Soul on Fire

She was barely conscious of the dingy carpet beneath her feet as she sat absentmindedly fingering the ripped vinyl on the armrest of her chair.  Familiar smells wafted around her—the stale airport air, fried food, perfume, coffee.  Bodies moved past her quickly—everyone on their way somewhere important. 

She herself wasn’t traveling today.   Instead, she was waiting. 

She couldn’t stay seated anymore.  Even though he probably wouldn’t emerge from the terminal for a while, she quickly abandoned the chair with the ripped armrest and stood smoothing her dress. 

She moved out of the way a little—near a concrete pillar.  A group of passengers was coming out—she began scanning faces casually. 

Several moments went by, even more people blurred past. 

Now she was on tiptoe, her ballet flat slipping off the back of one heal.  She thought she saw the outline of his body, the familiar gait.  Someone stepped in her way momentarily blocking her view of the oncoming crowd.  She moved to the left, craning her neck. 

Someone bumped her shoulder as they moved by, she had to sidestep the rolling suitcase in their wake.  But her eyes stayed fixed on the individual in the distance, squinting to see if it was really him.

Suddenly the airport is quiet.  The passersby are all frozen.   She holds her breath for a second.  The pace of her heart quickens.  Their eyes lock.  That familiar, warm smile graces his face.  It is him.  His broad steps become faster.  She can’t make herself move at first, she’s so enthralled by the sight of him.

He’s still a long way off and suddenly, like a powerful magnetic force, her heart is bursting to get to him.   Her feet spring into action and now she is RUNNING towards him with all of her remaining strength.  Her very soul is on fire.

The embrace is so complete that they are almost instantly two bodies smashed into one.  His arms are strong.  Her feet are off the ground. 

Tears mix with laughter as the emotions stream out of her pores—

elation 

and amazement 

and surrender 

and fulfillment. 

He came back for her.  

John 14:3  ...I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.  

1 Thessalonians 4:17  Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.

Soul on Fire by Third Day  

(listen here)

God, I'm running for Your heart

I'm running for Your heart

Till I am a soul on fire

Lord, I'm longing for Your ways

I'm waiting for the day

When I am a soul on fire

Till I am a soul on fire

Lord, restore the joy I had

And I have one to bring me back

In this darkness, lead me through

Until all I see is You