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Wednesday's Word: On Fire

6/6/2012

 
Once upon a time…
     In a galaxy far, far away… 
            
         Tell me a story, sister, so as to pass the waking parts of the night…

                In  the beginning…

All great stories introduce us to  wonder.  We are invited to  adventure, mystery and distant lands.  At the same time, all great stories also contain  elements of the familiar: the  faithful friend, the jealous retainer, the beautiful dreamer, the wicked  step-parent, the hateful villain.  Finally, the peasant becomes the princess; evil is defeated, and all live  happily ever after.  
God’s stories are no different: the bride will be rescued and taken to  the kingdom. The peasant will become a princess and we will live happily ever  after.  The evil that lurks in the  shadows and destroys all that is good and right in the world will be  defeated.  It will happen—because  the story of God tells me that this is so. 
          
Yet simply reading His stories is not enough.  I must be bold enough to tell and to live in His stories.   If I want to learn how to pray:  I must place myself in the Garden of Getsemane.   If I want to feel God’s love: I will put myself in Jesus’ arms and become  as His child, receiving His blessing.   If I want to experience His joy: I will stand next to Mary Magdelene was  she cries “Rabboni!”

If I ever wonder whether or not God cares for us,  we should place ourselves at the foot of the cross.   If I am feeling as if I’ve failed Him:  I will stand with Peter in the  courtyard and then run to Jesus from the shore. If I’m angry about injustice: I  will live in the story of the temple cleansing, understanding that God’s anger is for His own.   

I will find myself in God’s story.  I will see myself as a part of his  great drama.  I will live with  wonder, adventure, and hope in the happily ever  after.

The  story is told of the ancient desert fathers that Abba Lot went to see Abba  Joseph complaining that his spiritual disciplines rought little  satisfaction and less power.  According to the tale, he said, “Abba,  as far as I can, I say my little office, I fast a little, I pray and meditate, I  live in peace and as far as I can I purify my thoughts. What else can I do?”  Then the old man stood up and stretched his hands toward heaven; his fingers  became like ten lamps of fire and he said to him, "If you will, you can become  all flame.” 
 
As we extend our hearts to God and place  ourselves in His story, let us become His flames: flames to encourage; flames to  strengthen our flagging faith;   flames to lighten another’s burden; flames to set the world on fire. 

Let our stories join with His in extending  light to a broken and dark and lonely world.

Light a fire today:   tell God’s story.  
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