This recent memory came to me in a dream, much like the
lyrics of a song honoring a beloved magic horse, named Wildfire, came to Michael Martin Murphy in 1975. At the time, our family was deeply involved in 4-H and QuarterHourse activities, where our son, Wade, became friends with Murphy’s son, Bryan. In my recent dream, I could see and hear the beautiful song, again. Please go to the video below for Murphy’s performance of
Wildfire, a beloved horse.
These days, I see “wildfire”, not as a horse, but everywhere as destruction – on TV, in Maui, in our countryside, and warnings posted on freeway overhead electronic signs. Earth’s enemy: destructive heat and fire. What are we doing to our beloved earth!
The reality of our scorched earth is here and undeniable. There is much that we can do to protect our earth, mainly
conserve,
get involved,
vote, and
pray.
Jesus said, “I have come to set the earth on fire.” (Lk 12:49) Jesus’ statement of fire is the fire of his love; it is all- powerful, all- consuming in Christ’s love for his Father and his creation. Jesus wants the whole world to burn with the intensity of love he has for his Father and all of humanity.
We remember the familiar conversation of the disciples on the road to Emmaus: ““Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32).” John of the Cross, priest, mystic, writes of a living flame of love from God that burns within the soul.
This prayer is invoking that beloved fire of God’s love:
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you shall renew the face of the earth. O God, who did instruct the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant, that by that same Spirit, we may be truly wise and rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen
--by Jan
*Photo MMMurphy and Wade, 1986