AAA member of a certain
church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped
going. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him.
AAIt was a chilly evening.
The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire.
Guessing the reason for his pastors visit, the man welcomed him, led him
to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited.
AAThe pastor 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
pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember
and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone. Then he 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.
AANot a word had been
spoken since the initial greeting. The Pastor 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.
AAAs the pastor reached the
door to leave, his host said, with a tear running down his cheek, "Thank
you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall
be back in church next Sunday."
