Spiritual traditions speak of fire as a metaphor for the process of spiritual transformation. Spiritual practices were designed to throw us into the Fire. Yes, wonderful for those who enjoy some heat from the Fire; more wonderful, even glorious, for those who jump in and say "Yes!". And, sometimes, this Fire may appear merciless. So, when the heat increases, remind yourself the path is working its Work. Rejoice, even if you do not feel like being thankful for a Love that would burn you up, and in the process free you from the illusions you dreamed true. You are not being burned up, who you think you are is. Not only is Grace burning up the delusional self you have identified as I, regardless of how highly functioning, Grace is burning up, little by little, and with varied intensity, the whole dream you called my life. When you stop jumping in and out of the Fire, you settle into the bliss of the dream being burned up, and the joy of being awake to Life in a way you never, ironically, dreamed possible. Then, your whole life becomes one big "Thank You!". We can live in gratitude, arising from fearless perseverance, for we have learned, as Pema Chodron writes...

Awakeness is found in our pleasure and our pain, our confusion and our wisdom. It's available in each moment of our weird, unfathomable, ordinary everyday lives.

*Lotus of the Heart is an interspiritual offering of Brian Kenneth Wilcox, who lives in Florida USA.