This morning over my Rosary’s Sorrowful Mysteries I watched the morning fire start. I could not help but realize how in everything God unveils his mysteries to us and sends forth his Spirit in the exact same way. It takes the verse 1 Peter 1:6-7 to greater clarity in my life.

“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold which though perishable is tested by fire, may rebound to praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible)

When we cut up trees, we ideally get them fresh and healthy. Then we bring them down, size and split them. We stack the wood carefully and protect it to cure. All the moisture inside evaporates away, and all you have left is fuel for the fire. We collect the splinters, chips and shavings from all the work and use it for kindling as well. We should waste nothing from our bounty if at all possible.

While this is the ideal, life rarely meets the model described above. Sometimes the wood is damp, or partly cured before we need to use it. We may have inadequate storage. We could process it improperly as well. Yet despite these challenges, we will still need to use it to keep us warm and healthy.

So when we start the fire, we take our imperfect materials to build the structure we will ignite. Sometimes the stove may be warm, and sometimes it is stone cold. If your materials are dry, the structure well formed, and stove warm it will fire up in minutes with smoke going right up the chimney. If the stove is cold, and the materials poor, the probability of a rapid start is low. You will risk great back drafts and smoke filling your home as you struggle to obtain the critical ignition temperature and back draft defeating heat.

Is this not like our lives? Some of us grow up in good environments, and are blessed to meet the Lord in this life ready to ignite through his fiery Holy Spirit dry and well constructed? Some of us face challenging environments were we need extra care in various steps of the journey to be consumed by the Spirit and become one with God.

God did not spare his own son from this journey. In the Garden he prayed so hard, and accepted all our sins, causing blood to bleed from his precious temples. His son was then prepared for sacrifice through a scourging so rough it would kill most men. Despite this he accepted his crown of white and red martyrdom in quiet acceptance and obedience to the Father. He carried the cross, and needed help from a man who represents who we should be, to make the final steps to his crucifixion. We, as simple men, probably cannot see how the Father lifted his son along the path to our redemption. Yet we know every grace comes from the Father, and our virtuous glories only result from being one with the Father’s will.

So today as I move through my trials, I will try and remember God’s working on me to build the fire despite the imperfect materials I consist of in our cold and fallen world. I hope once I get going, just maybe, I’ll be able to spread his loving warmth and energy for as long as I live well beyond the stove

-ehw