This weekend I cleaned my chimney.
I knew it needed cleaning for the past few weeks.
Starting a fire was becoming more and more difficult.
The air vent had to be opened to the maximum just to keep a fire burning.
When the fire-box door was opened, smoke would billow into the room.
It was plenty clear that the chimney needed to be cleaned.
So, why the dread and the postponement for a few weeks?
Cleaning the chimney is a dirty job.
Cleaning the chimney takes a little effort.
Cleaning the chimney gets my hands dirty.
Cleaning the chimney means one or two whiffs of soot will enter your nose and lungs.
Cleaning the chimney requires a climb up onto the roof.
Cleaning the chimney involves locating and then using some special tools.
It took less than a half hour.
Now it’s clean.
Now it’s easy to make a fire.
It occurs to me that cleaning the chimney is similar to lots of things in life.
It takes effort.
You get dirty.
Special tools are required.
And then in less than thirty minutes … it’s done.
Are you postponing doing something that will make your life easier?
Would a little effort and getting your hands dirty really be so bad?
Does your chimney need cleaning?