Spark

“Behold all you who kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that you have kindled.  This you will have of my hand; you will lie down in sorrow.”  (Isaiah 50:11)

"To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness..." (Isaiah 61:3)
 
                                                                          Spark
 
I gathered sticks of self will
I gathered sticks of pride
I gathered sticks of guilt and shame
I piled them high and wide
 
One hand held the desire to please
The other held all my deep pain
I rubbed them together with all my might
Until a spark ignited the waiting flame
 
The fire went up to the farthest sky
The fire warmed my outward show
The fire consumed my every thought
Emitting sparks as the flames did grow
 
There was the spark of my ego
There was the spark of my sin
There was the spark of my darkness
All calloused and cold within
 
External warmth cannot satisfy
It pleads to be brought inside
But the sparks of the fire I made
Mocked me and caused me to hide
 
Here in the gathering embers
Here in the destruction immense
The strange fire began to die
Ashes were all that was left
 
All was ravening darkness
No light, no fire, just me
The silence left a gaping hole
Where my heart used to be
 
“Give Me the ashes, child
Remnant of all that remains
Watch the fire I give to you
Bring beauty from the same”
 
I held the gray powdery death
My hands trembling under its weight
A spark of pure holiness caught fire
Engulfing the ashes I had made
 
“No true light exists without Me
All your fires will fade away
But the fire I give graciously
Forever warms and lights your way”
 
“Here is the stick of my forgiveness
Here is the stick of my grace
Here is the stick of my mercy
Here is the fire I have made”
 
“Dwell in My sacred presence
Dwell in the midst of My flame
Here there are never ashes
Only the glory of My name…”
 
 
 
 
 
 
Written by Anne Marie Hawke
March 2021
 
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