There is a story that Chuck Swindoll told years ago that is both sad and somewhat ironic. In 1978, firemen in England went on strike in the middle of a hard cold winter. This is not unusual in Great Britain. Civil servants are notorious for their “industrial actions.” The British Army was called in to take over emergency firefighting.

On January 14 these substitute firefighters were called out by an elderly lady in South London to retrieve her cat. The soldiers arrived with impressive haste, very cleverly and carefully rescued the cat, and started to drive away. But the lady was so grateful she invited this squad of heroes in for tea. They enjoyed their tea. Then, with fond farewells and warm waving of arms, the soldiers started out of the driveway . . . and ran over the woman’s cat. (1) …