First you crumple some newspapers and put them where you want your fire to be. Newspapers light easily and burn hot. But newspapers burn fast so you need to lay some small pieces of wood on the newspapers. Wood burns slower than the newspapers, so after the newspapers have burned they will have set the small pieces of wood on fire. And once the small pieces of wood are burnig you can add larger pieces of wood until the fire is going strong. Then you can put big logs on the small fire, and at last you will have a blaze. Then your job of building a fire will be over and you can sit back and relax and enjoy the heat and the light.<P>I think fires are alot like relationships... or life in general. <P>------------------<BR>Rutger......One day at a time.<P><BR>

Hi Rutger<P>Wise words I suppose its boils down to (burns down to) small steps, a good thing to remember "from little acorns great oaks grow !!"<P>Jenny<P>------------------<BR>Where have all the cowboys gone ?<BR>Paula Cole<P><BR>

Your right. After I finally got a match to light ( they got wet 11months ago). I poure water on the match, just when I was getting closeto the paper.<P>------------------<BR>brownphdt<P><p>[This message has been edited by brownphd (edited November 17, 1999).]

Rutger, you have to watch those matches though, you might get burned! And you have to use just the right amount of twigs to catch the wood, newspaper burns too quickly! <P>------------------<BR>Chick's <BR>Bren<P>You won't see things until your ready to not be blind!<P>

A match does NO good if the paper's wet.

Maya, who peed on your paper? You sound so glum. Cheer up. It may be hard, but I bet it won't kill you. <P>My grandfather sings a song in church all the time, the chorus says "sunshine always follows rain...sunshine always follows rain" It's true you know, enevitably (sp) the sun will shine again.<P>------------------<BR>1Co:2:4: And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:<BR>1Co:2:5: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Hi Paul.<P>I'm not too terribly down today. Actually the road seems a little clearer. I know you won't approve, but I'm considering a legal separation. (see my Legal Question post)<P>It just makes sense.

Maya: Do not think that I would not approve, if you read back I was very close to this point myself. I was at a point where I had no choice. Do what you need to do to get the results you want. If your goal is to have H back then of course work for that, if your goal is to get out then wotk for that. But realizing when to draw the line a let God take over is something else entirely. Alot of times we think we've done that, but we don't, we think "if I could just say or do this one more thing they will see" we still have that I in there.<P>I'm glad you are feeling better, you may be reaching a crossroads. We'll pray for guidance. Just don't pee on the paper.<P>------------------<BR>1Co:2:4: And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:<BR>1Co:2:5: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Thanks, Paul. You're so funny!<P>I do believe it is a crossroads. Thanks be to God that the OM isn't a factor anymore. He's still in my mind sometimes .... but I no longer want a life with him .... or any other man actually!<BR>

Sorry Rutger, but although the analogy is decent at the onset, I think thoughts of complacency like this is one are dangerous...<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR> Then your job of building a fire will be over and you can sit back and relax and enjoy the heat and the light. <P>I think fires are alot like relationships... or life in general.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Instead, we should be thinking that...<P>“The fire should then be carefully tended, and fuel added when necessary, or <B>it will burn itself out!</B><P>Relationships, like fires, need constant attention. You can kick back, and enjoy the heat and light, but don’t forget to toss another log on when the need arises, or you’ll soon be shivering alone in the cold and darkness. This sense of complacency, of coasting along always thinking everything would be great, is what <B>got</B> most of us into our current predicaments in the first place.<P><p>[This message has been edited by WhoDat (edited November 17, 1999).]

What a great post. I read it a couple times, each time with a different (and deeper) take on the significance.<P>Thumbs up!<P>--keystone

Lets pretend that we only have one match and could never start that warm beautiful fire again if it went out, just keep feeding it some of that lovely long logs and add some sweet marshmellows to make it that much sweeter! Blessings!<P>------------------<BR>Chick's <BR>Bren<P>You won't see things until your ready to not be blind!<P>

Hi guys,<BR>Alot of responses...... Sorry Maya that you are so down, Brownphd, I guess I missed something cause it sounds like your down as well.... This was intended just to show that it takes small baby steps to get something worthwhile done. I agree with Whodat on the ending, One should not sit back and relax. You must tend to it constantly and add a log now and again. Thanks for all the great replies....<P>Take care<P>------------------<BR>Rutger......One day at a time.<P><BR><p>[This message has been edited by Rutger (edited November 18, 1999).]