Hi Friend
I grew up in Ohio. As often as possible, Mitch, Tray and I would venture to Mohican State Park to camp out. I love hiking and camping there. My first date with my future wife was there. For about a decade when we returned for holidays, Mitch and I would meet there and spend the day hiking. That place is embedded in my being.
In Oklahoma, we don’t have the weather or natural parks (though southern OK does) to do as much hiking or camping. This past week however, the weather was shockingly perfect. So I decided to sleep out under the stars in my own backyard. It was kind of like a campout.
Also, this week, I got to venture out on another Driveway Drop By. In-person human interaction is not over-rated!
The central component of camping is the campfire. I love fire. I love building a fire. I love sitting and looking at a fire. I love playing in fire. I can sit around a campfire for as long as it’s burning… and I can keep it burning for a long time.
I invited/forced my family to sit around the fire with me. My wife and I cooked hot dogs over the open flame. My children, unfortunately, lack an appreciation for a charred dog, so they actually ate something else – though still sat around the fire. The smoke and its fragrance melted into our flesh. I’d wear a campfire cologne if there were such a thing.
“Playing in the fire will make you wet the bed.”
That’s what I was told as a child. I’ve always had a tendency to poke around in the flame so my parents and grandparents would share that bit of folklore. Even with that consequence on the table, I still couldn’t resist using a branch to push around the logs and stir up hot coals.
What fascinates you?
A campfire provides:
Heat – Staying warm and cooking food are essential.
Light – In the darkness of nature, it illuminates the surrounding area.
Gathering – Chairs and stumps circle around for wondrous stories to be shared.
Imagination – Gazing in the flicker has a mesmerizing capability to let our thoughts wander.
In essence, our sustenance, perception, relationships and potential.
It seems relevant during this season, that we have multiple “campfires” in our life.
🔥Physical – Are you staying, getting or being healthy? Activity rejuvenates.
🔥Emotional/Mental – During these times, darkness has a way of sneaking up on us. What keeps you lit?
🔥Relational – The soul is revitalized when interacting with those we like and love. Stay connected.
🔥Spiritual – Can you see beyond this season WHO you are? Anticipating the future, even still, ignites our spirit.
My campfires:
Driveway Drop By’s
Zoom Huddles
Church and Zoom Small Group
Running
Daily Reading
Family Game Night
I know society is opening back up and efforts are underway to be back in the office, gradually. Creating a mechanism for gathering is EVEN MORE CRUCIAL NOW.
How can we build fires for others? When transitioning back, how can we remain vigilant to life-giving environments for ourself?
What prompted my backyard fire building was that we’ve been slowly cleaning out our attic. I keep boxes. Even after we no longer have the item, I still have the box in the attic. I could have filled our recycling bin dozens of times, so I decided to burn all of the boxes instead. It was a slow process because it’s a small fire pit.
I suspect in this season you too have purposely or unexpectedly unearthed unnecessary items taking up space in your life, mind or heart? It’s a diligent process worthy of our attention. That’s the other side of fire. It burns stuff up. Useless cluttering items become fuel.
Forgiveness and grace scorch past weights, regrets and baggage.
Let’s build a campfire that torches those hindrances and provides a glow of goodness for all those around us!
Instigating Ideas
1. Create a list of your “campfires”.
2. What childhood memories still reflect who you are today?
3. Are you mindful of your wellbeing?
4. Do you need to set something from your past ablaze?
Sleeping under the stars is one of the most grounding experiences for me. Viewing the expanse of the sky and all of those floating blazing dots, oddly comforts me. I hope you’re finding assurances for yourself as well.
I dare you to create “campfires” for you, your family, friends and colleagues to convene around, and benefit from, the radiating luminosity it offers. I would love to hear how you do this? Please share.