Lyrics that lead to prayer

“Standing Outside The Fire” – Garth Brooks

We call them cool
Those hearts that have no scars to show
The ones that never do let go
And risk the tables being turned

We call them fools
Who have to dance within the flame
Who chance the sorrow and the shame
That always comes with getting burned

But you’ve got to be tough when consumed by desire
‘Cause it’s not enough just to stand outside the fire

We call them strong
Those who can face this world alone
Who seem to get by on their own
Those who will never take the fall

We call them weak
Who are unable to resist
The slightest chance love might exist
And for that forsake it all

They’re so hell-bent on giving , walking a wire
Convinced it’s not living if you stand outside the fire

There’s this love that is burning
Deep in my soul
Constantly yearning to get out of control
Wanting to fly higher and higher

Life is not tried, it is merely survived
If you’re standing outside the fire

Visit AZ Lyrics for the full lyrics, audio and further background.

A Vincentian level of understanding

“To set people’s hearts on fire,” this is how Vincent described our vocation.

So, our vocation is to go, not just to one parish, not just to one diocese, but all over the world; and to do what? To set people’s hearts on fire, to do what the Son of God did. He came to set the world on fire in order to inflame it with His love. Vincent de Paul – May 30, 1659 (SV XII, 215)

Zeal is the fifth maximum and consists of a pure desire to make ­oneself pleasing to God and useful to one’s neighbor, a zeal for enlarging God’s empire, a zeal for obtaining salvation for one’s neighbor. Is there anything more perfect in the world? , if the love of God is a fire, then zeal is its flame; if the love of God is a sun, then zeal is its rays. Zeal is what is most pure in the love of God.

He fanned that flame all his life. It burned with such intensity that others drew near that fire and committed themselves to set the world on fire with the warmth of God’s love. He fanned that flame all his life. It burned with such intensity that others drew near that fire and committed themselves to set the world on fire with the warmth of God’s love. Those who came after him realized that this is not a “one and done situation.” It involves a lifetime of tending to that flame.

Celebrating the world day of Vocations

Some three and half centuries later Walner David Diaz, C.M.  professed his vows in the Chapel of DeAndreis Theologate in Manayunk. He officially became a member of the Congregation of the Mission and committed to a lifetime of nurturing the flame already in his heart.

In a few short weeks, Erik Sanchez, CM will be ordained as a priest in the Congregation of the Mission committed to lighting that fire in others.

Thank you Walner and Erik for choosing not to stand outside the fire of your dreams, the VIncentian Dream!

Thank you to all members of the Vincentian Family who have chosen to stand inside the fire of the dreams of Jesus and Vincent!

I encourage you to pray with the AZ Lyrics as well as the original music video.

Were there any lines of the lyrics that struck you … can you say why?

Click below for an audio version of the Vincentian Mindwalk.