SILOAM SPRINGS — The answer to the question “Where was the center ofwarmth in your home growing up?” can reveal quite a bit about a person.

Answers have included the kitchen, the living room with the fireplace or free-standing stove, and the bathroom - frequently equipped with a heater.

Sometimes it is the bedroom where a child’s bed was next to the heating vent.

Cold mornings were a cause for stretching the sheet with a foot over the vent when the heater came on to literally fill the sheets with warm air.

The answer may be greeted with teasing. “Thebathroom!” accompanied by a questioning tone of incredulity.

At other times, the answer comes with deep compassion in response to the vulnerability displayed.

“The only heat we had was that of the gas stove.

The kitchen was the place we came to dress, to talk and to eat.

We were forced together like a family of refugees fleeing the cold. Forced together, that is, until the stove overheated andcaught the house on fire.”

Reflecting on the physical center of our homes usually brings to mind the places we associate with emotional warmth, safety, joy, encouragement, belonging, peace and love.

Simply remembering often lowers a persons’ blood pressure and deepens their sense of well-being. Amazing!

Being loved, resting in love, remembering love is transformative.

Would Moses remember the center of warmth in his life as the burning bush? Jesus was the guest in the home of Lazarus, Mary and Martha as recounted in the tenth chapter of the book of Luke.

Would Mary say thecenter of warmth during his stay was the kitchen or at his feet?

After Jesus was crucified, but before his ascension, the Apostle John recounts in the 21st chapter of the book with his name that Jesus prepared a fire and had breakfast ready for them when they came back from a night of fishing.

Did their remembrance of that experience flood their souls with warmth, peace, trust, and hope?

Who do we care enough about that we are willing to spend energy in an effort to create memories of warmth for in the future?

What action could we take or process could we begin today that willdemonstrate that affection in the future for those looking back at our present?

Would a note or small gift be special? Could better or different planning for Thanksgiving or Christmas make these holidays less of a task and more personal, relational and warm?

What will we begin doing today to create a memory of warmth and love tomorrow?

1 Jn 4:8 says, “God islove.”

Love is not our god. God is a person. Love is not.

Could it be that the closer we get to God, the more warmth we’ll have in our lives?

Could it be that the more we help others draw near to God, the fuller their lives will be?

- Dr. Randy Rowlan is pastor of First United Methodist Church and comments are welcomed via e-mail at randyrowlan@yahoo.com.

Religion, Pages 8 on 10/14/2009

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