In the bitter cold
The looming darkness
A fire burns
Flames licking at the tamarack
Reducing it to ashes
That is the thing about fire.
It changes
That which it touches
It sears and smelts
We draw near the fire, lingering,
But dare not draw too close
We need it, desire it, fear it
That which warms and illuminates
Also destroys
I think, in the warming cold,
Of Moses, feet frozen to the ground,
Watching the bush that burns, but
Is not consumed
That fire drew him in
Irresistible
Transformative
Into the presence of the One who is
undefinable
Into dialogue with Sacred
Fire of God
Flickering off the dry branches
Dancing on the heads of dry people
Not devouring, reducing,
But inspiring
I think too of those fires raging
In dark streets, harbingers of destruction
Signs of violence
Destroying
Fires raging in human souls,
Consuming
Burning away not the dross
But the essence of who we are
pushing us away from presence
with the heat of hate and fear
May I burn Lord
Not with the fire of hate
Destroying all around me
But with the fire of love
Holy Fire, Angel Fire
Fire of God
Fill my ordinary being
With your extraordinary love
That through me the flame of
Your love will burn in the darkness
May the flame dance within me, proclaiming your presence
May love rage within my soul
Drawing others close so you can touch them
The flames flickering out
Setting them on fire
With your love
Creating a backfire of love
That extinguishes the fire of hate
