Any good mystic is going to read and learn to appreciate the Desert Fathers and Mothers of the 4th century, the beginning of monasticism. It is amazing that these pilgrims in the faith lived in such austere settings and thrived as people. They appreciated the earth, the nature around them, the fire, water, air, and soil that made up the world as they knew it.
As I was reading today, I was captured by some of their sayings regarding turning into fire, being consumed by the Eternal, the Sacred. That is to become the “burning bush” to the world that, on any given day, the world so desperately needs. Have you considered that? Being so consumed by your faith that to others you seem like a “burning bush” of Christ’s Love? I will admit, it is a daunting idea and fearful. To let the Sacred so consume me with Love that it burns brightly for all to see.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I am not that great, to be honest I feel like I might be a little burning weed! But you get the idea: what if we thought of ourselves as the burning bush of Christ’s love from which the next Moses heard the voice of God? When we realize that that is what we are called to do, to love and be loved by the Creator, then why not try to be fire? Is it so far fetched as to believe that you or I can make that difference? As a contemplative, I have long believed that we are all good, created in God’s image, if we will but let it happen. We are called to be that burning bush to the world.
Thomas Traherne wrote these words about the Cross:
“Tree set on fire, fire with invisible Flames.
that Illuminateth all the World
The Flame of Love”
We just finished celebrating the birth of the Spark of Light returning to the world in the form of the little Child. Thirty three years later, that spark, from that Cross Traherne writes about above, erupted into the Light that Illuminates the world to this day. We are called to be burning bushes.
TMM