Set Our Hearts on Fire
There are updates I want to share, like Ezra's nursery theme, but as this is my last post for 2016, I prayed about sharing something a bit more impactful. Today my Chloe + Isabel team leader shared a story I found to be very thought provoking and empowering. As I pondered this story I'm about to share, I kept hearing this "small voice" telling me to think deeper about it. Here is the story:
Two physicians late in years...we'll call them Charles + Isadore, old friends from medical school, were visiting at Charles house one winter evening. Isadore had retired several years prior. Charles was still treating patients.
As they were catching up, Isadore asked Charles how he could still be working after all these years.
Charles asked Isadore to try and blow out the candle on the table. Isadore did this with minimal effort. Charles then asked Isadore to blow out the fire in the fireplace. Isadore laughed, tried, but of course could not.
Charles said to Isadore..."When your passion for what you are doing is like that of a candle, it can easily be blown out with the winds of life. When your passion is that of a fire, it withstands these winds. That is how I feel about helping my patients."
That's good, right? As I said, I've been thinking about this story and kept feeling like there was something more for me to get out of it. This got me to thinking about my faith. Those of you who have followed my journey throughout the last few years, or if you just know my heart, know that I am a Christian. I'll be honest, writing that feels so awkward because the very label has so much meaning to so many different people. Some are inspired and encouraged to find a sister in Christ. Others are cautious, fearing my judgement. Still others are completely turned off and no longer view me as a person worth their time. Either way, the truth remains that I wholeheartedly believe Jesus Christ is the Messiah and will return again. I accepted Him as my Lord and Savior many years ago and I am not ashamed of that.
I started playing with the above story and decided that a few substitutions were in order to give me peace about the "deeper meaning" I've been compelled to find in it. My version reads as follows:
Two church goers late in years...we'll call them Charles + Isadore, old friends from school, were visiting at Charles' house one winter evening. Isadore had left the church several years prior. Charles was still an active member.
As they were catching up, Isadore asked Charles how he could still be such a devoted follower of Christ after all these years. Charles asked Isadore to try and blow out the candle on the table. Isadore did this with minimal effort. Charles then asked Isadore to blow out the fire in the fireplace. Isadore laughed, tried, but of course could not.
Charles said to Isadore..."When your faith in Christ is like that of a candle, it can easily be blown out with the winds of life. When your faith is that of a fire, it withstands these winds. That is how I feel about helping my Savior."
Two physicians late in years...we'll call them Charles + Isadore, old friends from medical school, were visiting at Charles house one winter evening. Isadore had retired several years prior. Charles was still treating patients.
As they were catching up, Isadore asked Charles how he could still be working after all these years.
Charles asked Isadore to try and blow out the candle on the table. Isadore did this with minimal effort. Charles then asked Isadore to blow out the fire in the fireplace. Isadore laughed, tried, but of course could not.
Charles said to Isadore..."When your passion for what you are doing is like that of a candle, it can easily be blown out with the winds of life. When your passion is that of a fire, it withstands these winds. That is how I feel about helping my patients."
That's good, right? As I said, I've been thinking about this story and kept feeling like there was something more for me to get out of it. This got me to thinking about my faith. Those of you who have followed my journey throughout the last few years, or if you just know my heart, know that I am a Christian. I'll be honest, writing that feels so awkward because the very label has so much meaning to so many different people. Some are inspired and encouraged to find a sister in Christ. Others are cautious, fearing my judgement. Still others are completely turned off and no longer view me as a person worth their time. Either way, the truth remains that I wholeheartedly believe Jesus Christ is the Messiah and will return again. I accepted Him as my Lord and Savior many years ago and I am not ashamed of that.
I started playing with the above story and decided that a few substitutions were in order to give me peace about the "deeper meaning" I've been compelled to find in it. My version reads as follows:
Two church goers late in years...we'll call them Charles + Isadore, old friends from school, were visiting at Charles' house one winter evening. Isadore had left the church several years prior. Charles was still an active member.
As they were catching up, Isadore asked Charles how he could still be such a devoted follower of Christ after all these years. Charles asked Isadore to try and blow out the candle on the table. Isadore did this with minimal effort. Charles then asked Isadore to blow out the fire in the fireplace. Isadore laughed, tried, but of course could not.
Charles said to Isadore..."When your faith in Christ is like that of a candle, it can easily be blown out with the winds of life. When your faith is that of a fire, it withstands these winds. That is how I feel about helping my Savior."
My businesses, my blog, my jobs, and my personal life are all centered on my faith. There are times I fear my faith might be like a candle, but there's always a burning ember that reignites and restarts the fireplace within my soul. My prayer for everyone, now and always, is that you will find (if you haven't already) The Spark that will set your spirit ablaze!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
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