On My Way to a House Fire
I am about to enter into a time of trial. And, if things go as we are praying, the next 12 months will have many trials - some known and some unknown. But when all done, my faith will be stronger and more complete.
It's like sitting in Engine 21 on the way to a house fire. I know it is going to be work. I know I will be on my knees dragging a hose line doing either a right hand or left hand search. I know it will be black and I won't be able to see. I know it will be dangerous. And I will be relying on my training and my fellow firefighters to do it right.
What I don't know is what exactly I will encounter. Will there be steps going to a basement that I need to go down or steps going up that I need to go up? Will there be a lot of furniture to crawl and drag a line around? Will the house be clean and orderly or filled with junk (it is always amazing how many nice looking homes are pretty much trashed with dirty clothes, garbage, etc. on the inside). Will I be the crew that comes upon the fire and if so, will it be confined to a small space or a full blown rollover involving a whole room?
Regardless, I know we will put the fire out and when I come out of the house, I will be a better firefighter. I will have been stretched physically and mentally and I will have learned. I will be stronger, wiser, and more ready for the next call.
I (and Meadow) am going to encounter trials these next 12 months. (I am thankful I KNOW these trials will come and not be the kind of trials that catch me by surprise!) I will be spending time on my knees during these trials - A LOT of time on my knees. I will be depending on my training, experience from previous trials, and on my brothers and sisters in Christ at Meadow. There are specifics about the trials I don't know and won't know until I am right on top of them. But when Easter 2011 comes, my faith will be stronger and more complete. And the corporate faith of Meadow will be stronger and more complete.
So, right now as I sit and write - all I do is think of riding in Engine 21 on the way to a house fire. Will it be tough? Absolutely! But will it be worth it! Absolutely!
Created about 2 years ago
