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how it works

TITLE: Maturity | Previous Challenge Entry
By Gloria Pierre Dean
08/02/09
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The NEWS PRESS titled the article “Maturity”. It reflected the decision made by Senior
Fireman Larkin who made a decision that day that saved the lives of all on the third floor of
the community center. As the article reported, the survivors were amazed at the cool
head of the leader, a man called Larkin. It should have read “Mature Adult Faith Saved the
Day” because that is what happened.

The day started with calm and eager anticipation, everyone was looking forward to the
meetings. On each floor of the building there was a meeting of twelve people; and at the
end of the day they would come together and pool their ideas. This was a controversial
meeting because they had strong opposition in the local community. Their ethos was
hated, but they knew they were right and would not give in to them.

When the fire broke out it was shocking and terrifying. The clever arsonists had lit fires
outside the building and remotely set off fire bombs inside the building on each of the
three floors. The fires broke out simultaneously. There seemed to be fire every where that
they looked. They were trapped.

The windows on all the floors were aflame, so were the doors and stairways. On the lower
floor they decided in a moment that their only option was to go through the windows at the
back where the fire was smallest; so they used a ladder to break through and all tumbled
out, running as fast and as far away as they could.

On the second floor , they decided to go through the window too but the leap had to be into
the swimming pool which thankfully was ten feet deep.
On the third floor all the people were panicking, except for Larkin.
He had been a fireman for many years and he could see that they were in trouble. All the
exit points were aflame; the fire escape doors were on fire, the windows were aflame and
they could not leap out - it was too high.

Larkin called his twelve together and he said
“ Let us hold hands”
He saw the incredulity in their eyes as they came toward him.
“Lord Jesus” he said “ We need you now”.
He heard the voice of God very clearly in his spirit say, “Look up”.
They had little time left and he looked up. There was a trapdoor in the ceiling of the third
floor that they had not seen. Quickly they placed three tables one on top of the other and
clambered up. They found themselves on the roof. On the roof there was a broad ledge and
an ancient walkway that linked them to the next building, and to safety.

When the reported asked for a statement, Larkin said quietly with tears in his eyes;

“How could I not praise the God who would save us out of fire.
Not only is He always listening for our call but He answers when we call out to Him.
He truly does save us from trouble and all we have to do is call and listen for the answer.
Without pride, I know that after years of living by faith, that the mature way, the adult thing
to do is to Trust Him in all things.
The way to HIM is always UP; and in this instance His Way was the Higher Way to safety”.

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