Luke is the youngest of four with two older sisters and an older brother. He is a committed Christian working as a firefighter in the suburbs. Christmas Eve has come, and he has returned home to spend the evening with his family celebrating the birth of his Savior only to be met with ridicule. Trying to calm the situation, Luke’s father and mother step in and try to control the dialog, but they too secretly harbor deep feelings of their own. At the core of the divisiveness overshadowing the family is Luke’s decision to set aside a potential career as a professional athlete for a more selfless and sacrificial career.
Jake is the oldest of the four and a well-to-do accountant who recently went through a divorce. Adam, Jake’s son, was allowed to come to the gathering and is a bright spot in the whole affair for Luke. Next is in line is Sabrina. She is a graphics designer and currently lives with her boyfriend enjoying a free spirited and immoral life. Melody is the closest in age to Luke and still lives at home. Barely finishing high school a few years ago, she struggles to find direction in her life. Luke suspects that Melody has turned to drugs as means of escape, but Luke’s mother and father refuse to believe it. Having spent the last couple of years working part time in a quick-mart, Melody has grown depressed and distant from all in the family. At one time, she had aspirations to become a writer, but her dreams have been consumed by hopelessness.
Luke’s mother and father are retired and have been for a several years. Both have at one point in their lives professed Christ as their Savior, but apathy has taken the place of a life filled with faith for many years. Luke’s mother has recently begun reach back toward her faith, but the years of neglect have made it difficult to escape her present state. Dad’s faith is stagnant at best and he has lost any love for the Savior that he may have once had. Simply bidding his time, Luke’s father awaits for the inevitable.
Through a series of events, the stage is set and disaster strikes the family during the celebration. Will Luke’s bravery and sacrifice be enough to save them from the disaster? More importantly, will the events of the evening awaking the family to their need of the Savior and thus be rescued so as by fire?
Autographed by the author.
