It was cold yesterday. Still is, in fact, but yesterday we had intermittent sleet and rain, high winds, and various other winter nasties that made it a good day to be inside.
Kevin built a nice fire for me to enjoy while I powered through some online holiday shopping (remember, Round One happens in a WEEK at our house!), and since he had some errands to run, he left a good-sized pile of wood for me to continue feeding it.
And feed it, I did.
In no time at all, I’d burned through that whole pile. Fortunately, there was more out on the back porch, so I ran out there and grabbed another big armful.
Several hours later, when Kevin walked back in, he saw the pile was gone and said, “Wow, you burned through all of that?”
He was stunned when I told him that I’d burned through twice that much, and needed more.
In this world it’s bleak and cold quite a lot, no matter what the time of year, and it needs as many blazing fires as it can get. But it can take a lot more fuel than you think to put off a nice, warm glow. A few logs will keep it going for a little while, but without constant care and attention, it will eventually go out. The lasting kind that doesn’t peter out at the first cold snap, is the kind that makes sure it stays near a continual source of fuel, feeding itself regularly and stoking the embers to spread the warmth.
You may not have homefires burning in your house, but you can snuggle up with the Good Book, and feed the homefires of your heart. Keep that fuel pouring in, cast your glow, and the world, freshly warmed, will thank you.
“…You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14 MSG