Chinese Fire Drill 

   

Blessed are the single-hearted, for they shall enjoy much peace... If you refuse to be hurried and pressed, if you stay your soul on God, nothing can keep you from that clearness of spirit which is life and peace. In that stillness you know what His will is.  Amy Carmichael

Several years ago we attended an event in Houston. We returned to our hotel around ten and went to bed.  At 3:00am the fire alarm in our hotel went off.  To preface this story I will say that it was raining and 32 degrees outside with a north wind blowing.  I don’t know what everyone else was doing but I do know I jumped out of bed landed on two feet and said “what is that?”  It wasn’t one of my brighter moments, but what do you expect from someone who has had too little sleep. 

So we are running around trying to find coats and socks, anything we could get our hands on that would be warm if we had to go outside.   I always wondered where the term “it was like a Chinese fire drill” came from because we were in the midst of one.  It was believed to have originated in the early 1900’s when a British ship run by a Chinese crew practiced a fire drill in the engine room.  The bucket brigade would take their buckets to the starboard side and draw water, run to the engine room and throw water on the fire then a second crew would haul the accumulated water to the main deck and throw it over the port side.  There was a problem in translation between the parties so instead of dipping the water on the starboard side, running to the engine room to throw water on the fire, they totally bypassed the engine room and threw the water over the port side. 

We were having a Chinese fire drill in our hotel.  Have you ever had that circumstance occur in your Christian life?  You are so busy running from one side of your ship to the other doing pointless things, that you totally bypass God in the process.  There is a reason why God tells us to be still and trust in Him.  All the running around we do won’t bring us any closer to Him and in our panic we may just miss the most important thing in our life. Take refuge in Him.  

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, there are times when my life becomes like a Chinese fire drill.  I run every way but to You.  When I don’t rest in You, I lose the very thing You want me to have. Peace in knowing that I am Yours and that You will take care of the details. Thank You Lord for loving me. 

Scripture: God the Refuge of His People and Conqueror of the Nations

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling.  There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Come, behold the works of the Lord, Who has made desolations in the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire.  Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.  Psalm 46:1-11