Fun because it's an Optimistic and Positive type of Post as opposed to more Dark and Introspective.
And I'm gonna line this one up a little differently. I'm gonna put the Cart before the Horse by giving you the Post Outline or Talking Points FIRST:
- Changed the title from ".... Lights Another's Fire" to ".... Lights Another's Flame" - Why?
- Compare or Discuss Past Experiences with "Being a Catalyst" vs "Being a Spark".
- Discuss the Different Areas / Situations of Experience where "Being a Spark" applied.
- Challenge or Entice People to Engage or Reveal themselves by "Throwing a Grenade in the Room" vs "Striking a Spark".
- Just because there's a Spark don't mean there's a Flame!
That oughta be enough to get started. There I go revealing my Creative Writing techniques - OMG - an Outline? Wills - I'm shocked - How dare you use basic Old School Writing Techniques and Procedures!
I know - I know - How Gangsta of Me!
Rip this Script Wills and let the Dogs of Words loose!
Ok - that didn't come out as Cool as it seemed in my Mind....
So originally - in the Selected Reader Selection Process where 11 readers selected their favorite "Hook" blog post titles or ideas from a list of 24, I had this post titled....
"Be the Spark that lights Another's Fire"
And, as I am apt to do - I thought about that.
What does it mean to Light a "Fire"?
What does it mean to Light a "Fire"?
Well - first of all the concept of "Fire" can be somewhat intimidating because "Fire" can have negative connotations like....
Holy Shit - there's a "Fire" - Get Out and Get Away and Run for your Lives!!!!
Fire can imply a Blaze or something that's Out of Control AND that Consumes and Destroys or at least can be Unmanageable and is often a result of Too Much Fuel or Too Much Stimulus or Too Much INFORMATION - Oh My Wills - You mean TMI or WMI???
Yeah - Yeah - Yeah - You get the Picture.
Whereas a Flame especially if it is the very first Manifestation or Result of a Spark or an Ember has its own unique Qualities and Characteristics.
It is Simple, Subtle, Basic and must be Protected and Nurtured from the Elements and Outside Influences - think Cupped Hands.
It is Personal and Particular to the Person and Persons involved with its Initiation and Receipt.
It is a Potential for or Beginning of a Fire but it is just a Flame.
Also - in another line of thinking - a Flame (think of a Stove top or Gas Burner) can be a Tool that is used as a Means to an End - like cooking a Meal - which for me, in and of itself, requires some thought, preparation and is nourishment to the Mind, Body and Spirit and is one of the ultimate expressions of....
Love.
Love.
A Blazing Fire is great when you're out in the Cold and the Wild but think about the effect when you are shivering, hands numb and shaking and you strike that match to a Tinder (No - Not the Swiping Tinder!) bundle and you see that first lick of Flame....
That's a whole different kind of Comfort that extends beyond Cold Hands and perhaps to a Cold Heart!
It's kind of Primal.
I strike Sparks all the Time in Conversations, Discussions and in Actions.
The Simplest Kind of Spark is a Genuine and Heartfelt Smile to a Stranger.
You would be Amazed at the Reactions I get at a grocery store or Walmart when your eye catches the eye of another person and you throw them a No Holds Barred Smile.
I gotta reveal something personal to you - People used to make fun of my Smile because my Mouth is so big and wide.
People called it a Joker Smile - from Batman Villain fame.
And I used to be self-conscious about it. Yeah - we all have our little challenges.
It's funny - you change venues, lose a little weight, age a little bit, get a different attitude about life and all of a sudden....
You have a nice smile.
Maybe coming to Santa Fe from a life on the Gulf Coast of Texas was my Spark.
Anyway - back to the Smile at the Stranger at the Store.
I do this all the Time... most of the time it's spontaneous and sometimes it's calculated.
Regardless of the intent or extent, I would say 90% of the time my Joker Smile is received with an instantaneous comprehension of the Good Wills sent with it.....
And it is returned in Kind... and in Kindness.
Cause you see - that's the thing about a Spark.... sometimes it Back Fires on You but more often -
It Fires Back at You!
It comes back at You in a Good Way. There's that Karma thing again.
Spark makes the Flame and Flame makes the Fire and Fire sucks in Oxygen and Life and feeds the Fire.
Kinda Weird and Cool...
Or Hot - all at the same time.
And like I said earlier, sometimes the Spark is a Conversation about God knows What....
Paleo Diet, Working Out, Knee Replacement, Music, Dancing, Life, Love, Sex, Clothes, Style, Lifestyle, Global Warming, God, other Higher Being, AstroGlide....
And something I say or something I do has an effect....
Plant a Seed
Strike a Spark
That Another
Reacts to
Responds to
Is revolted by
Is jolted by.
It's kind of Primal.
I strike Sparks all the Time in Conversations, Discussions and in Actions.
The Simplest Kind of Spark is a Genuine and Heartfelt Smile to a Stranger.
You would be Amazed at the Reactions I get at a grocery store or Walmart when your eye catches the eye of another person and you throw them a No Holds Barred Smile.
I gotta reveal something personal to you - People used to make fun of my Smile because my Mouth is so big and wide.
People called it a Joker Smile - from Batman Villain fame.
And I used to be self-conscious about it. Yeah - we all have our little challenges.
It's funny - you change venues, lose a little weight, age a little bit, get a different attitude about life and all of a sudden....
You have a nice smile.
Maybe coming to Santa Fe from a life on the Gulf Coast of Texas was my Spark.
Anyway - back to the Smile at the Stranger at the Store.
I do this all the Time... most of the time it's spontaneous and sometimes it's calculated.
Regardless of the intent or extent, I would say 90% of the time my Joker Smile is received with an instantaneous comprehension of the Good Wills sent with it.....
And it is returned in Kind... and in Kindness.
Cause you see - that's the thing about a Spark.... sometimes it Back Fires on You but more often -
It Fires Back at You!
It comes back at You in a Good Way. There's that Karma thing again.
Spark makes the Flame and Flame makes the Fire and Fire sucks in Oxygen and Life and feeds the Fire.
Kinda Weird and Cool...
Or Hot - all at the same time.
And like I said earlier, sometimes the Spark is a Conversation about God knows What....
Paleo Diet, Working Out, Knee Replacement, Music, Dancing, Life, Love, Sex, Clothes, Style, Lifestyle, Global Warming, God, other Higher Being, AstroGlide....
And something I say or something I do has an effect....
Plant a Seed
Strike a Spark
That Another
Reacts to
Responds to
Is revolted by
Is jolted by.
I used to call myself a Catalyst - a technical or chemistry term - for a component that initiates a reaction but doesn't become involved in the reaction itself.
That self-analysis and environmental action concept has not been well received by those I have extended it to in most cases maybe because it connotates or describes a situation where I am not physically or emotionally invested or affected.
I guess, in this case, I would take my Son's perspective and say "Fuck Intent - I'm Outcome Driven" (incidentally and ironically #7 on the Selected Reader Selection List of Discovery Blog topics), in the Sense that, it's NOThing about me and ALL about the other person and the effect on them - hopefully positive.
That's my Intent and hopefully the other person's Outcome. There ya go Aaron - there's some content for your post!
I remember I was talking to a lady during a lunch break on a hike about 9 months ago. I was eating one of my Paleo meals I had prepared that morning - Cast iron skillet grilled meat, veggies, fruit with some fresh basil, blueberries and almonds on the top with my special Curry Powder - Garam Masala - Allspice seasoning mix used in the cooking of it....
And I shared some with her.
"Oh that's so delicious. I'm gonna try cooking and eating like that".
Fast forward 6 months - and I see this lady again - and My God - she's like a lot less Woman than she used to be.
She comes up to me and says "Thank you so much for introducing me to the Paleo Diet. I've been on it for 6 months and lost 25 lbs and feel better now than I ever have. I would never have known about it if you wouldn't have shared your knowledge and practice of the Paleo diet and your meal with me."
What can I say?
Out goes a Spark - Back comes a Fire!
Sometimes you don't even know it - and it depends on the Individual that is recipient of the Spark what they do with it.
Maybe a Spark is a Good Deed or a Kind Word or some show of Support to a Friend in Need or a Stranger Indeed.
Like taking a Pot of Homemade Chicken Soup to a Sick Friend.
Holding a Woman you just met close to You on a Slow Dance and providing a Moment of Close Comfort in a Day or Life of Desertion.
Standing on the Top of a Mountain and raising your Arms over your head in Victory and shouting...
"Yo - Adrian - I did it" in your best Rocky impersonation while your hiking buddies just stand back and shake their head.
Maybe it's Dancing at the front of the dance floor by the band in your own little world concerned less with what People may think and more about losing yourself or finding yourself in the Music.
Taking a Friend to the Doctor, not because they need a ride, but just because you truly care about them.
Helping an Old Person to a table and into their chair.
Standing when your Lady leaves or comes back to the table.
Saying "Yes Ma'am and No Sir".
Treating People with Respect even when they Piss You Off.
Working out with Someone or introducing Someone to a Group Exercise Class when they want to start or resume an Exercise Program but just need a little help getting started.
Showing an Empty or Damaged Heart that Love never Dies.
Listening.
Walking the Talk even when you're tired of Walking.
And People who actually Know Me, which is a very small group, know I sometimes Strike a Spark in a Powder Magazine, i.e. "throw a grenade in the room" just to see how people will react or what they will say to the spark or topic presented.
"Fire for Effect" is a way of forcing people to assess where they are or what they stand for in Life's Fire.
Yeah - Sometimes a Spark is a Challenge.
"Get up off your ass - Quit feeling sorry for yourself - You've got One Life to Live - One Day at a Time - So Don't Waste a Day or a Minute!"
Let's go Dancing - Let's go have a Drink - Let's go Workout - Let's go Hiking - What do you think about this? - God, you're so Beautiful - Dude, You've Put on some Muscle. Well Done - How's your new job going?
Hell - just remembering someone's name from a first meeting a month ago and greeting them with...
"Hey ______, how are you?"
Yeah - remembering the name of a Stranger is a Spark.
Ramble - Ramble - Ramble.....
You done yet Wills?
I guess "Be the Spark" is kinda like being Johnny Appleseed.
Throw those sparks or seeds out as you go and just hope they grow!
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+13&version=NLT
“Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. 4 As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. 5 Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. 6 But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. 8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! 9 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
That self-analysis and environmental action concept has not been well received by those I have extended it to in most cases maybe because it connotates or describes a situation where I am not physically or emotionally invested or affected.
I guess, in this case, I would take my Son's perspective and say "Fuck Intent - I'm Outcome Driven" (incidentally and ironically #7 on the Selected Reader Selection List of Discovery Blog topics), in the Sense that, it's NOThing about me and ALL about the other person and the effect on them - hopefully positive.
That's my Intent and hopefully the other person's Outcome. There ya go Aaron - there's some content for your post!
I remember I was talking to a lady during a lunch break on a hike about 9 months ago. I was eating one of my Paleo meals I had prepared that morning - Cast iron skillet grilled meat, veggies, fruit with some fresh basil, blueberries and almonds on the top with my special Curry Powder - Garam Masala - Allspice seasoning mix used in the cooking of it....
And I shared some with her.
"Oh that's so delicious. I'm gonna try cooking and eating like that".
Fast forward 6 months - and I see this lady again - and My God - she's like a lot less Woman than she used to be.
She comes up to me and says "Thank you so much for introducing me to the Paleo Diet. I've been on it for 6 months and lost 25 lbs and feel better now than I ever have. I would never have known about it if you wouldn't have shared your knowledge and practice of the Paleo diet and your meal with me."
What can I say?
Out goes a Spark - Back comes a Fire!
Sometimes you don't even know it - and it depends on the Individual that is recipient of the Spark what they do with it.
Maybe a Spark is a Good Deed or a Kind Word or some show of Support to a Friend in Need or a Stranger Indeed.
Like taking a Pot of Homemade Chicken Soup to a Sick Friend.
Holding a Woman you just met close to You on a Slow Dance and providing a Moment of Close Comfort in a Day or Life of Desertion.
Standing on the Top of a Mountain and raising your Arms over your head in Victory and shouting...
"Yo - Adrian - I did it" in your best Rocky impersonation while your hiking buddies just stand back and shake their head.
Maybe it's Dancing at the front of the dance floor by the band in your own little world concerned less with what People may think and more about losing yourself or finding yourself in the Music.
Taking a Friend to the Doctor, not because they need a ride, but just because you truly care about them.
Helping an Old Person to a table and into their chair.
Standing when your Lady leaves or comes back to the table.
Saying "Yes Ma'am and No Sir".
Treating People with Respect even when they Piss You Off.
Working out with Someone or introducing Someone to a Group Exercise Class when they want to start or resume an Exercise Program but just need a little help getting started.
Showing an Empty or Damaged Heart that Love never Dies.
Listening.
Walking the Talk even when you're tired of Walking.
And People who actually Know Me, which is a very small group, know I sometimes Strike a Spark in a Powder Magazine, i.e. "throw a grenade in the room" just to see how people will react or what they will say to the spark or topic presented.
"Fire for Effect" is a way of forcing people to assess where they are or what they stand for in Life's Fire.
Yeah - Sometimes a Spark is a Challenge.
"Get up off your ass - Quit feeling sorry for yourself - You've got One Life to Live - One Day at a Time - So Don't Waste a Day or a Minute!"
Let's go Dancing - Let's go have a Drink - Let's go Workout - Let's go Hiking - What do you think about this? - God, you're so Beautiful - Dude, You've Put on some Muscle. Well Done - How's your new job going?
Hell - just remembering someone's name from a first meeting a month ago and greeting them with...
"Hey ______, how are you?"
Yeah - remembering the name of a Stranger is a Spark.
Ramble - Ramble - Ramble.....
You done yet Wills?
I guess "Be the Spark" is kinda like being Johnny Appleseed.
Throw those sparks or seeds out as you go and just hope they grow!
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+13&version=NLT
“Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. 4 As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. 5 Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. 6 But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. 8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! 9 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
Hmmm....
Come to think of it - maybe it's less about the Spark and more about where the Spark lands.
Ok - I give, I'm done and actually a little cold SO...
Go ahead and throw a Spark my way and...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdgUn-0DDFs
Come to think of it - maybe it's less about the Spark and more about where the Spark lands.
Ok - I give, I'm done and actually a little cold SO...
Go ahead and throw a Spark my way and...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdgUn-0DDFs
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Love is all fire; and so Heaven and Hell are the same place. As in Augustine, the torments of the damned are part of the felicity of the redeemed. Two cities; that are one city. Eden is a fiery city; just like Hell.
ReplyDeleteCf. Augustine, De Civitate Dei, XXII, 30.
“Be the spark you want to see in the world” - That spark eminates from within all of us and ignites a fire not when we are thinking about it, but when we are living it.
ReplyDelete