9
"Stoke a great fire deep inside of you, and keep it hidden there from all of the elements," said Director.
"A great fire of what?" asked Monk eagerly.
"Life."
"Do you hide this fire even from the beloved?"
"You show it through the lenses of love, and friendship, and loyalty, and so on."
"By 'lens' you imply that you are sharing the light but not the heat."
"For the most part that is true. But those who get close enough will feel sustaining warmth."
"But it won't be very hot."
Director shrugged.
"So you are a great fire inside but show cool on the outside."
"Don't tell anyone I told you," said Director conspiratorially.
Monk and Student laughed.
"Sustained mutual love," said Director, "requires two hot fires in no danger of burning out. Or at least one must be in no danger of burning out. It can teach the other fire to protect itself from the snow, wind, and rain."
"And if one burns low the other can lend some heat," said Monk.
"Yes."
"But what is the fuel?" asked Student.
"Experience," said Director.
"Any old experience?" asked Monk.
"No. Sustained intense experience."
"Like that which I said leads to thought?" asked Monk excitedly.
"Like it, yes. But - "
"Is the flame the fire of thought?"
"Well, in a sense. But - "
"So we've come full circle through love! This is marvelous. Who would have guessed that love is based on thought?"
"I wouldn't say 'based'," said Director, but by now Monk was no longer listening.
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Nick Pappas, pappasnick.typepad.com
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