Burning Desire

Burning Desire - finding a flame of change

Burning Desire – finding a flame of change

The other night I was meeting with a group of guys at the local Department of Corrections work release center and a bit of hard truth jumped up and bit me – changing one’s life is impossible without burning desire. Impossible.

In some ways, the convict serving time after a life of crime is not much different than the business professional who doesn’t really like his job, doesn’t really like his wife, doesn’t really like taking care of his kids, and doesn’t really like himself. They both gave up on life and gave up on any burning desire to live free and follow their purpose long ago. And both are enslaved to the desperation of desperate ego.

I found my burning desire to live free when I began to play the guitar after a restless evening that capped almost three weeks of insomnia. Even though my fingers were sore as I tried to play the simplest of chords and my singing was horrendous, something sparked inside of me and that spark eventually grew into a flame. That flame grew into the fire that saved my life.

You need a flame to change, but you can start the journey with even the dimmest ember of hope. Try to turn off the TV, radio, computer and all the other shiny things of your life, and focus deep within yourself. Try to discover something that will spark the purpose that you were created to fulfill – take a hike, write a poem, call an old friend, go on a date with your wife. Whatever it takes, deliver your soul to the wilderness and don’t come back until you’ve built a big old bonfire of purpose and lit that sucker.

RELATED POSTS

2 Comments

  1. Reply

    Gary S. Abbott

    July 7, 2009

    A burning desire. What a concept!! Those words ring true as can be. As you know I was faced by such a dilemma. It wasn’t till that last dying ember was fanned by my desire to have a life and to let go of my false expectations of what I thought were important that I saw a change. Small as it was, it was still a change. I was one that never liked change but that is where I grow. I believe that I am finally living out my true purpose in life and share this experience with others like me to help strengthen their resolve to live a better life without drugs and alcohol. Thanks Silouan for being their when I needed those burning embers fanned as I left prison to help build that bonfire that you spoke of.

    • Reply

      Pepio

      October 23, 2013

      LOVE your heart.Your girls are blessed by that heart and will no doubt fulfill all the hopes that you have for them.Gorgeous pictures of some fabulous women in the making.

Leave a Reply