Our church family is thinking a lot these days about a line
from an elderly Paul to his young friend Timothy: "fan into the flame
the gift of God" (2 Timothy 1:6). For all the "light, heat and
energy" we desire for our lives... for all our efforts to "fan"
any embers of life into such flame for greater life... what exactly is the
"fire"?
Don't miss this: it's not us. It's not our plans of what
we'll do. It's not our hyped-up inspiration to get us doing it. It's not the
resources we collect to do it with. It's not "this little light of
mine."
The fire is God. Nothing less. And as the Giver of
all gifts, nothing more.
The fire is the One who spoke blazing light into the dark
void of pre-creation. The fire is the One who raised his Son out of the cold
night of death into an explosion of new life. The fire is the One who pours out
his Spirit to share this light and energy and life, indwelling all who will
receive him and let him be free to burn.
In the words of the old Canadian folk-rocker Bruce Cockburn,
here's my prayer for myself, my family and friends, and for the community
called Centennial Covenant:
O Love that
fires the sun keep us burning.
With you in the Fire of Holy Love,
Steve Thulson
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