Mar 21 - "Burning Embers"

"For I am longing to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gifts to strengthen you -- or rather, so that we may be mutually encouraged by each others' faith, both yours and mine." --- Romans 1:1-15
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Do you ever feel like you are in a dry time, spiritually? Are there points when you just don't feel as connected to God?

I recently heard a story, told by one of my new friends, Travis, who participates with me in the ministry of Jehoshua House. On Monday evenings a good-sized group of men and women head up to Hamilton County Jail and spend time with the inmates there, teaching a short course in Christianity. During these sessions, one of our group gets up to give a talk about one element of our Faith, also giving testimony to how this particular topic has played a part in their lives. We then break into small groups with the inmates and discuss the topic of that session. This past week, Travis told us the following story.

"A man was sitting with his friend next to a warm fire one evening, talking about how he was troubled at the current condition of his faith walk. He was telling his friend that he had started having this feeling of being a bit lost a few months back; work and family life was busy; Sunday mornings had changed from time spent in worship to time spent working or on the golf course.

As this conversation progressed and the fire they were sitting next to burned down to coals, the man's friend reached into the fireplace with metal tongs and pulled one of the bright embers from the fire and placed in alone on the stone hearth. While the man continued to share his story, the ember cooled and darkened, losing its heat and fire.

After a bit, while continuing to listen patiently, the man's friend placed the cold and dark ember back into the hot coals from which it had originally been taken. While the man finished telling his story to the friend, the ember which had been dark and without warmth, returned to its former brightness, as the other burning embers shared their heat and light.

The man saw this and realized what he needed to do."

Paul's letter to the Romans opens with a wonderful reminder of how we can refresh ourselves in those dry times. Not only does he want to be with his friends in order to encourage them and build up their faith, he also realizes that being with them will encourage, brighten and warm him too. Just as Paul knew that the source of his continuing spiritual renewal was to be in a community of believers, I have recognized the power of my family's weekly time at our church, but also the encouragement of spirit I receive each week when I spend time with the brothers of Jehoshua House and my new friends at Hamilton County Jail.

If you are not in a church community where you are feeling warmed, brightened and renewed, it's time to find a new church. But before making that choice, make sure you think about how you might need to be the burning ember in the fire to someone else. By sharing your heat and light, you also have the opportunity to be refreshed in the spirit. If you are not regularly attending worship with friends, I encourage you to find a place to do so.

So, return to the fire. Where two or three are gathered, Christ is also there. Allow yourself to be warmed and brightened by the spirit of those who are around you, worshiping and being in relationship with one another.