There is no fire like passion, there is no shark like
hatred, there is no snare like folly, there is no torrent like greed.
Siddharta Gautama
I baptize you with water for repentance, but the one who
is coming after me is more powerful than I, and I am not worthy to carry his
sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
John the
Baptizer (Matthew 3:11)
______________________________________
it was a summer of fire
the rain didn’t come
the sun was relentless in a perpetually blue sky
then lightning
ignition
and fire
destroying all in its path
homes and livelihoods threatened
fire and fear
I love fire
there is something about a fire blazing in a wood stove
on a cold winter’s night
or a campfire under the stars
that is comforting and warming
a world without fire would be a cold and brittle place
but fire is never safe
for good or for ill, nothing
touched by fire is ever the same
and one way or another
after fire comes the old is
seared and charred
sometimes gone altogether
when fire comes there can be
pain and loss
but there can be newness too
sprouts emerging out of
scorched ground
and new beginnings
come Holy Spirit
come advent here
like fire
we know it is not safe
we know that when the fire of the
Spirit
rages through our souls we will
never be the same
we know there might be pain and
loss
purging and purifying
but we know that our hearts
will burn
with love
we know that we will be warmed
by Sacred Presence
we know that we will be set
ablaze with a passion for justice
we know that we will be driven
to people in need
we know we will never be the
same
come Holy Spirit
life changer, disturber,
empowerer
roar through our inmost being
cleanse us
fire us up
for this is how the Sacred
advents here
this is how the baby of
Bethlehem is born
again and again
in the manger of our souls
and in this world
which so needs the warmth and
light
of Sacred love
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