Then the Lord said to Elijah, “Go, stand in front of me on the mountain. I, the Lord, will pass by you.” Then a very strong wind blew. The wind caused the mountains to break apart. It broke large rocks...But that wind was not the Lord. After that wind, there was an earthquake. But that earthquake was not the Lord. After the earthquake, there was a fire. But that fire was not the Lord. After the fire, there was a quiet, gentle voice. (1 Kings 19:11, 12) The Fireplace and the Candle I like my fireplace-- Warmth with light and sound. (Three to one over my furnace!) Sometimes, Lord, you are my fireplace. The warmth drawing me near The light--now brightly fascinating, now glowing and comforting The sounds--my favorite part--unpredictable, surprising, cracks, pops and bangs So very alive and vital. Sound with a dash of fury: Laughter or sobbing A friendly greeting or a rebuke Wisely spoken words (apples of gold, according to Solomon) My wife's prayers over me and mine over her. The audible liturgy of my life. More often, though, you are my candle. Like the little votive in the deeply etched heavy red glass on my desk. (I light it for prayer time--or when I just want to sit and think, maybe jot down a few thoughts.) A little light, A little warmth, And silence. Its silent flaring and flickering become The back and forth of my prayer The up and down of my mood The to and fro of my relationships The ebb and flow of my life. I learn from the wax and the wick: united, they receive your flame and gladden the space around them with A little light, A little warmth, And silence. My fireplace is nice, and has its season, but mostly I prefer my candle. No rousing to stoke, prod, poke and feed it, to get it just right. Just me and a candle. I sit back and we meet In the light In the warmth But mostly in the silence. (c) 2017 Larry Pizzi
1 Comment
Jim G.
4/2/2017 03:56:56 pm
So subtle to consider the differences of a candle and a fireplace; I've often mused that while we can see a candle from a distance, to be used such as for reading, one must draw near. The same can be said for a fireplace: only when we draw near can the warmth and light become particularly useful. The same, it seems, can be said of a friend: we may remember them from a distance, but that friendship is best served when we - at least occasionally - draw near.
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
Larry Pizzi50 years of photographs and 35 years of keeping a commonplace book. Archives
March 2018
Categories |