Campfire Thoughts

As I placed a new log in the flames and stoked the fire, moving the unburnt ends of logs to the center, I thought; “How many places have we lugged these same twelve pieces of wood?” When we go for a drive Beth and I often take wood for a campfire, always when we go camping. We don’t burn them enough but we love campfires. I think the first time these particular logs were loaded into the wood box and placed in the back of the pickup was when I went to Robert’s Trailhead months ago. Beth was at a search committee meeting in Kearney and I decided to have a night out and a campfire. I remember that night for its spectacular sunset and star display. However, it was much too dry for a campfire and when the wind came up just before dark it was clearly no night for a fire. But a fire wasn’t needed. The night was warm and it was nice to sit with nothing to tend but my thoughts. At the end of that trip the unused logs were left waiting in the garage for another opportunity. That opportunity came a few months later when Beth and I went to Robert’s Trailhead. Once again, even though there had been some good moisture, the grass was still too dry and the wind too fresh to risk a fire. However, that first night the skies awarded us with a wonderful light show and no fire was needed. The second night is memorable because we decided to retire early when the breeze changed directions and became cold. That became the night of the sleet storm, when MacDonald’s breakfast sandwiches became more valuable as hand warmers than food. But that’s another story. The next time the wood made a journey with us we were hoping to camp overnight at Chadron SP but the weather was rainy, we considered renting a cabin with a fire place but decided to be wimps and save the money. Instead we dawdled in Chadron for a while, fru fru coffee and warm bread pudding with hot butter rum sauce. Again, the wood was stored within reach, ready to serve when needed, which brings me to tonight. A cold clear windless night, the fire is needed and the wood is available and ready to warm the night and bring the feelings of safety and security that a fire seems to do. To me this wood has much in common with faith. Our faith is always with us. We don’t always need it, there are days when the sky is bright and the breezes are warm, when our minds are at ease and our choices seem clear. Faith is close by, it is part of the journey but those times seem more for praise or simple thankfulness for life and opportunity. Then there are times when we are tried by the sadness of loss, the anger of betrayal, the stress of responsibility, what Scripture refers to as the cares and concerns of this world. At these times faith brings hope, forgiveness, peace and the knowledge that as St. Paul said, somewhere, “All things work together for good for those who love and serve the Lord.” This assures us that acting as God would want us, no matter how foolish, weak, or naïve it may seem, that it will lead to something better, restore wholeness, and bring love. Faith is nearby to us all, it does bring hope, it does give purpose and meaning to life but most importantly it brings the courage to self examine, to change and to act as Christ would and ultimately come one step closer to the kingdom.