I have two Jeff’s in my top ten Facebook contributors, Jeff Brown: Jeff Brown’s Homepage. and Jeff Foster: Jeff Foster’s Homepage. I used to post much more of jeff Browns material, then a friend I trust told me about Jeff Foster and brought me one of his books of essays: The Way of Rest. I have been reading it over the holiday break and was particularly taken by one on firing up your heart, hence the title of this blog.

It began: Break me Open, Life. Shatter my remaining defenses against you. It is called Sing, World, Sing.

So let’s have a look at how the world puts fire in your heart with words:

1. When you find what your passion is your life may appear to be like this instead of the numbness of 9 to 5 living.

2. Jim Carrey in his memorable speech says there are only two states, Fear, and Love. Guess which one sets your heart on fire: Fearless.

3. Samuel Butler (4 December 1835 – 18 June 1902) was an iconoclastic Victorian-era English author who published a variety of works. Two of his most famous pieces are the Utopian satire Erewhon and a semi-autobiographical novel published posthumously, The Way of All Flesh. He is also known for examining Christian orthodoxy, substantive studies of evolutionary thought, studies of Italian art, and works of literary history and criticism. Butler made prose translations of the Iliad and Odyssey, which remain in use to this day.

4. Possibly my favorite poet, E.E. Cummings points out in this quote why it is essential to have the fire in your heart: To Be Yourself.

5. I am learning to be able to tell the difference when women have this.

6. Of course, it has to be this song: Burning down the House.

7. In our community, the Conscious community of Melbourne, Australia, we call it finding your Tribe. Rumi says it better.

8. I love it when I meet these people, you are instantly attracted to them: I saw the Light.

9. Weapon of mass Creation – Your Heart on Fire.

10. To kindle: set (something) on fire.
synonyms: light · ignite · set alight · set light to · set on fire · set fire to · put a match to · set burning · get going · start · touch off · spark · torch: Light my Fire.

11. Josephine Baker (born Freda Josephine McDonald; 3 June 1906 – 12 April 1975) was an African-American expatriate singer and entertainer, whose career was centered primarily in Europe and in particular in her adoptive country of France. In her early career she was also renowned as a dancer, and was among the most celebrated performers to headline in the lavish revues of the Folies Bergère in Paris. Her performance in the revue Un Vent de Folie in 1927 caused a sensation in Paris, with Baker in her costume consisting of only a girdle of bananas becoming not only her most iconic image but also a symbol of the jazz age and the 1920‘s. She was celebrated by all of the great artists and intellectuals of the era, with various circles dubbing her the “Black Pearl”, the “Bronze Venus”, as well as the “Creole Goddess”. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, she renounced her U.S. citizenship to become a citizen of France in 1937 upon her marriage to Jean Lyon.

12. Life is never like a silent stream, it contains flows and ebbs. If your fire is alight it is easier to remain strong: We shall Overcome.

13. More Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī, aka Rumi. This is a beautiful few lines to live life by.

14. Mary Lou Retton (born January 24, 1968) is a retired American gymnast. At the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, she won a gold medal in the individual all-around competition, as well as two silver medals and two bronze medals. Her performance made her one of the most popular athletes in the United States. The fire is still in her heart, Wikipedia says she is worth 5.8 million dollars: Undeniable.

15. Bruce Lee makes a point here, the flame comes from the coals, without coals no flames.

So I thought I would end with the entire Sing, World, Sing!

Break me Open, Life.

Shatter my remaining defenses against you

You placed magnificence at the heart of my despair.

You sowed volcanic strength into my vulnerability.

Even my doubt vibrated with courage.

“Leave the familiar with no hope of return?”

Of Course!

I am not afraid. I was never Afraid!

I once walked a familiar path of self-construction.

I now walk a path of grace and destruction,

of weeping at birdsong and telling the truth.

I will never turn back!

Namaste until next time, my dear friends.