"Who then devised the torment? Love.
Love is the unfamiliar Name
Behind the hands that wove
The intolerable shirt of flame
Which human power cannot remove
We only live, only suspire
Consumed by either fire or fire."
In reading IV of Little Gidding, I was immediately reminded of a concept introduced to me at the Greek Orthodox Church of Mobile. I recently visited and took a tour of the church for another class and during the course of the tour, our guide explained the significance of candles. She elaborated upon the rich meaning of the candle for a Christian. The fire is the the light of the world, Christ, which melts the cold wax, man's cold heart.
However, as the tour continued she referred back to this idea, the fire of God. She made a distinction in that the fire of God either painfully burns a man or comfortingly warms him. It all depends on how the man chooses to respond to God's fire. I think this is what Elliot is speaking of here, "consumed by either fire or fire."
Just thoughts.
P. S. I commented on Nate's.
This section got me thinking, too. Great food for thought to think of God as a consuming fire and that we can either be consumed by Him or the fire of this world. Good word.
ReplyDeleteI find it funny that we both referenced this section for our blog. I did not even read yours before writing.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, that is a cool observation and experience. I think one thing I might add is that God's fire, though you referenced it as two different actions of burning and comforting, I would possibly go a step further in saying that as a man gets nearer to God, the burning is comforting... That sounds a little weird, but I think it makes sense. Though when convicted of sin and called out on it, a man does feel pain, it is also comforting to realize that he has felt pain over his mistake. He at least is realizing his brokenness in that sense, thus bringing him comfort in the recognition of a changed heart and his salvation.
This is a really cool perspective on that. I have never thought of the fire of God this way but it really makes sense and is a great way to look at the presence of God in our lives. It's interesting and awesome to me the idea of feeling physical pain from trying to contain the Holy Spirit inside of you as opposed to sharing it as we're called to do.
ReplyDelete