The Fire Maker

In a kingdom of long ago there was a man who invented fire. After he invented it, he headed north where tribes lived in the high snowy peaks. He taught them his fire-making skill and how to use fire to warm themselves, to cook their food, and use in construction.

They were thrilled with this discovery, but before they could even thank the fire maker, he was on his way to teach more tribes about the wonders of fire.

He cared nothing about being remembered for his invention or even being thanked. He taught many tribes becoming more and more renowned and famous, though he regarded that more of a nuisance than anything else.

The priests of the kingdom, however, became jealous and feared their own popularity would decline. They decided to get rid of the fire maker, so they poisoned him.

To prevent the people of the kingdom from becoming suspicious this is what they did: They put a picture of the man on the highest alter of the temple and led the people to worship and adore the great inventor of fire. They even put his tools on the alter for the people to venerate and a whole liturgy was formed around the maker of fire.

The liturgy of worship was passed down for decades that turned into centuries, even though the fire had gone out and there was no longer anyone who knew how to make it.

A man from Nazareth came to a people and he embodied and taught the immense love of the Great One. He resisted the wiles of the ego to be exalted and worshiped (Matt 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13). When the people came to try to make him king, he slipped away for he had no interest in that (John 6:15). He taught humble loving service by washing the feet of his disciples (John 13:1-17).

But the leaders of the people became jealous of his popularity, so they had him arrested, and persuaded the political authorities to have him killed.

Later his followers elevated the cross he was killed on and they developed sacred rituals around it, and they venerated and worshiped him. Plans of salvation and promises of meeting him again in heaven were propagated. But the fire of his love and the power of his teachings were no more.