“Don’t play with fire,” is an instruction we receive early in life from parents, camp counselors, Smoky the Bear. Fire, so cozy and warm in a fireplace, so romantic and spiritual on the ends of candles, can be so destructive if uncontained.
In our faith lives, however, we are invited not only to play, but to dance with fire, the fire of God. Perhaps I’m overly taken with this notion that the bridesmaids in Jesus’ story needed their lamps to dance in procession through the streets, escorting the bridegroom to his waiting bride and wedding banquet. I love the image of these lights weaving through darkened streets, building up anticipation of the joyful union to come. It’s a beautiful metaphor for how we can live out our mission as Christ followers bearing his light into the world.
Do you wake up every morning and think, “I am a bearer of light?” I don’t, though given our times, I intend to start. The shortening days in the northern hemisphere can be a good reminder. And if we commit ourselves to being light-bearers, we’ll need to maintain our oil reservoirs.
In the early church, oil was a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Some early baptismal rites relied heavily on oil for anointing as a sign of the imparting of the Spirit. Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, reminds them that they were “marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit” as a pledge of their spiritual inheritance, already available to them in Christ. We received the same sign, the same pledge, at our baptisms.
It is the Holy Spirit who inspires us to ministries, large and small, often quite specifically through suggestions or signs. It is the Spirit who equips us with the gifts we need for what we feel called to do. It is the Spirit who empowers us, working through us to do so much more than we can ask or imagine, to quote Paul again. It is the Spirit who brings peace, and Christ's presence.
How do we keep our reservoirs filed with the Spirit? Pray. The prayer, “Holy Spirit, fill me…” is one God answers. We often need to pray to be refilled, for we are leaky vessels. But the prayer itself reminds us that if we would accomplish any light-bearing that makes a difference to the people walking in darkness, it will be by the Spirit’s power in us, not ours alone. We can’t lose with the prayer to be filled with the Spirit.
Have you noticed some dark streets or darkened hearts that need some light? Do you feel you have some to share, or is your flame a bit dim? As the songgoes, "Keep your lamps trimmed and burning." (A more rocking bluesy version from the Tedeschi-Trucks Band here.) We’ve learned this week about keeping our lamps trimmed through spiritual practices that open us to God’s abundant life. Add to those a regular prayer of, “Holy Spirit, fill me,” and we are ready when the cry comes to greet the Bridegroom.
The world needs not only the light we bring. It also needs our joy. So we are invited to dance with our lights. Remember, the bridesmaids needed those lamps to dance the Bridegroom to his wedding feast and beloved bride. The bride is the church – a community of individuals in varying stages of coming to know Christ. Each time we dance Christ through the dark to a person waiting to receive him, we draw nearer to him ourselves. Why play with fire if you can dance with it? That is our sacred duty, our inheritance, and our glorious future.
We have begun a new 40-day cycle of prayer, for the healing of our nation. Click here if you'd like to sign up to receive each day's prayer, or if you want to jump off the list.
No comments:
Post a Comment