Less is More
>> Sunday, April 10, 2011
A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the preacher decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his preacher's visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace … and waited.
The preacher made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the preacher took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone, then sat back in his chair, still silent.
The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead.
Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The preacher glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.
“A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.” Proverbs 17:17 (NLT)
6 comments:
Powerful illustration!
I was glowing in the fire of my church family today! Thanks for this wonderful reminder that we need each other - we weren't created to do this think called life alone.
Thanks to both of you for your comments. It certainly spoke to me.
Love the ice cream (but not what it does to our blood sugars...) and poem was fresh and took this reader there! Thanks!
The above was in ref to your posting yesterday- enjoyed this one very much and what an illustration - I have a family member this applies too and wish he'd "see" the illustration....
Yes, Marijo, I figured that one out. LOL Thanks so much for reading and commenting. Does my heart good.
Post a Comment