The tending of the fire

The tending of the fire                                                                     

There’s a fire in the flesh

that must be tended to

and a fire in the wine and a glint of fire

in the ruby of the heart.

Wine’s fire enough, in time,

will sodden and subdue the fiery flesh;

the heart’s ruby steady the drunken gait

and become a lamp unto the path.

But, o child, when the glint in the heart’s stone,

(by the Master’s grace), flares and flames,

honor and nurture this fire –

anything you are called upon to do,

anything that can be done.

This fire is the beginning of revelation

and the path home,

the ancient, scattered remnant

lighting our way inward

towards the Source and the Goal.

O child of God, the appearance of fire is grace

and, also, grace – the tending of the fire.