Among the ancient Indian cultures of Central and South America there was usually a highly developed sense of community. Various rituals and routines were used to demonstrate identity and inter-dependence. Typical of these was a ritual of re-lighting fires.

The people lived in homes as we do, about the city and the country. At the center stood their temple, and in the temple burned a perpetual fire, a fire that never went out. In the homes of the people fires also burned - each home had its own. In emergency, if a home fire was extinguished, a rekindling flame could be brought from a neighbor's house or from the temple itself.

However, once each seven years, at a certain appointed time, in all homes throughout the land all fires were permitted to go out. For a little while each home was left cold and dark. Then began a procession to the temple; all came, took fire from the temple altar, carried it to their homes, and re-lit their fires, each family on its own hearth. In this way everyone was impressed anew with the importance of the fire and again reminded of where it came from.

From time to time we of the Christian Faith need a renewal of our fire; we need to get back to the source and rekindle our flames. May this hour be a rekindling time for each of us.