Flame of God

From prayer that asks that I may be
Sheltered from winds that beat on Thee,
From fearing when I should aspire,
From faltering when I should climb higher
From silken self, O Captain, free
Thy soldier who would follow Thee.

From subtle love of softening things,
From easy choices, weakenings,
(Not thus are spirits fortified,
Not this way went the Crucified)
From all that dims Thy Calvary
O Lamb of God, deliver me.

Give me the love that leads the way,
The faith that nothing can dismay
The hope no disappointments tire,
The passion that will burn like fire;
Let me not sink to be a clod;
Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God.

- Amy Wilson Carmichael

what lies ahead

There are moments in our lives when we find ourselves at a crossroads. Afraid. Confused. Without a road map. The choices we make in those moments can define the rest of our days. Of course, when faced with the unknown, most of us prefer to turn around and go back. But once in a while people push on to something better; something found just beyond the pain of going it alone, and just beyond the bravery and courage it takes to let someone in. Or to give someone a second chance. Something beyond the quiet persistence of a dream. Because it's only when you're tested, that you truly discover who you are. And it's only when you're tested, that you discover who you can be.

The person you want to be does exist; somewhere on the other side of hard work and faith and belief, and beyond the heartache and fear of what lies ahead.

- Lucas Scott in One Tree Hill

a force confining

Your reason and your passion are the rudder and the sails of your seafaring soul. If either be broken, you can but toss and drift, or else be held at a standstill in mid-seas. For reason, ruling alone, is a force confining; and passion, unattended, is a flame that burns to its own destruction.

- Khalil Gibran

the human road

... And the gods go on inspite of themselves; and the human road stretches out before us; and we walk, like wounded children, waiting for the strength to run.

- Galilee by Clive Barker

the dark and the light

The dark is generous, and it is patient, and it always wins--but in the heart of its strength lies its weakness: one lone candle is enough to hold it back

Love is more than a candle.

Love can ignite the stars.

- Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith by Matthew Woodring Stover

misconception

We are looked upon as deceivers, yet we are true;
As obscure, yet we are known;
As dying, yet behold, we live on;
As chastened, yet not put to death;
As sorrowful, yet ever glad;
As poor, yet enriching many;
As having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

- 2 Corinthians 6:8-10