Locked Out Or Stuck Inside?

A news story caught my attention yesterday. An 18-year-old came home to a locked house, and she had forgotten to bring her key when she left. After checking all the windows and doors, and finding them all locked, she came up with a brilliant idea. “It’s just a one-story house, and there’s a chimney and fireplace. If Santa Claus can do it, why not me?”Yes, she thought she could get in by sliding down the chimney. And then she got stuck. She didn’t know about the flue. But once down, she couldn’t climb back up. She couldn’t climb down, she couldn’t climb up. Can you imagine the terror of being stuck in there?I don’t know how help was alerted, but I’m grateful that it was. The local fire department came and they were able to extract her. It’s a good thing, too, because others have died after having gotten stuck in chimneys.When you are locked out, it’s just better to stay out than to force yourself in.It’s also that way in relationships. If she wants nothing to do with you, you’ll do more harm than good by forcing yourself on her. If he’s locked you out, you shouldn’t be with him anyway. But I’ve known too many people, young and old, who have gotten stuck in life because they could not accept being locked out. Loving others also means respecting their free will. You don’t love people when you force yourself on them. That’s assault.Even God respects the free will of those he created in his likeness. He will not force himself on you. He offers a relationship. He knocks on the door of your heart. But he doesn’t force himself in. He won’t be guilty of assault.Some of you may be in that place right now with a relationship that is not working. I’m not encouraging you to give up, but stop forcing yourself on them. In truth, by not respecting the boundaries someone has set up, you’ve made yourself less desirable to be around. Don’t attempt the chimney. If the front door isn’t open, know that there are other places of shelter. He/she is not the only guy/girl in the world. Being locked out is usually not permanent unless you try to force yourself in.I’m glad the fire department responded to this girl’s need for help. But I think it would have been better for her to have never gone to the roof in the first place. Maybe that’s the best advice for you. When locked out, keep your feet on the ground and find a better place to go. When I was locked out of my house by my mom at the age of 17, a friend showed me this verse, “For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the LORD will take me in” (Psalm 27:10).