My childhood home had three woodburning stoves, two in the basement, one on the main floor and a pile of wood that was always stacked next to the back wall of the house. Our home which was close to the mouth of the canyon felt the powerful east winds and one winter a snow and wind storm knocked out the power for several days and made travel treacherous. Once when dad left the house to get wood from the pile, the wind blew him into the wall. No one else was allowed outside. We gathered blankets and pillows making beds on the floor in the room with the main floor stove. We played games, cooked grilled cheese and soup on top of the stove and even whipped up cookie dough that we baked pancake style in a pan. We watched out the large front window as the wind created an ever changing landscape of drifted snow, warm and happy next to the fire.
In an interview Archbishop Desmond Tutu was asked, “Have you found that your relationship to God has changed as you’ve grown older?” He responded, “Yes. I am learning to shut up more in the presence of God….previously, I… ha[d] a kind of shopping list that you bring to God. But more and more, I think you are trying to grow in just being there. Like when you sit in front of a fire in winter, you are just there in front of the fire, and you don’t have to be smart or anything. The fire warms you.” (Interview by Renee Montagne, March 11, 2010)
“I think that is a lovely metaphor—just sit with the Lord and let Him warm you like a fire in winter. You don’t have to be perfect or the greatest person who ever graced the earth or the best of anything to be with Him. I hope you will take time…to sit for a few quiet moments and let the Savior’s Spirit warm you and reassure you of the worthiness of your service, of your offering, of your life….come away spiritually strengthened and better prepared for all that is going to come later. Let that moment be one of rest and refreshing and reassurance and renewal.” (Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Ensign, December 2015)
While winds and storms rage around us, we can draw close to the fire of His love to warm and sustain us.