Tuesday, January 02, 2007

Standing at the Fire

Standing outside the fire. Life is not tried. It is merely survived if you're standing outside the fire -- Garth Brooks.

I walk up to the fire on the beach. How could I not walk right up to it. It's warm on the cool, dark night. It's wild, on a mind that's quiet. I stand to watch. I stand at watch. It's a movie. It a memory. It's a fire in my heart. It's my spirit before me.

Yea for the diftwood that someone like me left behind for me to sit. I take my place and my eyes crawl all the way into the flames. I see my life most inside the firelight. The flame dancing around as I dance within it. Yeah, I've been both burned and warmed by the experience of being there.

But I breathe the air, and I flow with the river. I walk the earth. So I must feel the fire.

Life would be cold and distant, unattached and without wonder, if I spent my days standing outside the fire.

I walk in the fire head high, knowing I'm alive.
--me strauss Letting me be

6 comments:

Tell No One said...

Living life and it passing me by are both frightening for me.
Choosing the flow of the river, painful and joyous is an experience, a relinquishing of the fight so I can feel my Soul. I wouldn't have it any other way either :)

Katrina

"ME" Liz Strauss said...

Katrina,
You are a brave one. Brave and vulnerable. That is power. :)

Anonymous said...

Your post makes me think that there is something innate within us that draws us to the fire, no different than a moth. It's like an ancient need to matter, to risk, to dance.

"ME" Liz Strauss said...

We do get drawn to the fire. I think so too. It's somewhat hynotizing. But some folks only watch and others are willing to take the heat. :)

Anonymous said...

Earth, Fire & Water!

a heart-warming post, Liz! :)

"ME" Liz Strauss said...

Hi Dsnake,
I see the fire in what you write!