Touching zero

I was listening to the Top Gun soundtrack the other day, and as I listened to ‘Through The Fire’ I remembered just how much I had learnt from this song.

I will take it to the wire now
Until every race is run
I’ll go straight into the fire now
Until every day is done
Voices say — break away
Live each night as if each moment
Was the only one

Through the fire
To the wire
When the night out of control
Is breaking your heart
Through the fire
To the wire
When the flames are burning hot
They take you higher
Through the fire

There’s a feeling that I can’t ignore
Like a stranger at my door
So revealing that I cannot hide
When you settle up the score
Voices say — night and day
Live your life as if each second
Was the final one

I look for signs that you are here tonight
When the passion calls the pleasure to the flame
Then I ask you of the meaning when you talk of love
Would you take the leap of faith?
Would you throw it all away?

There are times when it seems that everything is spinning completely out of control – when nothing seems to be going right. Right now it seems that’s happening to so many of my friends. Things that they used to rely on have disappeared from their lives – some have found marriages ending, careers disappearing – others have lost friends, or split up with lovers. And there doesn’t seem to be any reason for it.

I don’t know quite why it seems to be happening. But I do know that through the fire comes something new. Through the pain and the searing heat of the fire, something is created. Things that don’t really matter are burnt away, while things that do matter remain – and are stronger. Just as fire creates steel, so the pain in our lives leaves us more powerful and more resilient.

I’ve looked into the fire many times over the last 12 months or so – and yet, I know that I am bigger, better, stronger, more powerful, more resilient, more capable, more loving, more compassionate than before. Something has changed in my life – and that’s what I am seeing in the lives of my friends too.

We’re being taken to the wire. To the very edge of our being. Our souls are calling us to do something new, something exciting… and in order for that to happen, everything that is not essential is being burnt off, as we learn to live from our hearts, from the core of our beings.

And so… are you prepared to live your life as if each second was the final one? To wring so much joy and passion out of each minute, to enjoy life to the full. Not to live in the past, whether we live in the memory of past glories or we give ourselves excuses as to why we aren’t living the life of our dreams right now. Not to live in the future – either in fear of what might be, or in anticipation of what could be. But to live, in the moment, right now… enjoying what IS.

So… will you take the leap of faith? Will your risk it all to live on the edge… where the dream is real….? Will you walk with me into a truly exciting new world?

PS