Ember Days

Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of thy faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their
vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you;
through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Part of this being the week with Holy Cross Day is that in the church, this is the week to celebrate Ember Days. Ember Days are days to celebrate the ministry of those in the church, and are often associated with people in the process of discernment or the ordained clergy. Thankfully, there is a move to broaden this understanding of "ministry"; hence why I have put the above Prayer for Mission from the BCP. Note that it says "all members of your holy Church." Ministry is not just for those in the plastic white collars; it is for everyone in the Church to live and love and serve in the world the same way that Christ did.

The celebration of Ember Days happens four times a year, and fall at roughly the same time as major Pagan holidays. This is not coincidence, I'm sure. But regardless of where the concept of marking days of ministry with fasting and such came from, the thing that has always struck me is the term "ember". It makes me think of the glowing coals and pieces of wood in a fire that are still orange and red amidst the gray ash and dying flames. If stoked properly, and another log added, these embers will ignite the fire anew.

I think this is a good metaphor for my faith journey. The glowing bits of light have always hung on even when the ash was piling up in my life. All that was needed was a little tending, another log laid down top of these embers and--whoosh!--an unquenchable fire comes shooting up through the grill grate! I have had that pattern repeat itself; roaring fire... dying to embers... new log gives way to new fire...even in these years of my wake up call. My embers need some stoking periodically to regain their vibrancy. I imagine that is true of most people, and certainly most priests. This is why I do centering prayer. This is why I read the Daily Office. Because that is my way of opening myself to the One who holds the bellows to blow the right amount of air over my embers to keep me lit up inside. And then--look out world! To quote Bob Dylan:

Wheels on fire rolling down the road
Best notify my next of kin
This wheel shall explode!