The Burning Hut
This story was posted online by my friend Kristi P. who lives in Los Angeles.
The Burning Hut
The only survivor of a shipwreck washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stung with grief and anger. “God, how could you do this to me!” he cried.
Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. “How did you know I was here?” asked the weary man of his rescuers. “We saw your smoke signal,” they replied.
It is easy to get discouraged when things are going bad. But we shouldn’t lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering.
Remember next time your little hut is burning to the ground- – it just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God.
This story speaks to me on a few levels. When I first read it, I heard how we as humans judge outside events or circumstances as good or bad when really neither is literally true. Things that happen are inherently neutral. We create thoughts of judgment about the happening which then informs how we feel about it.
I've had the experience of being late for working with clients in New Hamburg because there was construction on the route that I hadn't planned for and then an accident at the light I turn at right before the clinic. I'd been feeling grumpy about being late until I realized that had I been through that light 10 minutes earlier, at my usual time, I would have been in that multi-car accident. Yikes! Then I felt lucky and grateful to be taken care of in that way. And so glad that the construction slowed me down just enough to not be there then.
When I applied for chiropractic school the first time in University, I didn't get in. Oh no! Not you Dr. Sara! I was devastated at the time. I went back to UW for another year in Biology. That year I got married to Scott (who I'm still married to...lol) and we both made a number of friends that year that turned out to be lifelong friends who we still keep in touch with regularly. Twenty-four years later NOT getting into chiropractic school on the first try looks like the best happening ever! I'm not sure Scott and I would have stayed together had I gone to Toronto that year without him. That's a pretty huge deal.
The last line in the story of the burning hut is - "Remember next time your little hut is burning to the ground - it just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God."
All humans are equipped with an inner GPS, an inner wisdom, an inner connection to the grace of God that moves in some pretty interesting and mysterious ways. I notice this wisdom and connection the most in times when I think my hut is burning down. It's constantly fascinating what shows up next and what I'm guided to do in those times. Especially when I get quiet and settled in my mind and being.
We are often spontaneously moved to take certain actions that don't seem to have much of a reason until looking back. Other times events and circumstances just line up in a way that seemingly has nothing to do with us. Our ship arrives. What I've learned is that humans just do better with less on their mind. When we show up relatively clear, things start to happen. Problems start to look less like problems. A lot of issues clear up on their own. Nature takes over and we are guided to inspired action when needed.
It's not that you have to be happy when your hut is burning down, just more watchful and waitful (if waitful is even a word!).
See what happens next.
The Burning Hut