A WARM FIRE

In the ancient world, fire was described as one of the four elements. Earth. Fire. Water. And Air. These were considered the building blocks of the physical world. It was not until later, when we were better able to understand the workings of nature as such, that fire was described as a process.  Elements themselves go through a form of energy change and exchange from the processes that fire (heat) enables.
In this week's interview from The Life of Meaning Bishop Desmond Tutu speaks of his prayer experience as like standing near a fire. There is a sense of warmth, of the living, of a feeling that comforts and sustains.
Fire as an element. Prayer as a feeling.

In our prayer are we still wrapped up in our sense of feeling as much as the ancients were in seeing fire as only an element?

In spiritual practices, prayer is often described as an important element in one's faith life. How does seeing prayer as a process help us to better understand our experience?

What appeared to be the purpose of prayer for Bishop Tutu? What appears to be your purpose?

Walter Morton for Terra Incognita