Fire

It’s a funny thing about fire, but conditions have to be just right for it to burn. If you studied such things in school, you probably learned that in order for a fire to burn, it needs three ingredients: fuel, oxygen, and heat. If there is no fuel, there is nothing to burn, and all the oxygen and heat in the world will not change that. If there is no oxygen or other enabling gas, you can have lots of fuel and an abundant heat source but the file will simply not catch. And without a heat source such as a match or other igniter, you could have a mountain of fuel with plenty of oxygen, and nothing at all would happen. When you have all three in the right configuration, however, magic happens! You will have a fire, and that fire can produce, heat, light, and energy!

Over the summer months, not much had been happening at Fired UP! Oh, there has been some communication among the Fired Up team, but while the team members were mostly off doing other things, the fire was largely left untended and allowed to burn low. There were good reasons for this of course, but in the end, the question was, had that fire actually gone out? Was it time to move on and look for a different source of heat and light?

On Sunday evening, the Fired Up team met together around its metaphorical campsite to poke the coals to see how much heat was really left there. All agreed that they wanted there to still be a Fired Up. They also agreed there was a need within the larger community to have a place for those who do not quite fit the mould of regular church, and there are plenty of people like that! Were those embers glowing there in the darkness? Could we nurse that fire back to a life?

As the group talked together, we recognized that the time pressures in everyone’s lives sometimes meant there was not enough oxygen to allow that fire to burn brightly. Further, the miles between the team members sometimes meant there was nobody readily available to feed the flames. Despite all of that, however, the heat of passion and hope was still there. As ideas were shared and discussed about how to provide more oxygen, and who could feed the fire, the coals began to glow more brightly. Finally, as the creative fuel of fresh ideas was added to the now glowing embers, a little flame began. Fired Up was Firing up again!

It will take time for this little fire to grow stronger and to provide the warmth and light that is its potential, but we have time. It will take care for this little flame to be tended and nourished, but we have people who care.

Soon you will see the flames of Fired Up burning more brightly again. It will be a small fire perhaps, but we can manage that. The little flame is burning. Watch for it. It may be just the source of light and warmth you need.

F - ellowship
I - nspiration
R - eaching Out
E - ducation

Posted by Carman