It was 2:35 a.m. when a driver lost control of his truck on wet pavement, struck the curb and sailed on to the porch of Lee Roy Book's house. Later, a utility crew sought to restore electricity to Book's home and to check for gas leaks. They discovered that Book's chimney and pipes were plugged with two feet of soot and leaves. The blockage was causing odorless, poisonous carbon monoxide fumes generated from burning natural gas to back up into the house.

For the past two years Book, who lives alone, has been sick with classic flu-like symptoms, including chills, nausea, shakes and headaches. These are also the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. He would black out and couldn't remember doing such things as visiting a friend. "I'd come to when I got in the fresh air," said Book, "but every day it was getting worse and worse. It was awful." Chances are that if the truck had not smashed into his house, Lee Roy Book may not be alive.

The kicker to the story, however, is at the end. Booker once worked as a building contractor. He is very much aware of the dangers of improperly vented furnaces. He always warned his customers to check their flues every two or three years to make sure they weren't clogged.

"But somehow or another," he said, "it never did dawn on me to check my [own] chimney."

Is there any spiritual cleaning I need to do?

Ron Newhouse