We Need To Stick Together

A pastor went to visit a parishioner who had not come to church in weeks. He'd had a disagreement with someone in church and decided he was not going to go to church anymore. He thought that he did not need church. He could worship God all by himself at home, alone. The parishioner heard his doorbell ring, and although he was surprised, he opened the door and let the pastor come in. Not a word was spoken by either the pastor nor the parishioner. The pastor sat on the couch and the man sat in his chair and they watched the fire burning in the fireplace. Still, neither said a word. A period of time passed. No conversation. Suddenly, the pastor got up and moved toward the fire which was blazing beautifully. He stoked the fire and then removed one of the logs and pushed it aside away from the other blazing logs. He returned to his seat on the couch without saying a word. You know what happened to the fire. It was not long and the lone log went out. It lost its fire. The others were still ablaze. The pastor got up, nodded to the parishioner and left. The next Sunday the parishioner was in church again. He got the message. Like the parishioner, we need to stick together.