The prophets have wondered to themselves, ” How long/ should we keep pounding// this cold iron? How long do we have to whisper into an/ empty cage?” Every motion// of created beings come from the creator. The first soul/ pushes and your second/ soul responds, beginning, so don’t stay timid. Load the ship/ and set out. No one knows// for certain whether the vessel will sink or reach the harbor./ Cautious people say, “I’ll// do nothing until I can be sure.” Merchants know better./ If you do nothing, you lose.// Don’t be one of those merchants who won’t risk the ocean!/ This is much more important// than losing or making money. This is your connection to God!/ You must set fire to have// light. Trust means you’re ready to risk what you currently/ have. Think of your fear and// hope about your livelihood. They make you go work/ diligently every day. Now// consider what the prophets have done. Abraham wore fire for an anklet. Moses spoke// to the sea. David molded iron. Solomon rode the wind./ Work in the invisible world// at least as hard as you do in the visible. Be companions/ with the prophets even though// no one here will know that you are, not even the helpers of/ the qutb, the abdals. You// can’t imagine what profit will come! When one of those/ generous invites you// into his fire, go quickly! Don’t say, “But will it burn/ me? Will it hurt?”

Rumi

“You must set fire to have light.” “You must set fire to have light.” “You must set fire to have light.” I need to hear that right now. Right now when my light is a bit dim. Right now when the very questions that keep me going languish in an unresolved purgatory. Right now when I am trying to work in visible and invisible worlds to breathe life into a new year.

It helps to feel the heat of fire in the cold of winter. It helps to remember the light of the sun in the darkness of night. It helps to say yes to generous invitations.

There is hope there. There is faith there. There is grace there.

There is a relationship between fire and beginning. There is a relationship between fire and finishing. There is a relationship between fire and resilience. There is a relationship between fire and figuring things out. There is a relationship between fire and making our way.

There is a time to burn things down. There is a time for purification and cleansing. There is time and life after ashes.