Having only had old-fashioned wood-burning fireplaces, when Liz and I moved into our Virginia house, I was excited to see that it had gas logs. No more would I have to haul wood. No longer would I have to smell smoke in the house. Never again did I have to fool with an old-fashioned wood fireplace.
When the first cold front hit, we hit the gas fireplace. It was beautiful. I turned it high enough so that I could see the flames dancing. The warmth in the room was amazing. Midway through the second month something else hit – the gas bill. It was huge! I figured they got it wrong and kept using the fireplace while I waited for the next bill to normalize. The next bill arrived and it turned out that the high bill was normal. Since then those gas logs are mainly used as decoration.
Later, I looked at that seldom-used fireplace and thought about the lessons from the fireplace. Here are two great lessons:
Lesson 1. A person usually does the wrong things until learning better. Ignorance is not bliss. I used the gas logs during the first and second months but then I learned the lesson. I now use them only sparingly.
Lesson 2. If one keeps doing the wrong things, one must be ready to pay the bill. I paid the bill until I came to grips with the lesson. One can drive fast, burn gas logs, or waste money, but those who do must pay the price. The bill will come due. Remember what John Wayne said, “Life is hard; it’s harder when you’re stupid.” (Sands of Iwo Jima, 1949).
We had that fireplace for many more years and seldom used it. I guess the gas still worked. It is only a guess because I wouldn’t know for sure.
I learned the lesson! What lesson have you learned the hard way?
~Lonnie Davis