The Parable Of The Fireman Poem by Adele Bercich

I've always loved to flick my Zippo
Why I started I don't know

But lighting, closing there I'd sit
Helped to relax me quite a bit

There came an evening after work
Playing as normal with a smirk

When I felt the lighter move
And watched it sail across the room

It landed, bounced and lay there lit
Staring was all I could do for a bit

Then slowly realise there was smoke
And vaguely, blindly try to grope

I never got over in time
The flames on curtains formed a line

Running out into the hallway
Stumbling, coughing, couldn't get away

Then through the door burst a fireman
Grabbed me, carried me, and ran

He realised that the roof would fall
So he threw me, gave his all

That man he died, he was a hero
I would never say this though

In the ambo I sat and sneered
'Wasn't he strong enough to get out of there? '

When in hospital I met his family
Told them 'I never asked him to save me'

Three weeks later I could go
Right back home to flick my Zippo

I had one niggle of regret
But thought 'Hey, at least I'm not dead'

I'm glad he came to save that day
But this is my life, I'll live it my way

Now you might think I'm quite a prat
'I would never act like that! '

Yet while you stand there all agog
Just think 'Is this not how I view God? '

We ask 'Why did he not save Himself? '
And shove His Word back on the shelf

Even if we do accept Him
We don't like to let Him in

Our lifestyle we don't want to change
Bad habits hurt to rearrange

Why do we choose to stay in strife?
For this Jesus gave His life

Turn to Him, accept His gift
Your whole life He'll give a lift

Don't get me wrong, it is not easy
But through it all, He is with me.

All rights reserved Adele Christensen
August 2009