. We know the fire is one of heart. We know that when it consumes it
revives, when it hurts it heals and when it kills, it resurrects. We bear the “slings
and arrows of fate” because we believe that we are bearing witness to the
greatest truth of all: eternity is what matters and time on earth only matters
in relation to eternity.
believe that He can be known. We relate to the idea of God with us in every
sense. We know the fire is one of heart. We know that when it consumes it
revives, when it hurts it heals and when it kills, it resurrects. We bear the “slings
and arrows of fate” because we believe that we are bearing witness to the
greatest truth of all: eternity is what matters and time on earth only matters
in relation to eternity.
Our fire is dim but our head
is unbowed. We are of non-bowing ilk.
is unbowed. We are of non-bowing ilk.
We do not bow to sin or
wrongdoing, of others and from ourselves, not to transient power and lucid
madmen on plastic thrones, not to failure or the failure that is seeming
success at too high a price of self-worth and real self, not to trances, false
visions, ideas, falsehoods, false gods and tin displays of worthless power.
wrongdoing, of others and from ourselves, not to transient power and lucid
madmen on plastic thrones, not to failure or the failure that is seeming
success at too high a price of self-worth and real self, not to trances, false
visions, ideas, falsehoods, false gods and tin displays of worthless power.
We bow to only one being in
the Universe. Not because He is spectral and we cannot reach Him. But because
He is closer than close and He does not speak in words. He speaks in love. And we
got His great letter. It was imprinted on a cross, it filled up an empty tomb
and showed up as fire on the heads of our brothers and sisters from two
thousand years ago.
the Universe. Not because He is spectral and we cannot reach Him. But because
He is closer than close and He does not speak in words. He speaks in love. And we
got His great letter. It was imprinted on a cross, it filled up an empty tomb
and showed up as fire on the heads of our brothers and sisters from two
thousand years ago.
Our fire may go dim but in
Him, it cannot die.
Him, it cannot die.