Tag: fire

5-Star Support

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Support in that way was unexpected.

“I’ll meet you at the nature center, Karla, and we can have our visit there.” Did she know I was unable to go the day before? As this amazing young soccer-playing, wisdom-giving, soon-to-be social worker and I trekked through the woods, our commonalities became clear. In the refuge, we conversed of cancer, Christ, and communion. We shared about family, faith, and finding hope. She didn’t HAVE to hike with me. “This will make your family feel better,” she stated. With peace, tears, and a tired body, I drove away with a satisfied soul.

Fire of Faith

Some of us met as strangers. Several of us sisters/friends. The fire of faith glowed between us. We talked of tough times. We all shared how vulnerable we feel; our past, present, and futures. Women in our second through sixth decades of life-kinship kindled around our fire of faith. We commit monthly to our safe space in nature– to share and grow our sisterhood.

My faith must be protected. How do you protect your heart, soul, mind, and peace? How do you linger with our Creator?

How can we wait in wonderment?

John Eldridge, in his new book, Experience Jesus. Really., shares, “For one thing, the Internet has discipled your soul to expect immediate answers. You inquire and you are answered–immediately. The saints of ages past would be aghast at that. Waiting was considered formation for the soul. They planted crops in the spring and harvested in the fall; there was no rushing things. If you wanted something from the market, you walked there and then you walk back, moving a pace of about three miles an hour. But now, when you turn to Jesus and you are not answered in the way the Internet answers, you feel he isn’t listening or that you can’t hear from him. You sadly believe the two of you are distant from one another, because your soul has been programmed for immediate responses. The notion of lingering before God doesn’t fit with the pace we’ve come to expect” (Eldridge, 2025, p. 2).

“Information feels like our salvation, but information is seductive and capricious, friends; it offers refuge, then takes it away the very next morning” (Eldridge, 2025, p. 4).

“The eradication of mystery would also be shocking to our spiritual forebears. Do you understand that to make Jesus and his Kingdom practical is to strip it of all wonder, mystery, and power? It’s like asking for the mechanics of falling in love, enjoying sunlight on the ocean, comforting a frightened child. It’s like refusing to trust laughter until someone explains the neuroscience. Honestly asking, “How do I love God?” is like asking, “How do I love my son, my daughter?” The heart knows how to love without being told the latest research, for heaven’s sake” (Eldridge, 2025, p. 6).

John Eldrige (2025) shares, “Weary Disciple of the Internet, your soul has also been conditioned to take in massive amount of content every day–far beyond the soul’s ability to absorb. You think it’s normal, but it is not” (p.11).

As the author explains, in quoting G.K. Chesterton, “the world of wonder and mystery children accept as real, and which Christians understand to be the beautiful unseen realm, the rest of the Kingdom of God. One foot on earth and one in the realm the scriptures call the “heavens”. As Apostle John shared with his disciples, the experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ” (Eldridge, 2025 pp 8-9).

Ah, daily encounters with Jesus

The ratings and research can’t change my real. My 5-Star Support is experienced through …transformation of the heart.

K.L. Hale's avatar

Embracing imperfection with faith, flannel, & fresh air

K.L. Hale

Pics of Creation by K.L. Hale. Pic of aurora borealis by my son, Jarrod, Fairbanks, AK.

Keep the faith, my friends 💚

Reference
Eldridge, J. (2025). Experience Jesus. Really. Nashville: Nelson Books.

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Faith by Fire

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Her kindness kindled my heart. She didn’t know my morning had backfired. My Spirit was smoky from the morning brushfires. The flare-ups tried to extinguish me. Her special spark of warmheartedness spared me from an inferno of insecurity.

“Are you scheduled today, Karla?” I showed the amazing secretary the assignment on the app. “Oh, that was a last-minute request, yes, I see. A retired teacher is already in that room. It’s covered. Do what you need to do.” The look on her face was so…caring. Her eyes pierced my heart. “I’ll do whatever you need,” I replied. She shared there were a LOT of sick kids in that room. “I worry for your immune system, Karla.” Tears brimmed my eyes. “I’ll see you again soon, I hope,” I shared as we exchanged goodbyes. Her attitude was an arson I needed-inspiration was ignited. My faith fire was lit again. So here I am, sharing this spark from a fire that has been growing inside of me.

 There are trials by fire and times in the hot seat. Scans, scars, and keeping score can scorch.  My energy can be extinguished by the unexpected.

Long before the tragic wildfires, I spoke with a few fellow faithful writers about fireside conversations. Thoughts of interviews and “flaming” the fires of faith consumed me. Not to mention that sitting by fires have a special place in my soul. Fighting illness, the “unknowns”, and living in the “now” is difficult in a world with brush fires popping up every second. Even if you’re not caught in a crossfire, the enemy might enflame. What do you do?

Before I go to Google, I take it to God. “God, I trust you. No matter what. There’s so much I don’t understand. Keep my faith fire burning, Heavenly Papa. Don’t let me burn out. Keep my faith ablaze so I can illuminate your love.”

Pull up a chair and let’s talk about the good things of life. I see you; I hear you. I understand. Today seemed another trial by fire. Instead it fueled my fire of faith.

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Embracing imperfection with faith, flannel, & fresh air

K.L. Hale

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World Kindness Day 2020

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Kindled Kindness

Each morning a fire is started. Surrounding the fire are good folks, some that gather every day.  Aside from the good wood, there is a kindness and likeness that binds them (us). “Keeping the home fires burning” is a daily event here.

Learning how to start a fire fascinated me at a young age (don’t we all have a story of when we shouldn’t have used those matches or lighters?).   Gathering the kindling was an important task.  “Boys, go gather the limbs and twigs!”  There is always a fire expert in the group that will create the perfect structure to burn (remember to allow space between for ventilation so the oxygen can be delivered easily!).   Who doesn’t wish to stare into the fierce, dazzling, hot, reddish, and sometimes blue heated licks of light?  And to make it even more magnificent add these items: a stick, hotdog, marshmallow, chocolate, graham crackers-too many delectable decisions to make.

It seems our world can be quite smoky.   It can be thick and pungent.  Its gray fumy haze can be noxious, environmentally unfriendly, and downright fatal.   The fires that burn aren’t the kind we gather around to sing “Kum Ba Yah” (kumbaya) like the ones I remember fondly from church camp.   Perhaps we can find efficient kindling (kindness, compassion, empathy, mercy, love, generosity, honesty, politeness, responsibility, fairness, respect, and humility) to create a spark of unity.  One that can ignite a dark world with light-a glowing warmth that comforts us through the chill, frost, and briskness of life.

To whom can we kindle kindness? I see you stay-at-home Moms and Dads who are giving 100% and feeling drained, I feel you divorcees who don’t know what step to take, I pray for you widow or widower all alone. I hurt for the jobless, I sympathize with those apart from family, I ache for those that can’t hold their loved ones sick in the hospital, I sing for those who don’t have a voice, I write for those that can’t think, feel, or understand, I walk for those who can’t take a step, I have faith for those in fear of the world around them, I feel hope for those depressed, I pray peace for those too anxious, I have empathy to those experiencing new changes in life, and I love those who don’t feel loved.   💚

What’s going to light a fire under you?  Don’t burn out.  Let the breath of God fan the flame of your uniqueness and existence.  Let hope be your flame and love, your light.   

Have faith 💚