| John 14:8 – Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” |
My wife and I watched one of our favorite movies (a Christmas movie), The Christmas Card. It is a Hallmark Movie, but not the cheezie kind, in my opinion. It takes place in Nevada City, California, with snow on the ground in most every scene. There is a fire in the fireplace in a few of the scenes. It took me back to our home in Norman, Oklahoma, during my high school and college years. The winters can get pretty cold, and we often had a fire going in the fireplace. I got good at building them using newspaper and kindling. And I remember going out to restock the fire as it burned down.
I would go out in the snow to the wood pile on the patio. Many times I had to dust the snow off of the cut wood. My dad was good about buying firewood. Or maybe it was my mom. But we always had a good stock of it. I would go out without my jacket because I wasn’t planning to be out very long. That chill I get now when I go out without a jacket to do something quick and come back in takes me back to our home in Norman…
One year, I had just gotten in bed. It was a super cold night. Sub zero temps. Snow on the ground. I could see a lightning like flash outside my window, about 400 yards away. It was a transformer arc as ice had formed on it and the lines. Each time I saw the arc, the electricity in our house would go off for a few seconds, and with it the heat. Then it blew, and the power went off for good. The next morning, the house was extremely cold. We put on lots of clothing, and started a fire in the fireplace. All day we cooked by that fire. Late in the day we got our electricity back, and our heat. Fond memories now that they are distant.
We would nearly always open our Christmas gifts in front of the fireplace with a fire going. It was a symbol of what home was. A gathering in front of the fire. I spent so much time nursing the fire, adding wood, watching it burn. It drew my eyes. I do wonder if I have done a good job of passing on the fire building skill. Have I been a good father? Have I passed on the important things?
Father in heaven, thank You for showing us how to love, in Jesus’ name, Amen!
- Jeff Beall
