Burn and Turn

Even now as I am familiar writing the date 2013, I look back over the sabbatical time in 2012 and continue reflect on the nature of 'sabbatical' and it's impact.
The third metaphor for the year involved utter destruction- burn it down.

Many people don't want to wait for composting. They pile up their garden, their leaves, their clippings, etc and burn it all.  It's usually intentional. Sometimes if your pile of compost is large enough and the decay raises the temperature enough, it can spontaneously combust.  The ashes provide nutrients. The decayed matter provides ground cover. The useless is removed. Room is made for new growth and support is there for it as it grows.

If this metaphor is applied to my 2012, combustion was not intentional, and it wasn't exactly spontaneous but thinking of it burning is helpful. It is helpful because of another burning image.

There is the image of the phoenix. Harry Potter's fans know because of the headmaster's avian companion, Fawkes. There is a quote Dumbledore;

"About time, too. He's been looking dreadful for days; I've been telling him to get a move on."

—Albus Dumbledore about his phoenix Fawkes after Fawkes burst into flames.^[src]

Fawkes the phoenix, periodically died by bursting into flames (an event called a "Burning Day"), and was then reborn from the ashes. It takes a while. He doesn't came back quickly, red plumage ready to take flight, all pristine and proud on his perch. There is some ugly, some rest, and regrowth.

This sabbatical time had me wondering just how often does our life, our ministry, our work, just need to burst into flame and start a new. If we keep it contained, we keep it the right size, it won't combust. If we manage, and plod along, do the same things, it won't surprise us much.

Maybe I'll choose some flame from time to time.