Week #46: What's causing the fire in your basement?
November 12, 2007
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www.myspace.com/valorieburton. This week's newsletter is a reminder - a message I wrote in 2006. Enjoy!
This Week's Topic: What's causing the fire in the basement?
“You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.”
- John 8:32 Dear Friend, As
a child, did your curiosity ever get you in trouble? When my cousin
Tommy was nine years old, his curiosity nearly burned the house down.
Alone in the basement – and apparently bored, he decided to do
something he’d been warned never to do. Playing with matches, he lit a
newspaper just to see what would happen. Well, you can guess what
happened. As the fire quickly consumed the paper, Tommy
panicked. He did what I suppose any nine year old boy trying not to get
in trouble would do. He dropped the paper on the basement floor, ran up
the stairs, closed the door, and sat down on the living room sofa to
watch television with his mom and brother as though nothing had
happened. Very little time had passed when his brother
commented, “Do ya’ll smell something funny?” Tommy crinkled his nose
and sniffed in short little bursts as though he were trying to smell
something. Then replied, “Nope, I don’t smell anything.” “Well,
I think I smell something burning,” his mother responded, concerned.
She began searching the house and her nose soon led her to the basement
door. She opened it and discovered the fire burning. Fortunately, it
was contained enough that they were able to extinguish it before the
fire department arrived. Tommy insisted he didn’t do it, but
the singed tips of his shoestrings told a different story. When he told
me the story in hilarious detail, I thought, “there’s got to be a
practical life lesson in this one.” This week, it's the lesson I'd like
to share with you. So often in life, we ignore the “fire in the
basement.” In a panicked response to a potentially serious problem, you
can convince yourself that eventually the problem will go away. But
sooner or later, the smell of smoke begins to impact other areas of
your life. Perhaps for you, it is credit card debt that is piling up,
or a bad habit you need to kick. It could be a change you need to make,
but you are afraid to admit it. Perhaps you’ve taken on too many
projects, and now you need to explain that you will not be able to do
all that you promised in the time frame you promised it. Maybe it’s a
relationship in which you need to speak up because boundaries are being
crossed, and your resentment is building. What’s the fire in your
basement? What do you need to do to extinguish it? John 8:32
says, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” This
week, I challenge you to be truthful with yourself about the “fires”
and issues that are smoldering in your life, threatening to cause
bigger problems if you don’t address them. You have time now to squelch
the problem – but only if you face it. The first step is admitting the
truth. God has an answer for every challenge you face. Pray
about it, listen to that inner voice for guidance, and do what you need
to do to bring peace and resolution to the situation. Journaling assignment:
Be
honest with yourself. Consider your finances, work, health and
relationships. What fire is smoldering in your basement? What could be
done to take care of the issue before it grows? My challenge to you this week:
In
at least one situation in your life, take action to resolve an issue
that has the potential to grow into a more serious problem.
Until next time ... Warm wishes,
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Burton, a life coach and speaker, is the author of Listen to Your Life,
Rich Minds, Rich Rewards, What's Really Holding You Back?, and her
latest, Why Not You?. Subscribe to her FREE, inspirational e-newsletter
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