Did you know that you can rub two pieces of wood together and start a fire? It takes a while, but the heat generated by the friction will produce a spark. As the spark is produced, blowing on the sparks then produces a flame. Forest fires begin with a spark. A car starts with a spark. Engines, furnaces, boilers, ovens, burners, airplanes, and every form of power known to us begins with a spark. The energy produced by the spark must reproduce and then be harnessed to perform the great feats that we can do with energy on earth and in space today. Whether we are talking about energy produced by steam, fossil fuels, natural gas, the sun, or other sources, a spark must be ignited to generate and harness power.
Like every machine and power source we know, we as human beings also function because of sparks. Neurologists have determined that sparks fire the neurons in our brains which in turn allow every system and part of our body to function at minimal or maximal capacity, depending on the condition of those systems. Just as the sun is the source of energy for our solar system, each of us has a light in us that produce energy for the 11 major systems in our bodies. When our light sources are dimmed, it is more difficult to produce a spark. Depression can set in, systems begin to malfunction, energy is lost, and eventually we become dysfunctional.
Disciplined behaviors, which become habits, lead to the successful maintenance of every system in our bodies, including our spiritual system which cannot be seen or measured in objective terms. If we are going to be disciplined with all systems set for maximal potential, we must light sparks and manage our fires. As Smokey the Bear used to say, “Only you can prevent forest fires.” Please remember that our thoughts and words produce sparks and if we are not careful our sparks can produce destructive wildfires. On the other hand, when we manage ourselves well, our fires become productive and creative, making the world a better place to live for everyone.