Monday – Faith as a Fire

The Slow Work of Keeping Warm

Sacred Invitation

Not every fire is bright.
Not every ember blazes.
Some warmth is soft—quiet—barely visible beneath the ash.

This is where we begin.

After the wilderness, Jesus was not sent into another trial.
He was met by angels.
He was tended to. Nourished. Held.

This is part of the journey, too.
The moment after the striving, where breath returns.
Where we are not asked to do more, but to receive what sustains.

Let this be your beginning:
Not to ignite something spectacular,
but to come close to what remains.
To trust that warmth still lives here.
And it is enough.

Daily Reflection

We often imagine faith as a blaze—bright, certain, unshakable.
But real faith is not always fire at full force.
It is often a flicker. A low, steady burn.
Something that does not draw attention to itself,
but has kept us warm without our even noticing.

Jesus did not demand faith to burn bright.
He let it breathe.
He let it rest.
He returned again and again to what fed it—
morning silence, the breaking of bread, the steady rhythm of prayer.

This is how faith endures.
Not through force,
but through tending.

Somatic Practice

Breath as a Kindling Flame

Before you move into the day, pause.
Sit quietly, without agenda.

Close your eyes and take a deep breath—slow and gentle.
Notice the rise and fall of your chest.
Feel the warmth of the breath moving in and out of your body.

Now, place your hand over your chest.
Feel the pulse. The quiet life beneath your palm.
Let it be a reminder—faith still lives here.
It may be faint. But it is real.

Whisper:
"My faith is not gone. It is waiting to be tended."

Let that be enough.
No striving.
Just staying near.

Closing Reflection or Prayer

A Prayer for the Fire to Keep Burning

Tonight, light a candle if you have one.
Or sit beside the soft glow of a lamp.

Watch the way the light flickers—gentle, steady.
Notice how it moves with the air. How it bends. How it remains.

Let this be your prayer:

"Even the smallest ember holds heat.
Even the dimmest glow can be tended back to fire."

You are not required to blaze.
You are only invited to remain near.
To tend what still lives.
To trust that warmth will grow.

Let that trust be enough for tonight.