HANDS OF FIRE

Hands of Fire 

I took the fire in my hands

Blew upon the blaze,

Clasped it to my hungry heart

And upwards I did gaze.

My mind was full of worry

My soul was full of woe,

My body was a tired thing

That did not want to go.

But down within, my spirit man

Stood up and said goodbye,

Waved farewell to the slaves of hell

And every scheme and lie.

They didn’t want to let go

They screamed their angry screams,

They threatened to make nightmares

Out of all my dreams.

And though their threats were frightening

And my flesh fought hard to flee,

I didn’t let them see my fear

Or weakness within me.

I turned not to the right or left

I kept my face like flint,

I felt the fire consume me

Though I was not burned or bent.

The devils howled in terror

The demons crawled away,

But the fire they feared, that holy fire

Refined me there that day.

My flesh began to crumble

My soul sought to submit,

My spirit grew to ten feet tall

And my mind was awed by it.

No more a faithless, worthless worm

No more a dirty rag,

My inner man, the eternal me

Stepped out of that worn bag.

And as I stood and watched it die

My mouth began to praise,

My eyes began to see the plan

Designed in ancient days.

And all my soul was quieted

And all my heart was healed,

And all the false things in my life

Fell off and became real.

I burned and burned as I drank deep

Of the new wine in the cup,

I burned when I ate of the bread

And I did not burn up.

I walked the world in flames of fire

That shot out of my eyes,

My heart, a wounded thing made whole

That heard the whole world’s cries.

And even now, as I write this

I must, of God, inquire,

How can I hold this paper here

When my hands are on fire?

I long to lay them on the heads

Of lost and dying men,

To show them hope in hopelessness

And make them live again.

I want to im-part what I’ve learned

To unbelieving fools,

Share with them the joys of life

Equip them with new tools.

I need to take them to the well

And bid them to drink deep,

Break their chains of dark despair

And give them keys to keep.

I desire to give this holy fire

That burns now higher still,

To man and woman, boy and girl

And whosoever will.

I’d give my life for others

If others my life could save,

I’d pull them out with my own hands

From the coldness of the grave.

This fire that’s shut up in my bones

Bids me to preach and teach,

This fire in my heart and hands

Bids me to seek and reach.

I yearn to touch the untouchables

And make them clean and new,

Watch the dross burn out of the gold

May I share this fire with you?

©by Voo Shining Stone