Fanning the flame

Why is it so easy to lose the warmth of our desire for God? Life's anxieties, problems, worries, and activities seem to be constantly warring against a burning passion for God. Often it becomes a case of what concerns me rather than what contributes to my relationship with God. The truth is we allow our busy western lives to crowd out the time needed to develop the true intimacy with God that keeps the flame of love for God alive. How do we fan the flame?

Seraphim of Sarov put it this way: "God is a fire that warms and kindles the heart and inward parts. And so, if we feel in our hearts coldness, which is from the devil--for the devil is cold--then let us call upon the Lord, and he will come and warm our hearts with perfect love not only for him, but for our neighbor as well. And from the presence of the warmth, the coldness of the hater of good will be driven away."

We start by asking God in his grace to stir our hearts with a new burning desire for him. Sometimes the best prayer we can offer is simply, "God, help me to want to know you." As we start with this simple request, God responds in his love and grace, and we then begin to make the willful decision to cooperate with him as he stirs that love in our hearts. He does his part, and we do ours.

The English 14th century monk, Richard Rolle, called one of his books, The Fire of Love. For Rolle, every part of his devotion to God was to burn as a consuming flame that would rid him of all that stood in the way of his love for God and the divine relationship that Christ came to make a reality.

May we strive for this kind of love, setting aside all that would hinder or make our hearts go cold, until we burst into flame renewed with a passionate burning of love for God.