Abba Lot went to see Abba Joseph and said to him, “Abba as far as I can I say my little office, I fast a little, I pray and meditate, I live in peace and as far as I can, I purify my thoughts. What else can I do?” then the old man stood up and stretched his hands towards heaven. His fingers became like ten lamps of fire and he said to him, “If you will, you can become all flame.”
– From the Desert Fathers
There is the common path of Christianity – one where the structure is generally followed, beliefs are mouthed at the right time and our behavior is regulated by the ever present eye (always watching over our shoulder).
Then there is the Fire of Christianity – one where every morning we weep over our sins, we understand we are the ones nailing Christ to the cross, we are the ones insulting him – screaming obscenities in His face, spitting on His pierced head. And this same One has wrapped His arms around us and kissed us.
One Voice United 