The Fire Inside

“Abruptly the poker of memory stirs the ashes of recollection and uncovers a forgotten ember, still smoldering down there, still hot, still glowing, still red as red.” ~ William Manchester

This is a story that comes from a former church Pastor of mine. He was was speaking to a large group of men about re-igniting their lives. And as the story goes, many years ago he was attending a beach-side conference which always held a very large bonfire at conference end.

In the days leading up to the conference, folks involved with putting on the event had built a huge pile of wood and timbers. This was going to be a very large fire for those gathered. Think Burning Man Festival size fire but at a church related event.

As the conference began, the rains began with it. There was rain pouring down for two to three days. Through out the week it was soaking everything including the wood being piled high for the final night bonfire. Of course the final night came, the rains had ceased and everyone had expectations of a grand fire.

As you would guess, the wood was wet and the days sunshine had not dried it fully. So organizers and good intentioned folks began gathering anything flammable. They found newspaper, dry brush and lots of matches were consumed trying to get this bonfire burning bright.

Then out of the corner of Steve's eye, he sees a person coming with a large fuel can, gasoline one would expect, letting the liquid fly towards the pile. It was estimated this person had two or more gallons of the highly flammable liquid.

To no one's surprise, there were a few small embers from the failed attempts to fully ignite the wood pile. Those embers were still glowing within the pile of wood, newspaper and twigs. I am sure you have seen what happens with gasoline. The fumes are flammable and all it takes it a small spark or ember to ignite it completely.

An instant solar flare occurred which lit up the entire coastline. News reports indicate ships off-shore thought it was a light beacon. So intense that...well, you get the picture.

The amazing thing about this story is all it took was one small flame.

One small spark or ember to change everything.

Something so small and singular in purpose we somehow forget that it exists, but it does exist. It exists in each of us, deep inside where we have forgotten it.

That one small flame glows, just waiting for you to throw something on it. To let it ignite your life and explode into something great. Oh yes, it does exist and all it takes is that one small flame. A small touch or a small amount of movement to change your life.

Stay inspired my friends.