Good morning…
“I woke with a strong prayer this morning,” she texted first thing yesterday. “I’m praying to remember that each of my to-do/to-serve opportunities is a pure gift. God offers me a partnership in God’s work. It is only ‘too much’ if my ego and my eagerness to do it all perfectly and efficiently take over. And then I read your campfire post. The day is certainly beginning with a smile of recognition and deep gratitude.”
Yesterday’s blog about preparing our fall calendar like we carefully build a campfire resonated with many in our written word community. In response to this friend’s text I asked one simple question, “What does campfire building stir in you?” Her answer was delightful.
“Thanks for the interesting question,” she replied. “I did not grow up in a family of campers and my own family might, just might consider glamping. I do what I can do with my own inner yearnings with yard and birds and presently raising monarch butterflies. And wandering in any woods I can find!”
“I have never had the experience of building a campfire but your question immediately brought an experience to mind,” she continued. “My husband and I and, at the time, two kids moved to Massachusetts in 1983 from Louisiana. We had a real working fireplace and by the way of introduction, our next door neighbor brought over wood and kindling and newspapers and taught us how to build a fire. What I remember clearly is his meticulous, gently and patiently demonstrated, set of instructions.”
“Well-loved and well-used three sturdy sides of a stone container invited our input on that fourth, open side,” she widened the metaphor. “Attentive to each step, knowing that when the match was lit, the spark would slowly find all that it needed to offer us warmth and light. No need to fuss beyond stirring now and then and watching when a bit of newness (another log) might be needed.”
“Thanks for asking!” she concluded. “That was a long time ago and it was delightful to savor the memory.”
God offers us a partnership in God’s work, inviting our input on the fourth, open side of this earthly hearth. It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives in helping others (Ephesians 2:10, TLB).
Now I turn to you and ask the same, “What does campfire building stir in you?”
…Sue…
