Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Hot and Cold (04/09/09)
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TITLE: The Landlord | Previous Challenge Entry
By Deborah Ann Belka
04/11/09 -
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Discouraged and feeling dejected that her request for heat were not forth coming; she decided to give him another call.
“Hello,” came the voice that reminded her of her pain and suffering.
“Well, hello, to you too.” She coldly responded. “Now tell me what are you doing to get me some heat in here?”
“I’m sorry who is calling?”
“You’ve got to be kidding! If you don’t know my apartment number by the sound of my voice, then you must be hearing impaired!”
“Oh, yes now I know who this is. You’re the one who’s always complaining about it being too cold in the winter, too hot in the summer, and just plain uncomfortable the rest of the time.” He did indeed recognize her voice, and knew all too well the number of her complaints.
“Good, I am glad you remember me. The heater is still not working and it is freezing in here. I want to know when you plan on taking care of this problem.”
“Silvia, I took care of it a long time ago. I made my adjustments and tested things out.” He warmly assured her.
“Well, it’s still too cold in here for me.” She stated matter-of-factly."
“I’ll give it another test.” He assured her.
Silvia waited and waited but he never got back to her, so in desperation she called him again.
“Hello.” He warmly said, recognizing her voice.
“Hi, there.” She coolly replied.
“How can I help you today?” He asked.
sOh, the arrogance of this man, surely he knows why I am calling him again. She was boiling mad now.
“Look, as I told you before, I’m cold, and I have asked you to readjust this dang heater. You said you would come and take care of it, but I have been waiting and waiting and you have done nothing.”
“Yes,” said the landlord, “I understand.”
“I am curious, what is it that you understand?” She sharply returned.
“You see,” he began, “I have heard your requests for maintenance and I have repaired the problems, but it is not the furnace that needs to be fixed, it is your heart.”
“My what?” She had never had a landlord speak to her this way.
“Child,” He warmly spoke. “You have been cold and indifferent to Me for some time now. And although I have made My adjustments and tested things out, you have become lukewarm and no longer recognize My warmth.”
She said nothing.
He continued.
“For in the spring when new life begins to blossom, and all things are going well for you, you respond to My adjustments with a warm open heart. The tenderness of the season brings soft breezes, which keeps you near to Me, and you are open to the corrections I make in your life.
When the joys of summer come along, you take pleasure in the things, which you desire. You are quite happy going about your business and your responses to My adjustments are aloof and indifferent. For your heart has been cooled by the slow setting of the sun and the rise of a new moon.
Then when the falls comes, and when the first breeze of trouble blows your way; you find you need Me once again. You ask for Me to alter the way in which the wind is blowing. But because your heart is just starting to warm back up to Me. You are like a tepid bath and find My adjustments uncomfortable.
And then winter comes. The skies turn damp and weary. As one storm after another blows through, you cry out to Me. Your cries to Me are like lightning strikes bolting their way into the heavens. So I make adjustments and calm the storms, but your heart is cold for My timing is not yours.
Child, I need you to be hot for Me at all times. I need your burning desire for Me in all seasons. I need you to feel the blistering footprint of My love for you on your soul. Then in every season, your heart will feel the heat of My passion for you. You see My child, My hearing is excellent, and this Landlord will not keep renting to those who remain lukewarm forever.”
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