Fire in our hearts - Jesus Army

FIRE IN OUR HEARTS
AWAKE O ZION!
The honeymoon lasted about a week. Kelly sussed us out
and brought ‘the faithful wounds of a friend’.
‘Kelly’s so austere,’ I complained, ‘and Ian has the insensitivity
of youth. Oh for my friends at the Hall!’
‘Kelly hammered Simon (graciously),’ Ian revealed. ‘He told
him he’s arrogant towards the sisters.’
‘I feel like the bottom of my life has fallen out,’ I wrote,
‘and all my spirituality is a load of rubbish.’
The process of being fitted into the ‘spiritual house’ continued.
‘I’m writing this in the bathroom,’ Ian records, ’cos “you
know who” can’t sleep with the light on! I react to Simon a lot
over little things. He said I need to be more of a friend to him.
I felt quite touched really.’
The ‘sandpaper ministry’ continued its painful work and
slowly our rough edges got worn down — a bit.
The gracious sisters, nurtured by Kelly, befriended by
Norma and mothered by Verna, seemed to love the cross,
and to be constantly turning out deep wisdom, beautiful songs,
and lovely paintings. In company they were as demure as
fragrant flowers (most of the time). But the noise and laughter
that reverberated from the sisters end and down the elegant
staircase told a different story! Those who were intense,
or ‘in the flesh’ were surrounded and sung to! They
weren’t perfect but they’d got it together.
We saw the preciousness of genuine love, and our own need
for a serving heart. I started to make the tea for them all, but
holiness was a still a long way off!
‘I’m failing to manifest the sweet disposition of Jesus under
trial,’ I wrote.
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