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IF YOU ARE WHAT YOU SHOULD BE,
YOU WILL SET THE WORLD ABLAZE
CATHERINE OF SIENNA
Reflections on this quote
What do you think you are called to be?
How close are you to accepting it and living into it?
What does it mean to you to set the world ablaze?
Are you doing that? How?
For God is not an indifferent bystander.
He’s actively cleaning house,
torching all that needs to burn,
and he won’t quit until
it’s all cleansed.
God himself is fire!
Hebrews 12:29 The Message
Reflections on this verse
How is God cleaning your inner house?
What needs torching?
How does it feel when your house is cleansed?
How do you describe the warmth of God’s fire?
Let it Burn
Some say that each heart
holds a divine spark–
I have felt that to be true.
It flickers and flames.
Sometimes its intensity
burns a hole
right through my chest
radiating this light, this love
into the world.
When I hold my babies,
it smolders and burns–
I feel myself held.
When I pay attention to the sunrise
or catch a falling star,
wonder stirs the flame.
Stillness,
song,
beauty,
and love
make space for this flame’s light.
Let it grow. Let it burn.
I can’t control the flame.
But when I ignore it, smother it, starve it,
the flame will not reach its wild potential.
Keep the spark tiny and manageable.
Stay in control.
What fun is that?
Throw some logs on the fire.
Let go.
Let it grow. Let it burn.
Turning my life inside out,
I crawl into that flame–
let it consume
burn away the outside
until it’s all just essence.
Maybe, just maybe, I’ll catch
a glimpse of eternity now.
After the blaze simmers down,
among the ashes,
this marvelous, mysterious spark remains.
Let it grow. Let it burn.
c 2014, Jessica Sanborn. All rights reserved.
Reflections on this poem:
What smolders and burns within you?
How do you experience your divine spark?
Will you let it grow, let it burn?
Dear Friends,
This series on being consumed by the fire of God’s love has inspired some of you to mull this over in your own lives. One young woman, Jessica Sanborn, has written a poem about how she responded and has agreed to let me publish it. Thank you Jessica. The poem will follow in minutes!
Janet
A disciple once came to Abba Joseph saying, “Father, according as I am able, I keep my little rule, my little fast, and my little prayer.
And according as I am able, I strive to cleanse my mind of all evil thoughts and my heart of all evil intents.
Now what more should I do?
Abba Joseph rose up and stretched out his hands to heaven, and his fingers became like ten lamps of fire.
He answered, “Why not be totally changed into fire?”
A story from the desert fathers, 2nd century.
Reflections on this story:
Which disciplines do you follow?
Which ones work best for you?
Do you have a spiritual mentor to go to with your questions?
How could you imagine yourself, an earthly person, changed into fire?
At Rivers Edge by Janet Hagberg 